Believers who tune into the God Channel are offered the chance to become 'angels' for a price of US$750. The network - started by South African couple Rory and Wendy Alec in Britain in 1995 - is funding part of its expansion by making viewers 'God TV angels' in return for donations.
A minimum one-off donation of US$750 qualifies a viewer as a regular angel, while a heftier US$1,500 earns the title of outreach angel. A separate category of business angel is available to companies prepared to donate US$5,000 a year to God TV's expansion.
God TV describes its angels as 'modern-day media missionaries with a passion to reclaim the air waves for Christ' and promises donors: 'By giving towards Christian television, you put yourself right at the forefront of today's media mission field.'
The network also stages a succession of specific fund-raising events, including the one staged in Britain and Europe to raise money to pay for God TV's first year in Hong Kong.
Wendy Alec was born in London and grew up in Durban, South Africa, where she married South African network co-founder Rory in 1987. They worked in advertising and TV production before moving to Britain and launching God TV in 1995. In 2001, it switched to Jerusalem and now beams worldwide via 10 satellites.
Rory Alec holds the title of God TV chief executive, while Wendy Alec is network controller. The couple have two children and have now moved to the United States - the home of evangelical TV - to launch their network from Washington DC.