TUSTIN — Departing from the conservative fiscal strategy that made it the world's largest religious television programming service, Trinity Broadcasting Network has announced plans to create a 30-acre, $13-million gospel and country music entertainment complex outside Nashville.
Paul Crouch, founder and president of the Tustin-based network, says Trinity will purchase Twitty City, owned by the family of the late country singer Conway Twitty. In March, Trinity purchased an adjoining attraction, Music Village, USA, which has been renamed Trinity Music City, USA.
Trinity, which is tax-exempt and nonprofit, provides 24-hour-a-day Christian programming to nearly 400 television and radio stations. Together with his wife, Jan, Paul Crouch hosts a nightly Christian talk and variety show called "Praise the Lord," being broadcast this week from Tennessee to inaugurate the new complex.
"Jan and I are very excited about this opportunity to expand our production facilities at this location," Crouch said in a prepared statement. Trinity's plans include its own recording studio and label.
" 'Pat Boone's Gospel America' weekly television show will be produced here, and we will incorporate the entire complex in the production of the show," Crouch's statement said.
"Plans are also underway for a country-gospel music awards show to be broadcast from the site, and consideration is being given to utilizing a part of Twitty City to house a country-gospel hall of fame," Crouch said.
"Trinity Broadcasting Network is an ideal buyer for the . . . property, as it already owns the adjacent land, Music Village, USA," said Hugh Carden, president of Conway Twitty Enterprises and co-executor of Twitty's estate. "The properties complement each other, and it is fitting the purchase was made by another entertainment entity. Their respect for country music has been evident during the negotiation process."
Music Village, USA, which occupies 21 acres adjoining Twitty City in Hendersonville, Tenn., is a country-music performance center that also houses shops and museums featuring various stars. Trinity paid $10 million for Music City, according to court records.
Trinity's offer for Twitty City, which has been mired in litigation since Twitty died a year ago, is $2.75 million, according to probate court documents.
*
Crouch's Washington, D.C., attorney, Colby M. May, said in an interview that both the Music City and Twitty City purchases "are straight cash transactions."
