Smile (TV network) facts for kids
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| Country | United States |
|---|---|
| Broadcast area | Nationwide |
| Headquarters | Garland, Texas |
| Programming | |
| Language(s) | English |
| Picture format | 480i SDTV |
| Ownership | |
| Owner | Trinity Broadcasting Network |
| History | |
| Launched | December 24, 2005 |
| Former names | Smile of a Child (2005–2016) |
| Availability | |
| Terrestrial | |
| Digital terrestrial television | x.4 on most TBN owned-and-operated stations and affiliates Channel slots vary depending on media market |
Smile (which used to be called Smile of a Child) is a TV channel for kids. It's a Christian network owned by the Trinity Broadcasting Network (TBN). You don't have to pay extra to watch it. The channel shows a mix of Christian and family-friendly programs. It was started by Jan Crouch, one of the people who founded TBN. Smile TV is made for children aged 2 to 12.
You can watch Smile TV on many TV providers and also on some online streaming services. In the U.S., it's on AT&T U-Verse and Wave Broadband. It's also available across North and Central America through satellite. You can also watch it live online on its own website and TBN's website.
TBN, the main network, also has a special "Smile" block of shows on Saturday mornings. Another channel, KTV, used to show Smile programs for 12 hours a day from 2015 to 2017.
Contents
The Story of Smile TV
How Smile of a Child Started
The channel was first called Smile of a Child TV. It was created by Jan Crouch, who helped start TBN. The name came from a special program called "Smile of a Child" ministry. This ministry was started by Jan and Paul Crouch in the 1990s. Its goal was to help children around the world by giving them services and donations.
The TV channel officially started on December 24, 2005. Its very first show was a holiday special called Martin the Cobbler. When it first launched, Smile TV was available 24 hours a day. It was shown on TBN's local TV stations in 13 different cities. Over time, it grew to almost 40 cities across the country. It was usually found on the fifth subchannel of a local TBN station. For example, if TBN was on channel 17, Smile TV would be on channel 17.5. The channel's first logo was a butterfly. This butterfly design was a special way to show Jan Crouch's initials: JWB (Janice Wendell Bethany).
Sharing a Channel with JUCE TV
On June 1, 2015, Smile TV started sharing its channel with another TBN network called JUCE TV. JUCE TV is for teenagers and young adults, usually aged 13 to 30. This meant that Smile TV and JUCE TV would each get a part of the day to broadcast.
Because of this change, Smile TV was only on TV for 9 hours a day at first. It aired from 6 a.m. to 3 p.m. Eastern Time. JUCE TV would then air for the rest of the day. A week later, they changed the schedule. Smile TV aired from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Eastern Time, giving both channels 12 hours each day. This change happened because TBN was launching a new channel called TBN Salsa. This new channel was for Latino viewers who speak English.
Even though Smile TV had less time on regular TV, you could still watch it 24 hours a day online. It was available through live streams on TBN's website and on mobile apps. It was also still 24 hours a day on some cable and satellite providers. On January 1, 2017, the channel changed its name to simply Smile. It also got a new logo and look, moving away from the butterfly design.
Back to 24 Hours
On January 1, 2020, Smile TV went back to being a 24-hour channel on regular TV. It started broadcasting all day on the third subchannel of TBN's stations. Around February 2021, a company called Olympusat stopped providing TBN's channels to some cable companies. This meant that Smile TV was no longer available on those specific cable systems, like Verizon FiOS and Xfinity.
What's on Smile TV?
Channels Like Smile TV
- TCT Kids TV
- JUCE TV
- Positiv
Awards and Recognition
In 2008, Smile TV received the Entertainment Seal of Approval from the Parents Television Council. This award recognizes TV shows and channels that are good for families.
