Daystar Television Network

{{short description|Religious television network}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=December 2021}}
{{Infobox television channel
| name = Daystar Television Network
| logo = Daystar (2008–present) unmodified logo.svg
| logo_size = 200px
| type = [[Religious broadcasting]]
| country = United States
| area = Nationwide<br>Worldwide
| affiliates = [[List of Daystar Television Network affiliates|List of Daystar affiliates]]
| headquarters = [[Bedford, Texas]]
| language = English
| picture_format = [[1080i]] ([[High-definition television|HDTV]])<br>(downscaled to [[480i]]/[[576i]] for the [[Standard-definition television|SDTV]] feed)
| owner = Word of God Fellowship
| key_people = [[Joni Lamb]]<br />Jonathan Lamb
| founded = {{Start date and age|1993}}
| founder = [[Marcus Lamb|Marcus]] and [[Joni Lamb]]
| launch_date = {{Start date and age|1997|12|31|p=y}}
| terr_serv_1 = [[Digital terrestrial television]]
| terr_chan_1 = See [[List of Daystar affiliates]]
| website = [http://www.daystar.com www.daystar.com]
}}

The '''Daystar Television Network''' commonly known as '''Daystar Television''' or just '''Daystar''', is an American evangelical [[Christian media|Christian-based]] [[religious broadcasting|religious]] [[television network]] owned by the Word of God Fellowship, founded by [[Marcus Lamb]] in 1993. Daystar is headquartered in the [[Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex]] in [[Bedford, Texas]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.daystar.com/about/|title=About the Daystar Television Network|publisher=Daystar Television Network, USA|date=December 27, 2016|access-date=December 27, 2016}}</ref> The network is based around [[prosperity theology]].

==History==
In 1984, [[Marcus Lamb|Marcus]] and [[Joni Lamb]] (née Trammell) moved to [[Montgomery, Alabama|Montgomery]], [[Alabama]] to launch the state's first full-power Christian television station, [[WMCF-TV]]. The Lambs built the station for the next five years, and sold it in 1990. They next moved to [[Dallas]], [[Texas]], where, in 1993, they purchased the formerly defunct [[KMPX]]. In 1996, with a large contribution from [[Kenneth Copeland]] Ministries, the Lambs purchased a station in [[Colorado]], officially turning their television ministry into a network. In August 1997, the small staff moved into a {{convert|32,000|sqft|m2|adj=on}} facility that included production studios; Daystar was officially launched on [[New Year's Eve]] 1997.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.daystar.com/about|title=About Daystar Television with Marcus Lamb and Joni Lamb}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.christiansattv.com/daystar.php|title=Daystar - Christian Satellite TV|access-date=July 26, 2011|archive-date=August 2, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120802024819/http://www.christiansattv.com/daystar.php|url-status=dead}}</ref>

On March 21, 2011, Daystar announced that it would downsize its production studios in [[Ashland, Kentucky]]; [[Houston, Texas]]; and [[Denver, Colorado]], effective the following month; the facilities would continue to be used as transmitters, but not broadcasting centers, leading to layoffs. Further studios were abandoned and centralized to the network's [[Bedford, Texas]] headquarters with the 2019 repeal of the FCC's Main Studio Rule.

On November 30, 2021, Marcus Lamb died after being hospitalized with [[COVID-19]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.dallasnews.com/news/2021/11/30/marcus-lamb-founder-of-dallas-area-christian-tv-network-daystar-dies-at-64/|title=Marcus Lamb, founder of Dallas-area Christian TV network Daystar, dies at 64|first=Catherine|last=Marfin|publisher=Dallas Morning News|date=November 30, 2021|access-date=November 30, 2021}}</ref>

