UP Entertainment Turns 20: CEO Charley Humbard Reflects on Two Decades of Inspiring TV and What’s Next

variety.com:

Jim Halterman 2004 was a notable year for television viewers. “Friends” wrapped up its 10-year run; Ken Jennings had his first winning streak on “Jeopardy!”; Illinois senator Barack Obama made a splash with a keynote speech at the Democratic National Convention; new series “Lost” and “Desperate Housewives” became obsessions.

And the news was constantly filled with stories from the Iraq war. Then, on Oct. 30, a network known as the Gospel Music Channel was born. “I remember thinking ‘Wow, it’s the perfect time to have something positive and uplifting and there was probably nothing more hopeful than gospel music,” says Charles “Charley” Humbard, the founder and CEO of UP Entertainment.

Humbard is aware that a faith-based music channel might not have been the obvious choice for a new network, but he saw indicators that told him they were on the right path. “The landscape was really good at the time,” he says. “‘The Passion of the Christ’ had come out and really opened eyes to this audience that are more faith-oriented in entertainment.

Also, gospel music was as big in sales as country music, so we had some really interesting things working for us.” So when the network launched, its music-heavy programming slate featured Christian music award shows, music video blocks as well as concerts, singing competitions and artist biographies.