3ABN

About 3ABN

3ABN — the Three Angels Broadcasting Network — is a 24-hour Christian television and radio network broadcasting faith-based programming to millions of viewers in more than 200 countries. Founded in 1984 by Danny Shelton and his wife Linda Shelton in West Frankfort, Illinois, it has grown from a single satellite ministry into one of the largest Christian broadcasting organisations in the world, with a family of subchannels serving audiences in English, Spanish, French, Russian and Portuguese. Although it is not formally tied to any particular church or denomination, much of its programming reflects Seventh-day Adventist theology and doctrine, and its name refers to the Three Angels' Messages of Revelation 14:6–12. The network's stated goal is a blend of family and social programmes, health and lifestyle shows, gospel music and Bible-based presentations — all offered free to viewers, supported by donations. In the United Kingdom, 3ABN is available via VisionTV on Freeview channel 264.

Overview

The Three Angels Broadcasting Network is an American Christian media ministry operating a round-the-clock schedule of religious, music, health, lifestyle and public-affairs programming. Its world headquarters are in West Frankfort, Illinois, a small city in the southern part of the state, from where the network produces the bulk of its output. 3ABN is a non-profit organisation: it carries no commercial advertising in the conventional sense and is funded by the donations of viewers and supporters who share its mission of spreading the gospel. The network broadcasts free-to-air by satellite, is carried on cable systems, and streams live over the internet, making its programming available to anyone with a receiver or an internet connection. Its official website at 3abn.org offers live streams of all its television and radio networks alongside a video-on-demand library.

History and Founding

3ABN was founded in 1984 by Danny Shelton and his second wife Linda Shelton in West Frankfort, Illinois. Shelton, a carpenter and lay preacher, began the ministry with a vision of using satellite television — then a new and expensive technology — to carry Christian programming directly into homes. The network's first satellite broadcast followed in 1986, and through the late 1980s and 1990s 3ABN steadily expanded its satellite footprint, first across North America and then internationally. The 2000s brought a proliferation of additional channels aimed at specific audiences — children, Spanish speakers, young people — and the 2010s saw the network complete its transition to high-definition broadcasting. By the 2020s, 3ABN had become a global internet-streaming ministry as well as a satellite broadcaster, reaching viewers in more than 200 countries. In September 2019, founder Danny Shelton resigned as president, though he remained a central figure at the network.

Mission and Message

The network takes its name from the Three Angels' Messages of Revelation 14:6–12, the biblical passages that call for the proclamation of the gospel to every nation and that hold a central place in Seventh-day Adventist teaching. While 3ABN is not formally tied to any particular church or denomination, much of its programming focuses on Seventh-day Adventist theology and doctrine, and the network is widely regarded as the flagship television ministry of the Adventist movement. Its mission, in its own telling, is to share God's love and hope with the world through programming that encourages spiritual growth, promotes biblical principles and offers practical guidance for everyday life. The emphasis on health and lifestyle programming — covering natural health, nutrition and wellness from a Christian perspective — reflects the Adventist tradition's long-standing interest in healthful living.

Programming

3ABN's schedule is built around several pillars: Bible study and evangelistic presentations, family and social programmes, health and lifestyle shows, gospel music, and children's programming. Flagship programmes include 3ABN Today, a daily talk show examining current events from a Christian perspective; Sabbath School study programmes offering weekly Bible study for all age groups; health programmes covering natural remedies, nutrition and Christian wellness; cooking demonstrations; gospel music concerts featuring Christian artists from around the world; and dramatised Bible stories for children. The network also carries live coverage of evangelistic campaigns and religious conventions. As of 2009, the main 3ABN television channel carried 69 per cent original programming — a high proportion for a religious broadcaster — with its Spanish and Russian services producing similarly high levels of original content.