==Controversies==
===FCC investigation===
In 2003, Daystar was investigated by the [[Federal Communications Commission]] (FCC), centering on allegations that Daystar sold air time on its [[non-commercial educational]] stations to for-profit groups. The investigation complicated Daystar's [[United States dollar|US$]]21.5 million bid for [[KOCE-TV]], a [[PBS]] station in [[Huntington Beach, California]] which at the time mainly served the suburban area of [[Orange County, California|Orange County]],<ref>{{cite news|author=Arellano, Gustavo |url=http://www.ocweekly.com/news/news/jesus-meet-michael-powell/20226/ |title=Jesus, Meet Michael Powell |newspaper=OC Weekly |date=February 26, 2004 |access-date=May 22, 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071012140443/http://www.ocweekly.com/news/news/jesus-meet-michael-powell/20226/ |archive-date=October 12, 2007 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news|author=Castillo, Andrew |url=http://www.themountaineeronline.com/home/index.cfm?event=displayArticle&ustory_id=c5fa3ef9-09ab-40f3-ba73-2b6168797309 |title=Governor stops sale of KOCE-TV station |publisher=Mt. San Antonio College Mountaineer |date=October 23, 2006 |access-date=May 22, 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070928150723/http://www.themountaineeronline.com/home/index.cfm?event=displayArticle&ustory_id=c5fa3ef9-09ab-40f3-ba73-2b6168797309 |archive-date=September 28, 2007 }}</ref> and other license renewals. After a lengthy process, Daystar and KOCE-TV eventually came to an agreement where Daystar leased a [[digital subchannel]] of KOCE, and broadcast network programming over KOCE-DT3 into Orange County and the [[Los Angeles]] area. This agreement has remained in place into the early 2020s, with KOCE since becoming the flagship Los Angeles area member station of PBS in January 2011, replacing [[KCET]] after that station defected from the network (the groups eventually merged, with KCET re-joining PBS secondarily).

On December 22, 2008, the FCC and Daystar entered into an agreement whereby Daystar would continue to utilize a multi-level review process to make sure its programming would not breach the [[underwriting spot]] guidelines applied by the FCC to non-commercial television stations, and would make additional [[good faith]] efforts to review all content received from external providers and remove direct [[Call to action (marketing)|calls for action]] before broadcasting the programming on Daystar's non-commercial educational stations. Daystar also agreed to pay a fine of $17,500 for past non-compliance.<ref>[https://wayback.archive-it.org/all/20160707045413/https://apps.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DA%2D08%2D2738A2.txt Consent Decree between FCC and Daystar.] Retrieved on December 23, 2008.</ref>

On March 13, 2012, the FCC questioned whether Daystar, through associated nonprofit companies, was qualified to purchase former PBS outlets KWBU-TV in [[Waco, Texas]] (which was renamed [[KDYW]]) and WMFE-TV in [[Orlando, Florida]].<ref name=fcc-dealquestioned>{{cite web|title=Re: Form 314 Application for Consent to Assignment of License of…|url=http://licensing.fcc.gov/cgi-bin/prod/cdbs/forms/prod/getimportletter_exh.cgi?import_letter_id=32621|format=PDF|date=March 13, 2012|work=CDBS Public Access|publisher=[[Federal Communications Commission]]|access-date=March 17, 2012|archive-date=April 8, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130408133512/http://licensing.fcc.gov/cgi-bin/prod/cdbs/forms/prod/getimportletter_exh.cgi?import_letter_id=32621|url-status=dead}}</ref> The WMFE deal was canceled two days later; the station was later resold and returned to PBS as [[WUCF-TV]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://blogs.orlandosentinel.com/entertainment_tv_tvblog/2012/08/fcc-gives-ucf-the-license-for-channel-24.html|title=FCC grants UCF the license for Channel 24|last=Boedecker|first=Hal|date=August 15, 2012|work=[[Orlando Sentinel]]|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120922163516/http://blogs.orlandosentinel.com/entertainment_tv_tvblog/2012/08/fcc-gives-ucf-the-license-for-channel-24.html|archive-date=September 22, 2012}}</ref> On September 7, 2012, KDYW's licensee, the Brazos Valley Broadcasting Foundation, informed the FCC that it would request the dismissal of the license assignment application and the cancellation of the KDYW license, with the cancellation becoming final on September 27.<ref name=fcc-kdywgone>{{cite web|last=Harding|first=Kevin R.|title=In Re: BLCDT-20060622AAS…|url=http://licensing.fcc.gov/cgi-bin/prod/cdbs/forms/prod/getimportletter_exh.cgi?import_letter_id=36222|format=PDF|date=September 27, 2012|work=CDBS Public Access|publisher=Federal Communications Commission|access-date=September 28, 2012|archive-date=April 8, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130408111250/http://licensing.fcc.gov/cgi-bin/prod/cdbs/forms/prod/getimportletter_exh.cgi?import_letter_id=36222|url-status=dead}}</ref>

