Paul Crouch

==Biography==
Crouch was born in [[St. Joseph, Missouri]], the third son of oft-traveling [[Assemblies of God]] missionaries, Andrew F. Crouch (January 7, 1889 – June 1, 1941) and wife, the former Sara Swingle (September 26, 1891 – September 29, 1976). Crouch had two older brothers, the Rev. Philip Crouch (1918–2005), and John Mark Crouch (1923–1991). Crouch, whose father died when he was seven years old, was mainly raised by his mother with the help of his grandparents. He soon became interested in amateur radio and announced he would use such technology to send the Gospel around the world. He graduated from the [[Central Bible College]] ([[Assemblies of God]]) in [[Springfield, Missouri]] in 1955 with a degree in theology.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://tbnnewswire.com/paul-crouch/paul-crouch-sr |title=TBN Founder Paul Crouch: Leading the Way for Christian Broadcasting &#124; TBN Newswire |access-date=2014-01-06 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140106213241/http://tbnnewswire.com/paul-crouch/paul-crouch-sr/ |archive-date=2014-01-06 }}</ref>

Crouch also received three honorary doctorates: a Doctor of Litterarum (D.Litt.) on May 29, 1981, from the [[California Graduate School of Theology]], [[Glendale, California]]; a Doctor of Divinity on May 29, 1983, from the American Christian Theological Seminary, [[Anaheim, California]]; and a Doctor of Laws degree on May 5, 1985, from [[Oral Roberts University]], [[Tulsa, Oklahoma]].

Crouch and Janice Bethany met in 1957 and were married in Missouri. They have two sons, [[Paul Crouch, Jr.]] and [[Matthew Crouch]].

===Early broadcasting career===
Crouch began his career in broadcasting by helping to build an educational AM station (KCBI) on campus while a student at Central Bible Institute and Seminary. In 1957 he became a radio announcer at KRSD in [[Rapid City, South Dakota]], and progressed rapidly to program director. Shortly thereafter he was promoted to manager of sister station [[KOTA-TV|KRSD-TV]], the [[NBC]] affiliate in Rapid City.

In 1961, he was appointed by the general council of the Assemblies of God to organize and operate their newly formed Department of Television and Film Production in [[Burbank, California]], a position he held for four years. Crouch was responsible for the ongoing production of films focusing largely on foreign missions and foreign missionary works, as well as the Assemblies of God's large inventory of audiovisual materials and children's teaching aids.

From 1965 to 1970 Crouch was general manager of KREL radio in [[Corona, California]]. In 1966, he purchased a minority stock interest in KREL. During his time at KREL, he successfully completed the station's application for an increase in power to 5,000 watts.

After leaving KREL in 1970, Crouch was invited to serve as general manager for KHOF-FM and [[KPXN-TV|KHOF-TV]] in [[San Bernardino, California]].

===Trinity Broadcasting Network (TBN) history===
{{main|Trinity Broadcasting Network}}
Crouch left KHOF in 1973 and with his wife, Jan, founded the Trinity Broadcasting Network (TBN) along with [[Jim Bakker|Jim]] and [[Tammy Faye Bakker]] (the Bakkers left in 1975). In 1974, TBN purchased its first TV station, KLXA-TV (now [[KTBN-TV]]). Since then, TBN has grown to become the United States' largest Christian television network,<ref name="mediabiz.com">{{cite web |url=http://www.mediabiz.com/thebridge/?release_id=154#1052 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100122110107/http://www.mediabiz.com/thebridge/?release_id=154#1052 |url-status=dead |archive-date=January 22, 2010 |title=Mediabiz's Mission is to use Real World data to solve the media industry's future challenges |publisher=Mediabiz.com |access-date=December 1, 2013 }}</ref><ref name="highbeam.com">{{cite web|url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-102725178.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121104054255/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-102725178.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=November 4, 2012 |title=Heavenly success: TV's largest religious network continues to expand around the world, while adding shows aimed at reaching a much wider audience. (30th Anniversary) |publisher=Highbeam.com |access-date=December 1, 2013}}</ref> and the third largest group owner of broadcast TV stations in the  U.S., with CBS, FOX, and NBC holding fourth, fifth and sixth place, according to TV News Check's annual listing of the Top 30 Station Groups.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.tvnewscheck.com/article/2010/04/07/41240/top-station-groups-stay-the-course |title=Top Station Groups Stay The Course |date=7 April 2010 |publisher=TVNewsCheck.com |access-date=December 1, 2013}}</ref> Forbes.com indicated that Paul F. Crouch had compensation of $402,244 in the Fiscal Year ending on 12/31/08.<ref>[https://www.forbes.com/lists/2010/14/charity-10_Trinity-Broadcasting-Network_CH0157.htm]{{dead link|date=December 2013}}</ref>

