About TCT

TCT

TCT — Total Christian Television — is an American Christian television network owned by TCT Ministries, Inc., a non-profit church corporation headquartered in Marion, Illinois. Founded on May 20, 1977, by Drs. Garth and Tina Coonce, TCT began as a single Christian television station serving the Cincinnati, Ohio, area and grew over more than four decades into a global network broadcasting faith-based and inspirational programming around the clock. The network operates three channels — TCT, TCT Family, and TCT Kids — and reaches millions of viewers by satellite, cable, on-demand streaming, live broadcast, social media, and the TCT mobile app. Known for its award-winning, commercial-free programming, TCT has been a recognized leader in faith-based television for over 40 years, airing content designed to appeal to multi-generational, multi-cultural audiences.

Founders: Garth and Tina Coonce

TCT was founded by Dr. Garth Coonce and his wife Dr. Tina Coonce, who established what became the network in 1977 in the Cincinnati area. Garth Coonce was a businessman and author — he wrote the book "How To Keep Your Life in Focus" — with a background in corporate management, marketing, and accounting, as well as service as a U.S. Air Force veteran and a multiengine pilot with an instrument rating. He held a bachelor of science in business administration, a master's in business administration, a doctorate in humanities, and an honorary doctorate of divinity, and served on the National Religious Broadcasters and the International Task Force for Artificial Sweeteners. Tina Coonce was his partner in every endeavor and ministers as a noted Christian leader in her own right. In May 1997, U.S. Representative Glenn Poshard of Illinois honored the couple in the Congressional Record on the occasion of their 20th anniversary on the air, praising their service from their hometown of Marion, Illinois. Garth Coonce died in January 2023, and the network he founded continues under the leadership of TCT Ministries.

From Tri-State to Total Christian Television

The network's original name was Tri-State Christian Television, reflecting its roots as a regional broadcaster serving the tri-state area around Cincinnati, Ohio. From that single station, the ministry expanded steadily — adding stations, satellite distribution, and cable carriage — until it had outgrown its regional identity. In 2007, the network was renamed Total Christian Television, a name that reflected its transformation from a local station into a worldwide network bringing the Gospel message to viewers across the globe. The rebrand marked the culmination of thirty years of growth from one station in Cincinnati into a multi-channel international ministry.

World Headquarters in Marion, Illinois

TCT's world headquarters is located at 11717 Route 37 North in Marion, Illinois, a small city in southern Illinois that has served as the ministry's home base for decades. The headquarters campus houses the network's studios, production facilities, and administrative operations, and the organization employs between 100 and 200 staff members. Marion became the center of the network's operations as it grew beyond its Cincinnati origins, and the city has been closely associated with the ministry ever since — it was from Marion that the network built its station group, its satellite operations, and its digital platforms. The headquarters address is the production home of the network's original programs, telethons, and live broadcasts.

Three Channels: TCT, TCT Family, and TCT Kids

Today TCT is a global network comprised of three channels, each serving a distinct audience. The flagship TCT channel carries the network's core lineup of ministry, teaching, music, and inspirational programming. TCT Family offers family-friendly entertainment programming, while TCT Kids provides wholesome children's content. The network also operates additional streaming feeds, including an Aramaic Broadcast Network channel, and its internet channels include TCT-SD, TCT-HD/TCT Family, TCT-SD2 Kids, and TCT-SD3/Aramaic Broadcast Network. All three main channels air award-winning, commercial-free programming 24 hours a day, seven days a week, a commitment to uninterrupted viewing that has been a hallmark of the network throughout its history.

Programming and Ministry

TCT's programming is designed to appeal to multi-generational, multi-cultural audiences with faith-based and inspirational content. The lineup includes teaching and preaching from prominent ministers, Christian music programming, talk shows, and original productions created at the Marion headquarters. The network is known for its telethons and live fundraising broadcasts, which have been a staple of its operations for decades and bring together ministry leaders, musicians, and guests for nights of worship and teaching. Ministry partners and guests who have appeared on the network include figures such as Dr. Richard Roberts, Dr. Steve Munsey, and Dr. Mike Smalley. The network's programming philosophy emphasizes commercial-free, family-safe viewing — content that the whole family can watch together without concern.

Distribution: Stations, Satellite, Cable, and Streaming

TCT reaches its audience through virtually every distribution platform available. The network owns and operates broadcast stations in select markets across the United States, and its programming is carried by satellite and cable systems nationwide. Beyond traditional television, TCT offers live streaming through its website, on-demand content, social media channels, and the TCT mobile app, making its programming available to viewers on phones, tablets, and connected devices. The ministry has described its reach as covering the entire United States and more than 170 foreign countries, reflecting its satellite and internet distribution. This multi-platform approach has allowed a network that began with a single station in 1977 to serve viewers on every continent.

Recognition and Awards

Over its more than four decades of broadcasting, TCT has earned recognition within the religious broadcasting industry for the quality of its programming and production. The network describes its lineup as award-winning, and its commercial-free, 24/7 format has been cited as a model for faith-based television. The founders' work was honored at the national level — including the 1997 Congressional Record tribute marking twenty years on the air — and Garth Coonce's leadership in the National Religious Broadcasters reflected the network's standing among its peers. The network's longevity itself is a mark of distinction: few independent Christian television ministries have sustained continuous operation for more than 45 years.

A Period of Legal Controversy

In January 2024, TCT Ministries filed a lawsuit in the 1st circuit court in Williamson County, Illinois, seeking the removal of four board members — Tina Coonce, the widow of founder Garth Coonce; Vicki Clark and Julie Nolan, his children; and Thomas Nolan IV, his grandson — alleging that they had abused their board positions and violated their fiduciary duties for personal financial benefit over the course of decades. According to the court filings, an investigating committee concluded that the defendants had unlawfully used TCT's assets for private benefit, including the use of TCT funds for personal assistants, personal flights on the TCT jet, and residential expenses. The lawsuit, which sought recovery of damages, was reported by MinistryWatch and other outlets covering the religious nonprofit sector. The legal proceedings represented a difficult chapter for a ministry that had been built as a family enterprise since 1977.

TCT Today

Despite the challenges of recent years, TCT continues to broadcast its three channels around the clock, producing original programming from its Marion, Illinois, headquarters and distributing it worldwide via broadcast, satellite, cable, streaming, and mobile platforms. The network remains owned by TCT Ministries, Inc., operating as a non-profit church corporation, and continues its mission of bringing the Gospel message to viewers through commercial-free, family-friendly television. With more than 45 years of continuous operation, TCT stands as one of the longest-running independent Christian television networks in America — a ministry that began with a single station in Cincinnati and grew into a worldwide network.

Official Website

The official website of TCT is www.tct.tv, where viewers can watch the network's channels live, browse on-demand programming, learn about the ministry's history, and download the TCT mobile app.