===Israel===
Daystar became the first foreign Christian network to be given a broadcast license by the Israeli government in 2006. The announcement was criticized by [[Jewish]] leaders in both Israel and the United States, who believed the network aimed at converting Israeli Jews through its numerous [[Messianic Jewish]] programs. In 2007, Israeli cable provider [[Hot (Israel)|HOT]] announced it would drop Daystar from its lineup, stating that the decision was made after the company received complaints about Daystar's content. Daystar filed a petition with the [[Israeli Supreme Court]] to hear the case, accusing HOT of [[religious discrimination]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.christianpost.com/article/20070919/ousted-christian-tv-network-takes-case-to-israeli-high-court.htm|title=Ousted Christian TV Network Takes Case to Israeli High Court|date=September 19, 2007 }}</ref> Two years later, HOT reversed its decision and resumed carrying Daystar.<ref>{{cite web|title=Daystar creeps back into Israel|url=http://jewishisrael.ning.com/profiles/blogs/daystar-creeps-back-into|publisher=Jewish Israel|access-date=October 19, 2009|archive-date=December 25, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141225212744/http://jewishisrael.ning.com/profiles/blogs/daystar-creeps-back-into|url-status=dead}}</ref>

===Lawsuits===
On November 30, 2010, Marcus Lamb appeared on ''Celebration'' and admitted to having had an [[extramarital affair]] several years before,<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.onpointnews.com/NEWS/Woman-Sues-TV-Preacher-for-Failing-to-Disclose-Affair.html |title=Woman Sues TV Preacher for Failing to Disclose Affair &#124; Employment |access-date=September 4, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170608214927/http://www.onpointnews.com/NEWS/Woman-Sues-TV-Preacher-for-Failing-to-Disclose-Affair.html |archive-date=June 8, 2017 |url-status=dead }}</ref> telling viewers that unidentified individuals had attempted to [[extortion|extort]] money from him over the incident. He said that he had since reconciled with Joni over the matter; the Lambs subsequently appeared on ''[[Good Morning America]]'' and ''[[Dr. Phil (TV series)|Dr. Phil]]'' to discuss their experiences with marriage counseling.<ref>[http://religion.blogs.cnn.com/2010/12/01/televangelist-says-he-cheated-on-wife-2/?iref=allsearch Televangelist says he cheated on wife] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120308040531/http://religion.blogs.cnn.com/2010/12/01/televangelist-says-he-cheated-on-wife-2/?iref=allsearch |date=March 8, 2012 }}, CNN.com, December 1, 2010.</ref>

Lamb's confession sparked a series of legal actions against Daystar. Former Daystar executive Jeanette Hawkins filed a lawsuit against the network, claiming that her knowledge of the affair caused "great emotional pain".<ref>{{cite news| url=http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-504083_162-20024561-504083.html | work=CBS News | first=Naimah | last=Jabali-Nash | title=Rev. Marcus Lamb of DayStar TV Faces Unusual Lawsuit After Admitting Affair | date=December 3, 2010}}</ref> In February 2011, Jennifer Falcon, a former Daystar employee, filed a lawsuit claiming to have suffered [[sexual harassment]], as well as demotion and [[defamation]] by the Lambs.<ref>{{cite news|title=New Daystar Lawsuit Accuses Joni Lamb's Father of Sexual Harassment|author=Katherine T. Phan |url=http://www.christianpost.com/article/20070919/ousted-christian-tv-network-takes-case-to-israeli-high-court.htm|newspaper=The Christian Post|date=February 20, 2011|access-date=June 20, 2013}}</ref> The following month, Karen Thompson, a former producer for ''Joni'', sued Daystar for [[wrongful termination]], claiming to have been harassed and fired for dating a male co-worker.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nbcdfw.com/news/local/Third-Former-Employee-Sues-Daystar-118809824.html|title=Third Former Employee Sues Daystar|date=March 28, 2011 }}</ref>

