A PAX Upon Us

September 15, 2002

by John F. Schmidt

The Jury is still out on Wall Street as to whether PaxNet is going to prove to be a big financial success, but by many other measures, the PAX network is already a major force in what was called a "Vast Wasteland" not many years ago. The reason is startling.

Founded by Lowell "Bud" Paxson, self-described entrepreneur, PaxNet is the largest broadcast television group in the U.S. As of December 31, 2001, the company owned and operated 65 full-power TV stations carrying the company’s own PAX TV programming. This family-friendly network reaches the top twenty U.S. markets, and 41 of the top 50 U.S. markets. Depending on how you view the data, and which time slots you consider, PAX TV touches up to 87% of U.S. viewers.

Original programming created by the network is setting the standard in clean, uplifting – and culturally relevant programming. The popular "It’s a Miracle" with Richard Thomas is back for a new season, and new offerings for 2002 include "Body & Soul", "Doc", "Just Cause" and "Sue Thomas: F.B. Eye". The immensely popular "Touched by an Angel" is typical of the exceptional quality of writing and production that loyal viewers have come to love from this network

PAX’s targeting of the family-positive market is not just a clever business ploy to capitalize on those viewers who recoil from the sex, violence, and in-your-face rebellion saturating American television. None of the "experts" think that kind of marketing plan will work. The truth is that it is a choice driven by principle and vision, not greed.

However, a number of commentators have suggested that the programming coming from most of our moviemakers in Hollywood and "made for TV" studios is missing the mainstream of the market. The most consistently popular (and profitable) fare is family-oriented and appeals to a broad range of age groups and socioeconomic backgrounds.

Those who push raunchy programming reveal much more about what they prefer to make, than what the mainstream of society wants to watch. Michael Medved recently drove that point home ("Private Decency, Public Sleaze") by pointing out that even the stars of a sexy TV sitcom live private lives at complete variance to the roles they portray on the screen. In other words, much of what is offered on TV and movies is driven by an agenda, not by the viewers.

Bud Paxson is a producer with an agenda too, but guided by a different vision, and marching to an entirely different drummer than most TV producers and movie moguls. His vision is linked to his faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. He has deliberately chosen his career – his money making career – to match the principles he lives by.

Many of us struggle to eke out a living in the midst of an environment that is at odds with much of what we hold dear. Here is a man who has dared to build a network that offers programming to the public that is representative of his core values.

In his book "Threading the Needle", Paxson explains that he is fighting an impossible battle by this world’s standards. He is creating a broad-based and popular U.S. TV network that feeds the good in society rather than the bad. Reviewers, network "experts" and numerous nay-sayers have counted his dream "out" more than once, only to have it come to life stronger than ever. He refers to a Bible illustration for the explanation. Jesus taught that a man who loves riches could only get into heaven "if a camel can go through the eye of a needle." "That is impossible for men," Jesus explained, "but not for God, for with God all things are possible."

Building a profitable family values TV network that touches the heart of America is his "impossible" vision. And Bud Paxson is counting on God – publicly and in print - to make it possible. Wow.

That is an extremely high standard, and one that is refreshing amidst the stench of much of today’s programming and public culture. We still suffer from the public debauchery of the last decade, yet the integrity and forceful vision of this one man may, with the blessing of the "God who is there", transform more than just TV programming. He may move the whole culture for good.

Impressive things have happened in the short time he has been living out his vision, and the "fat lady" is not ready to sing yet either. I am betting on and praying for the success of his vision because it is the same quest that resonates with my heart and that of every person of good will - to see the world transformed for good by faithful and daring men and women. Their victory is all the sweeter when it is won through much trial and sacrifice.

We have had enough of the greedy, lying Enron and WorldCom executives scheming under their golden parachutes to steal millions from people they should have been protecting. PaxNet is on the far end of the spectrum from that sorry scene. It is all on the line for a vision that will bless, not curse, all of us.

In the middle ages, "a POX upon you" was an evil wish for a person to catch smallpox. It was a wish for death. Let’s transform that into a prayer for blessing and life. May we truly have a PAX upon us.

 

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John F. Schmidt has written numerous articles over the last decade. Politically, he is an Alan Keyes-type Republican. Along with his wife, he has organized voter drives in Pennsylvania, and been active politically since the 1990 elections. His livelihood, until recently, was spent in automation engineering for a large global equipment manufacturing company, specializing in coal mining. WANB in Waynesburg, Pennsylvania hosted Schmidt's weekly talk radio program "Issues and Answers." His writing is intended to relate the headlines of today to the foundation of eternal truth - the Scriptures. He currently resides in Palm Beach County, Florida. Visit his website at: Inalienable-Rights.org

Send the author an E mail at Schmidt@ConservativeTruth.org.

For more of John's articles, visit his archives.


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