TBN is viewed globally on 70 satellites and over 18,000 TV and cable affiliates. TBN is also seen on the web globally.<ref name="TBN.org">{{cite web|url=http://www.tbn.org/watch-us |title=Watch Us |publisher=Tbn.org |date=January 1, 1970 |access-date=December 1, 2013}}</ref> TBN is carried on over 287 television stations in the U.S. and on thousands of other cable television and satellite systems around the world in over 75 countries, where their programming is translated into over eleven languages. He was also executive producer for such Christian films as ''[[China Cry]]'' (1990), ''[[The Omega Code]]'' (1999), ''[[Carman: The Champion]]'' (2001), ''[[Megiddo: The Omega Code 2]]'' (2001), and ''[[Time Changer]]'' (2002).

In the U.S., TBN's coverage grew through agreements with national cable operators. TBN is viewed via major cable and satellite companies such as [[Comcast]], [[Cox Communications|Cox]], [[Time Warner]], [[Verizon FIOS]], [[DirecTV]], [[AT&T Inc.|AT&T]], [[Dish Network]], and [[Charter]].<ref>[http://www.ncta.com/OrganizationType/CableNetwork/1514.aspx] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081206010101/http://www.ncta.com/OrganizationType/CableNetwork/1514.aspx|date=December 6, 2008}}</ref>

In addition to TBN, Crouch and his wife developed and oversaw operations for TBN's affiliated television networks: Smile of a Child – children's channel,<ref name="Smile of a Child">{{cite web |url=http://www.smileofachild.tv |title=Smile of A Child TV |publisher=Smile of A Child TV |access-date=December 1, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131203014525/http://www.smileofachild.tv/ |archive-date=December 3, 2013 |url-status=dead |df=mdy-all }}</ref>{{better source needed|date=May 2013}} JCTV – youth network,<ref name="JCTV">{{cite web |url=http://www.jctv.org/flashindex.php |title=JCTV |publisher=Jctv.org |access-date=2013-12-01 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131203003123/http://www.jctv.org/flashindex.php |archive-date=2013-12-03 |url-status=dead }}</ref> The Church Channel,<ref name="The Church Channel">{{cite web|url=http://www.thechurchchannel.com |title=A New Digital Network From TBN, the Leader in Religious Television |publisher=The Church Channel |access-date=December 1, 2013}}</ref> TBN Enlace USA – Spanish language network,<ref>[http://www.enlace.org/#/inicio/]  {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160915160257/http://www.enlace.org/|date=2016-09-15}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/enlacetv?ref=search |title=Enlace – San José (Costa Rica) – Kabel- en satellietservice, Religieuze organisatie |publisher=Facebook |access-date=December 1, 2013}}</ref>{{failed verification|date=May 2013}} TBNE-Italian, The Healing Channel – Arabic language network, TBN-Russia, TBN Nejat TV – [[Persian language|Persian]]-language channel, and TBN-HD, TBN's new high definition network.

===Death===
Crouch died at his home in Orange, California, on November 30, 2013, after 10 years with degenerative heart disease.<ref>[http://www.dailynews.com/obituaries/20131130/grandson-televangelist-paul-crouch-dies-at-79 "Grandson: Televangelist Paul Crouch dies at 79"]</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://blogs.christianpost.com/time-for-everything/televangelist-and-tbn-founder-paul-crouch-dead-at-79-19015/ |access-date=May 8, 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131201004739/http://blogs.christianpost.com/time-for-everything/televangelist-and-tbn-founder-paul-crouch-dead-at-79-19015/ |archive-date=December 1, 2013 |title=Televangelist and TBN Founder Paul Crouch Dead at 79 }}</ref>