An October 2011 decision, entered after a contested hearing by a Dallas court, dismissed the Hawkins fraud claim. All of the suits were withdrawn two months later when Falcon and Thompson withdrew their suit against the network, and no parties received compensation for the dispute.<ref>{{cite news |title= High-profile sexual harassment lawsuits against Christian broadcaster Daystar quietly withdrawn |author=Jeffrey Weiss |url=http://www.dallasnews.com/news/community-news/tarrant-county/headlines/20120321-high-profile-sexual-harassment-lawsuits-against-christian-broadcaster-daystar-quietly-withdrawn.ece |newspaper=The Dallas Morning News |date=March 21, 2012 |access-date=June 20, 2013}}</ref>

===Paycheck Protection Program===
Word of God Fellowship applied for a [[Paycheck Protection Program]] loan and received $3.9 million, under the reasoning of meeting employee [[payroll]]. Two weeks later, WoGF purchased a luxury 1997 [[Gulfstream V]] jet. ''[[Inside Edition]]'' questioned in an investigation if the organization had used the PPP loan funds to purchase the aircraft rather than for payroll purposes. Shortly after the report aired, the loan was paid back with interest.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Crowley |first1=James |title=Televangelist Network Returns Millions in PPP Loan After Buying Private Jet |url=https://www.newsweek.com/daystar-televangelist-pays-back-millions-ppp-loan-purchasing-private-jet-1554959 |website=Newsweek |date=December 15, 2020 |publisher=Newsweek Digital LLC |access-date=December 24, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Marcus Lamb's Daystar TV Pays Back $3.9M PPP Loan After Inside Edition Investigates Church's Jet Purchase |url=https://www.insideedition.com/marcus-lambs-daystar-tv-pays-back-39m-ppp-loan-after-inside-edition-investigates-churchs-jet-63725 |website=Inside Edition |date=December 11, 2020 |publisher=Inside Edition Inc. |access-date=December 24, 2020}}</ref>

===COVID-19 claims===
During the [[COVID-19 pandemic in the United States]], Daystar was criticized for airing several programs which featured prominent [[anti-vaccination movement|anti-vaccine]] personalities such as [[Robert F. Kennedy Jr.]], [[Del Bigtree]], and [[Simone Gold]], who along with Daystar hosts promoted [[COVID-19 misinformation|misinformation about the pandemic]].<ref>{{cite web |last1=Johnson |first1=Timothy | title=Anti-vaccine ministry uses Facebook to promote dangerous COVID-19 and vaccine falsehoods to millions of followers|url=https://www.mediamatters.org/facebook/anti-vaccine-ministry-uses-facebook-promote-dangerous-covid-19-and-vaccine-falsehoods |website=Media Matters for America | date=March 18, 2021| access-date=December 5, 2021}}</ref> In their broadcasts, Marcus and Joni Lamb repeatedly touted discredited COVID-19 treatments such as [[hydroxychloroquine]] and [[ivermectin]]; both contracted COVID-19 despite these treatments, with Marcus Lamb dying from COVID-related complications in November 2021. Daystar had also filed a lawsuit against the [[Biden administration]] over its COVID-19 vaccination mandate, calling it a "sin against God's Holy Word".<ref>{{cite web |last1=Derysh |first1=Igor |title=Anti-vax televangelist dies after using "protocols" his TV network promoted to treat COVID |url=https://www.salon.com/2021/12/01/anti-vax-televangelist-dies-after-using-protocols-his-tv-network-promoted-to-treat/ |website=Salon |date=December 2021 |access-date=December 5, 2021}}</ref>