The 3ABN Family of Channels

One of 3ABN's defining features is its family of distinct subchannels, separated by language and format. The line-up includes the flagship 3ABN service, carrying a mixture of programmes from across the network; 3ABN Proclaim!, devoted entirely to televangelism; the 3ABN Latino Network and 3ABN Latino Radio Network in Spanish; 3ABN Russia and its radio network in Russian; the 3ABN Français Network in French; the 3ABN International Network, a partial simulcast of the main channel with programming from Seventh-day Adventist ministries abroad; the 3ABN Dare to Dream Network, aimed at urban Christian lifestyle audiences; the 3ABN Kids Network for children's programming; the 3ABN Praise Him Music Network for worship music; the 3ABN Canada Network with Canadian-produced ministry programming; and the 3ABN Australia Radio Network. 3ABN Plus (3ABN+) brings all of the television and radio networks together in a free live-streaming and video-on-demand service.

Global Reach

From its Illinois headquarters, 3ABN now reaches millions of viewers across more than 200 countries through satellite, cable systems and internet streaming. The network produces programming not only at its world headquarters in West Frankfort but also at its international production centres: the Three Angels Russian Evangelism Centre in Nizhny Novgorod, Russia, and the 3ABN Australia Production Centre in Morisset, New South Wales. This international production base allows the network to create culturally specific programming for its Russian, French, Spanish and Pacific audiences rather than simply dubbing American output. The 3ABN International network carries the flagship programme 3ABN Now alongside programming produced by 3ABN Australia, giving the global feed a distinctly international character.

Funding and the Non-Profit Model

3ABN operates as a non-profit ministry funded by viewer donations rather than commercial advertising or subscription fees. All of its programming is free to watch: the satellite signals are unencrypted, the cable carriage is offered at no charge to viewers, and the 3ABN+ streaming service requires only a free registration. This donor-supported model is common among American religious broadcasters, but 3ABN's scale — a global multi-channel network run on donations — makes it one of the largest examples of the form. The network also operates an online store selling books, DVDs and CDs, with proceeds supporting the ministry. Supporters are regularly invited to contribute through on-air appeals and fundraising events, and the network's continued expansion over four decades testifies to the loyalty of its donor base.

Leadership and Change

For most of its history, 3ABN was synonymous with its founder, Danny Shelton, who led the network from its founding in 1984 until his resignation as president in September 2019. The network's history has not been without controversy: co-founder Linda Shelton left in 2004 amid the couple's divorce, and in the 2010s the network faced legal and financial scrutiny, including the high-profile criminal case of Shelton's brother Tommy, a former production manager. In 2017 the network sold off dozens of its low-powered television stations in the United States — 60 stations and 10 construction permits to Edge Spectrum in July, and 14 more stations to HC2 Holdings in October — refocusing its American distribution on satellite, cable and streaming. Through these changes, the network's core mission and programming philosophy have remained consistent.

3ABN in the United Kingdom

In the United Kingdom, 3ABN is available via VisionTV on Freeview channel 264. VisionTV is an internet-delivered television gateway on the Freeview platform that carries a range of international and specialist channels, making services like 3ABN accessible to Freeview viewers with connected televisions or set-top boxes. For British viewers, the channel offers the same round-the-clock mix of Bible teaching, health and lifestyle programming, gospel music and family content that defines the network worldwide. The UK audience for Christian television includes viewers seeking alternatives to mainstream secular programming, and 3ABN's free, donation-supported model makes it an accessible option. As with all of the network's services, UK viewers can also watch live and on demand through the 3ABN+ streaming platform at 3abn.org.

Legacy

Four decades after Danny Shelton first put a Christian signal on a satellite, 3ABN stands as one of the most ambitious religious broadcasting projects ever undertaken: a non-profit, donor-funded, multi-channel, multilingual network reaching into more than 200 countries. It pioneered the use of satellite television for independent Christian ministry, built one of the highest proportions of original programming in religious broadcasting, and created a template — the family of language- and format-specific subchannels — that other faith broadcasters have followed. Whether measured by its longevity, its global footprint or the loyalty of the viewers who fund it, 3ABN has secured its place in the history of Christian media, carrying its message of faith, health and family life from a small Illinois town to television screens around the world.