Plenty of us scoffed when Scientology leader David Miscavige spent millions to purchase and renovate the KCET studios in Los Angeles and rename it Scientology Media Productions, which he opened last May.
After buying the five-acre complex in 2011, Miscavige pressured his followers to make donations so the complex could be completed — and in return, he promised that they would have a 24-hour television station to broadcast Scientology’s message around the country and around the world.
Since then, Miscavige has been mocked for making that promise as the SMP hasn’t appeared to produce much of anything.
But now, oh ye doubters, we have proof that this summer, Scientology is getting that 24-hour cable station, just as Miscavige promised.
A tipster informed us that a simple search now shows that Spectrum (formerly Time Warner Cable), the nation’s second-largest cable system with 25 million customers in 41 states, has blocked out a channel for Scientology Media Productions, SCNTV, with programming to be announced.
Meanwhile, that same tipster managed to attend Scientology’s L. Ron Hubbard Birthday Event earlier this month, and said that during his two-hour presentation, Miscavige said that the cable station was coming this summer.
At the event, Miscavige ran down a list of shows which would be appearing on SCNTV, including programming by Freedom magazine, 9 hours of L. Ron Hubbard biographical episodes, the “Meet a Scientologist” series, episodes about each Ideal Org, and videos about the church’s “Fourth Dynamic Campaigns” — in other words, outreach and expansion.
Meanwhile, a page at the Spectrum website lists these exciting titles for shows, which sound to us like the same videos the church has already posted at its website and YouTube channel:
What is Scientology, Drug Free World, Detox from Street Psychiatric Drugs, Youth for Human Rights, The Hubbard Electro Meter, What is Real Education, An Overview of Scientology, and “Amazing.”
Also, at the event, our tipster says the SMP presentation included the Nation of Islam’s Minister Tony Muhammad and a testimonial by another NOI figure — could the Nation be getting some use out of the channel as well?
“At the event they were also doing a written ‘skills survey’ that was clearly aimed at recruiting for SMP. Questions were about experience in copyrighting, broadcasting, etc. It was quite lengthy and detailed,” our tipster says.
It’s really happening! And how the hell did Miscavige pull it off? We’d love for a tipster inside Charter Spectrum to let us know how Scientology managed to find a slot in what must have been an already fully booked cable lineup.
Also we can’t help looking back at a tweet Kirstie Alley posted a couple of weeks ago…
Is it possible that SMP might be producing some actual shows for the new station and not using it merely to broadcast its boring YouTube videos? Could Kirstie Alley, for example, be working on some counter-programming to A&E’s Leah Remini: Scientology and the Aftermath?
That would be kind of epic.
We want to hear your ideas for shows. If Miscavige is going to lay out what must be mountains of cash for this thing, he might as well get his money’s worth.
Wow. We can hardly wait.
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Bonus items from our tipsters
Kuba Ka had his 26th birthday last night (or his 31st), and it was not a fun occasion: “Very sad Birthday this year, out of Hospital for tonight. It’s not about me – it’s about how much that Charity Ball at @scientology Celebrity Centre could do for Refugees… It was my Dream…”
What not to get Kuba for his birthday: For only $9.99 at her store, Joy Villa dog tags!
Meanwhile, in Moscow, it’s a Harry Potter theme and the Sorting Hat is pulling in the donations!
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Countdown to Denver!
HowdyCon 2017: Denver, June 23-25. Go here to start making your plans.
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Bernie Headley has not seen his daughter Stephanie in 4,704 days.
Quailynn McDaniel has not seen her brother Sean in 1,807 days.
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Joe Reaiche has not seen his daughter Alanna Masterson in 4,638 days
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Cindy Plahuta has not seen her daughter Kara in 2,128 days.
Claire Headley has not seen her mother Gen in 2,103 days.
Ramana Dienes-Browning has not seen her mother Jancis in 459 days.
Mike Rinder has not seen his son Benjamin in 4,761 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his daughter Spring in 868 days.
Skip Young has not seen his daughters Megan and Alexis for 1,270 days.
Mary Kahn has not seen her son Sammy in 1,143 days.
Lois Reisdorf has not seen her son Craig in 724 days.
Phil and Willie Jones have not seen their son Mike in 1,229 days.
Mary Jane Sterne has not seen her daughter Samantha in 1,473 days.
Kate Bornstein has not seen her daughter Jessica in 12,582 days.
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Posted by Tony Ortega on March 29, 2017 at 07:00
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Our book, The Unbreakable Miss Lovely: How the Church of Scientology tried to destroy Paulette Cooper, is on sale at Amazon in paperback, Kindle, and audiobook versions. We’ve posted photographs of Paulette and scenes from her life at a separate location. Reader Sookie put together a complete index. More information about the book, and our 2015 book tour, can also be found at the book’s dedicated page.
The Best of the Underground Bunker, 1995-2016 Just starting out here? We’ve picked out the most important stories we’ve covered here at the Undergound Bunker (2012-2016), The Village Voice (2008-2012), New Times Los Angeles (1999-2002) and the Phoenix New Times (1995-1999)
Learn about Scientology with our numerous series with experts…
BLOGGING DIANETICS: We read Scientology’s founding text cover to cover with the help of L.A. attorney and former church member Vance Woodward
UP THE BRIDGE: Claire Headley and Bruce Hines train us as Scientologists
GETTING OUR ETHICS IN: Jefferson Hawkins explains Scientology’s system of justice
SCIENTOLOGY MYTHBUSTING: Historian Jon Atack discusses key Scientology concepts
Other links: Shelly Miscavige, ten years gone | The Lisa McPherson story told in real time | The Cathriona White stories | The Leah Remini ‘Knowledge Reports’ | Hear audio of a Scientology excommunication | Scientology’s little day care of horrors | Whatever happened to Steve Fishman? | Felony charges for Scientology’s drug rehab scam | Why Scientology digs bomb-proof vaults in the desert | PZ Myers reads L. Ron Hubbard’s “A History of Man” | Scientology’s Master Spies | Scientology’s Private Dancer | The mystery of the richest Scientologist and his wayward sons | Scientology’s shocking mistreatment of the mentally ill | Scientology boasts about assistance from Google | The Underground Bunker’s Official Theme Song | The Underground Bunker FAQ
Our Guide to Alex Gibney’s film ‘Going Clear,’ and our pages about its principal figures…
Jason Beghe | Tom DeVocht | Sara Goldberg | Paul Haggis | Mark “Marty” Rathbun | Mike Rinder | Spanky Taylor | Hana Whitfield