In October 2021, Australian pay television company [[Foxtel]], which offers Daystar as part of its channel package, announced that it was conducting a review after receiving complaints about Daystar programs featuring interviews promoting conspiracy theories about, and unproven treatments for, COVID-19.<ref>[https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-10-07/foxtel-channel-covid-misinformation-claims/100518956 Foxtel Australia launches review into Christian TV channel with anti-vax message] ''[[ABC News (Australia)|ABC News]]'', October 7, 2021. Retrieved October 7, 2021.</ref> The review subsequently found that Daystar did not breach any industry codes of practice for news and current affairs programs, or any federal or state law. Although the [[Australian Communications and Media Authority]] (ACMA) has issued a Code of Practice on Disinformation and Misinformation for online platforms, this does not include television broadcasters.<ref>Drinkwater, Dale  [https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-12-02/daystar-marcus-lamb-covid-death/100669238 Founder of anti-vaccination Christian TV network dies after contracting COVID-19, as review finds no breach of TV codes] ''ABC News'', December 2, 2021. Retrieved December 2, 2021.</ref>

==Availability==
{{main|List of Daystar affiliates}}
{{Category see also|Daystar Television Network stations}}
Daystar is available on [[terrestrial television|broadcast]] and [[cable television]] in the United States and worldwide on [[direct broadcast satellite]] systems such as [[DirecTV]] and [[Dish Network]], and unencrypted satellite. The network is composed of two [[Very high frequency|VHF]] and 37 [[Ultra high frequency|UHF]] [[television station]]s, which each broadcast all or part of Daystar's program lineup. Daystar owns a number of television stations in the U.S., either directly or through its parent company, Word of God Fellowship, Inc. The network also offers [[Spanish language]] translation of most programming via the [[second audio program]], which is sometimes offered by some pay television providers as its own network.

On June 13, 2013, Daystar entered into a strategic partnership with Canadian-based religious network [[Grace TV]], in which the network's non-[[Canadian content]] (constituting 65% of programming) would be supplied by Daystar. Additionally, Daystar picked up ''You Are Loved'', a program hosted by Grace TV's CEO, [[Peter Youngren]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://gracetelevision.net/news/press-release-grace-tv-has-entered-into-a-strategic-partnership-with-daysta |title=PRESS RELEASE: Grace TV has entered into a strategic partnership with Daystar Television - News &#124; Grace TV |access-date=July 15, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305062030/http://gracetelevision.net/news/press-release-grace-tv-has-entered-into-a-strategic-partnership-with-daysta |archive-date=March 5, 2016 |url-status=dead }}</ref> The network ultimately re-branded as Daystar Canada.<ref name=grace-daystarname>{{cite web|title=ANNOUNCEMENT FOR GRACE TV AND DAYSTAR|url=http://www.gracetelevision.net/news/announcement-for-grace-tv-and-daystar|publisher=Grace Media|access-date=February 11, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140222132343/http://www.gracetelevision.net/news/announcement-for-grace-tv-and-daystar|archive-date=February 22, 2014|url-status=dead}}</ref>

Daystar's HD service is available in the UK via the [[Astra 2G]] satellite as part of the [[Sky UK|Sky]] and [[Freesat]] platforms<ref>[https://www.lyngsat.com/Astra-2G.html ''Astra 2G at 28.2°E''] LyngSat. Accessed October 16, 2018</ref> and via terrestrial TV on the [[Freeview (UK)|Freeview]] platform.<ref>[https://www.digitaltveurope.com/2015/01/07/daystar-television-launches-full-time-on-freeview/ ''Daystar Television launches full-time on Freeview''] Digital TV Europe January 7, 2015. Accessed October 16, 2018</ref>

==See also==
* [[List of United States over-the-air television networks#Religious television networks]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
*{{official website}}
*[https://daystar.tv Video on Demand Content]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20180316083814/http://daystar.glorystar.tv/ Glorystar Satellite Systems - North American satellite equipment distribution partner]

{{American broadcast television (Religious)}}
{{Daystar stations}}
{{Subscription television channels in Australia}}

[[Category:Television channels and stations established in 1993]]
[[Category:Television networks in the United States]]
[[Category:Evangelicalism in Texas]]
[[Category:Religious television stations in the United States]]
[[Category:Christian mass media companies]]
[[Category:Evangelical television networks]]
[[Category:1993 establishments in Texas]]
[[Category:Companies based in the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex]]
[[Category:Pentecostalism in Texas]]
[[Category:Tarrant County, Texas]]
[[Category:Television stations in Texas]]
[[Category:Television broadcasting companies of the United States]]