Three Angels Broadcasting Network

{{short description|Seventh-day Adventist television and radio network}}

{{Infobox organization

| name = Three Angels Broadcasting Network

| logo = 3ABN logo.svg

| area_served = Worldwide

| products = Television, Radio, Christian music recording, OTT video streaming platform, Video on Demand

| location = United States

| owner =

| leader_title = President

| leader_name = Greg Morikone

| leader_title2 = Vice President

| leader_name2 = Jill Morikone

| founded = {{start date and age|1984|11|15}}

| founder = Danny and Linda Shelton

| headquarters = West Frankfort, IL

| website = {{URL|3abn.org}}

}}

The Three Angels Broadcasting Network (3ABN) is a Christian media television and radio network which broadcasts Seventh-day Adventist religious, music and health-oriented programming, based in West Frankfort, Illinois, United States. Although it is not formally tied to any particular church or denomination, much of its programming focuses on Seventh-day Adventist theology and Adventist doctrine.[https://3abn.org/about.html About 3ABN], 3abn.org. Retrieved 11 June 2020.

History

In 1984, Three Angels Broadcasting Network was founded by Danny Shelton and his second wife Linda Shelton in West Frankfort, Illinois.{{Cite web|url=https://www.miamiherald.com/news/nation-world/national/article292999439.html|title=Scandals over the years at the Christian TV ministry|last1=Johnson|first1=Alva|last2=Wieder|first2=Ben|date=September 26, 2024|newspaper=Miami Herald|access-date=April 11, 2025}} In July 2017, 3ABN announced the sale of 60 low-powered television (LPTV) stations and 10 LPTV construction permits to Edge Spectrum.{{Cite web |url=http://www.broadcastingalliance.org/edge-spectrum-inc-acquires-3abn-stations/ |title=Edge Spectrum Inc Acquires 3ABN Stations | Broadcasting Alliance |access-date=2017-12-21 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171222052048/http://www.broadcastingalliance.org/edge-spectrum-inc-acquires-3abn-stations/ |archive-date=2017-12-22 |url-status=dead }} In October 2017, 3ABN announced the sale of 14 LPTV stations to HC2 Holdings.{{cite web|url=http://www.rbr.com/3abn-deals-away-14-lptv-properties/|title=3ABN Deals Away 14 LPTV Properties - Radio & Television Business Report|date=13 October 2017}}

In September 2019, Danny Shelton resigned as president, though he remains a central figure and the highest paid person at the network.

Issues

In 2004, co-founder Linda Shelton left the network after the couple accused each other of cheating, and then that same year co-founder and then president Danny Shelton filing for a divorce.

On July 19, 2010, Tommy Shelton, the brother of Danny Shelton and a former 3ABN production manager, turned himself in to police in Fairfax County, Virginia, and pleaded guilty to two felony counts of taking indecent liberties with a child.{{cite news|url=http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/police/news-releases/2010/031810sexasltvic.htm |title=Sex Assault Victims Come Forward |publisher=Fairfax County Police |date=2010-03-18 |accessdate=2010-03-25}}{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/local/2010/07/20/expastor-in-fairfax-pleads-guilty-to-molesting-2-boys/5a3a2481-47a2-4f95-9bc8-e806e4715d50/|title=Ex-pastor in Fairfax pleads guilty to molesting 2 boys|last=Jackman|first=Tom |date=July 19, 2010 |access-date=April 11, 2025| newspaper=The Washington Post}} Shelton's attorneys and Fairfax prosecutors agreed to a plea deal in which he would serve probation. However, a judge doubted Shelton's alleged remorse and rejected the plea deal.{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/local/2010/11/16/plea-deal-rejected-in-molestation-case/393ba6a0-f194-11df-8ff1-e7ff824c48af/|title=Plea deal rejected in molestation case|last=Jackman|first=Tom|date=November 15, 2010 |access-date=April 11, 2025| newspaper=The Washington Post}} On January 24, 2012, Shelton reached a second plea deal shortly before his scheduled trial, in which he entered Alford pleas on all four of the molestation charges brought against him.{{Cite web|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/crime-scene/post/please-deal-for-fairfax-pastor-accused-of-sex-abuse/2012/01/23/gIQA4785NQ_blog.html|title=Plea deal for Fairfax pastor accused of sex abuse|last=Jouvenal|first=Justine|date=January 24, 2012|newspaper=The Washington Post|access-date= February 4, 2012}} On February 24, 2012, Shelton was sentenced to six years in prison.{{cite news|url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/crime/former-pastor-sentenced-after-alford-plea-on-molestation-allegations/2012/02/24/gIQAf9VfYR_story.html |title=Former pastor sentenced after Alford plea on molestation allegations|date=2012-02-24 |accessdate=2012-07-13 | newspaper=The Washington Post}}

On June 20, 2011, a lawsuit was filed against 3ABN on behalf of one of Shelton's accusers at the United States District Court for the Southern District of Illinois, claiming that the network was negligent in how it handled the allegations against Tommy Shelton.{{Cite web|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/2011/06/20/christian-network-sued-in-child-sex-case/|title=Christian network sued in child sex abuse case|date=June 20, 2011|newspaper=Chicago Tribune|url-access=subscription|access-date=April 11, 2025}}

Since 2011, 3ABN has been a party in a land dispute in the Bahamas, wherein a visually impaired man stated he had attempted to donate one to two acres for the construction of a church sanctuary, while 3ABN stated that he had in fact signed away full control of his 400 acres of land through an irrevocable charitable trust agreement. The dispute is pending in the Supreme Court of the Bahamas.{{Cite web|url=https://www.miamiherald.com/news/business/real-estate-news/article291220515.html|title=Miami retiree signs away Caribbean real estate to TV ministry, triggers generational property dispute|last1=Johnson|first1=Alva|date=September 27, 2024|newspaper=Miami Herald|access-date=April 11, 2025}}

On December 31, 2018, the network fired Brenda Walsh, host of the show "Kids Time." Later in February 2019, the network released a video on their Facebook and YouTube channels accusing her of mishandling money that was being raised for a children's network in Collegedale, Tennessee. The network never gave the $2 million to her ministry that had been raised, even though they had promised to do so in a separation agreement.