Dear Friends,

CBN has greatly expanded its station outreach in the past year and as a result, is raising its air time rates to us. It’s that time again.

Truth to tell, the rise in rates is not all that dramatic, but the terms that we’ll have to live with make it next to impossible for us to continue on CBN. Last year CBN allowed us to provide them with a two minute “hole” in our programs, in lieu of paying the full note. They utilized that two minute spot for their own promotional announcements, commercial breaks and the like. They credited us for nearly half the air time charge and in this manner we were able to continue on what had become a very expensive network. Our barter arrangement seemed to work to our mutual benefit. CBN got good programs and we had a rate which meant that we didn’t have to spend half of each show asking you for money.

This year, however, CBN has decided not to barter with us. And the bottom line is, our air time charge will go up 150%!

We received only 90 days notice of this overwhelming burden and I don’t quite know which way to turn. My impulse tells me that it may be time to leave a network that requires of us so much more than we can reasonably pay. On the other hand, that’s not entirely my decision. The program is yours and you are paying for it. The question to you is simply, “Should ZOLA LEVITT LIVE stay on CBN, and would you be willing to give 2½ times as much to keep it on this network?”

In the past when I have submitted problems to you, or propositions for your “vote,” you have responded very intelligently and we have abided by your suggestions. This situation truly marks a crossroads in our existence as a television outreach and I need your prayerful consideration at this time more than ever.

Some factors that bear on the question might be mentioned. At the new rates, should we be able to raise them each week, we would be reaching a much bigger audience (according to CBN’s statistics). We would have two more minutes of air time per show and we wouldn’t have that distracting extra break. We would also continue broadcasting without interruption to the majority of our viewers (CBN probably accounts for some 40% of our audience). Those are the pluses.

On the down side, air time rates of the level we are being asked to pay would break this ministry financially, practically overnight as things now stand. We’d be on a hand-to-mouth existence, hoping each week to gather the necessary donations to pay CBN. We know that many of our viewers are on fixed incomes and simply could not raise their gifts. We also know that many people would never consider giving to our show even though they watch it week in and week out. And finally, would we be doing the right thing in sending such large amounts to one network for air time? If we went off CBN, the amount of money we would save could provide new programs 52 weeks per year. But of course, they’d be seen by far fewer people.

Those are the major issues. Our loyalties are pulled in all directions. We certainly owe our long-term CBN viewers the new programs they have made possible. Yet we also owe our non-CBN viewers the best programming possible with the budget they’ve provided. Somewhere we’ve got to come up with a pile of new money.

Does anyone have $100,000 for us? With that amount we could put this tedious discussion away for a whole year. It’s tax deductible and I’ll personally look, after it for you. In all candor, I think I can make $100,000 do a million dollars’ worth of good. The gift would help CBN, of course. When you send your money to ZOLA LEVITT LIVE, you help CBN, financially and with good sound Bible programming.

I didn’t mean to spend our whole time together talking about funds, but I’m afraid this is really the time for it. We simply must raise these funds in 90 days or we’ll go off CBN.

Pray with me and send me your vote.

Don’t forget the new programming, our series called “The Promised Land,” beginning this fall. The first showing will be on Channel 39 and its cable affiliates in the Texas area on September 19, with delayed transmissions throughout the nation.

And here’s your last chance to celebrate the Feast of Tabernacles in Jerusalem this fall. Our tour is October 5–15 for $1799. Phone us immediately and we’ll give you the details (214) 369-9228. Full payment deadline is September 14.

God bless you all and thanks for reading and praying.

Your messenger,

P.S. While the above letter was at the printer’s, a letter from CBN arrived which gives us an option. They are now offering us the same rate we are presently paying if we’ll move to Sunday mornings at 8:00 AM Eastern Standard Time (7:00 AM Central Time, 6:00 AM Mountain Time and 5:00 AM Pacific Time). Needless to say, these times are inferior in terms of numbers; we would reach a far smaller viewing audience at such an early hour. Your feedback on these new times will be of great help to us in making an intelligent decision. As always, I know I can count on hearing from you on such an important issue. Thanks!

Of course, all of the above information affects only our CBN cable station viewers. Channel 39 out of Dallas, PTL, TBN, SPN, NCN and all large city broadcasting stations are not affected by any CBN change. Channel 39 and its satellite areas will still be shown at 9:00 PM Sundays.