TBN's Smile network to shut down on January 12, 2025

[MilkTheCouch]

In a Discord server I was in, someone posted this video:
That's right, TBN's children's channel Smile is shutting down on January 12, 2025 after a nearly two-decade long run in favor of focusing on their Yippee streaming service. It is unknown if this will affect TBN's Saturday morning broadcasts of VeggieTales.

Honestly, I saw this coming. The channel's been on autopilot for at least a couple of years now, and this is evident in the fact that they only run a select number of VeggieTales episodes, unlike what TBN does.

 

[SpecialColorfull]

Thank Goodness for Me TV Toons.

 

[MilkTheCouch]

Thank Goodness for Me TV Toons.

And PBS Kids, too!

 

[SpecialColorfull]

And PBS Kids, too!

Definitely PBS Kids too.

 

[harry580]

oof, tbn smile going!, well, at least theres always yippee (tbn's kids network for digital)

 

[PinkieLopBun]

Never watched this channel, in part because I don’t think I ever got it, but I’m also not interested in religious programming. However, I did find out they aired non religious old anime at one point and I might have watched that if I got the chance.

 

[RandomMe]

Surprised to see that a Christian meganetwork, of all things, has joined the "kids don't watch linear TV anymore" bandwagon.

TBN had done that before in 2020 when they ditched JUCE for Positiv, which is semi-secular, while JUCE became a web brand.

This isn't the first time a Christian kids network shuts down. Five years ago in January 2019, when Dominion shuttered operations (its three in-house channels were exclusive to Dish Network), KTV did so, and the mix of programming was similar (Christian programming tends to syndicate easier, so it's not uncommon to see some programs from the same producer airing on more than one network).

All that remains is the 3ABN Kids Network, which apparently produces all of the shows it airs.

oof, tbn smile going!, well, at least theres always yippee (tbn's kids network for digital)

Yippee is a paid OTT service. Viewers are given TBN+ as a free option.

 

[Rick Jones]

I remember my little cousins watching it years back. I was curious once but the ads ran me off.

There was a Christian kids network, KTV, years back that I loved because they aired lots of old rare cartoons and shows, especially Filmation stuff. At the time I think I occasionally watched BYUtv as well, for older Disney stuff that was airing nowhere else.

All that remains is the 3ABN Kids Network, which apparently produces all of the shows it airs.

All their content is Adventist. No cartoons or anything.

 

[entransify]

i personally never got the channel so it's not a huge loss as far as i'm concerned, though if i ever did, i probably would've been all over VeggieTales.

it and its sister program, 3-2-1 Penguins, are two of the rare Christian-oriented programs that anyone can enjoy.

 

[PrevueLovesAnimeTV]

i personally never got the channel so it's not a huge loss as far as i'm concerned, though if i ever did, i probably would've been all over VeggieTales.

it and its sister program, 3-2-1 Penguins, are two of the rare Christian-oriented programs that anyone can enjoy.

R.I.P. Smile 2005-2025

 

[LinusFan303]

I know they aired the OG Super Book and the flying house, I used to record the Superbook 4am ET airing when they still had the cable signal. They eventually got the current Superbook. They also at one time had Miss BG that used to air on Qubo.

They also have the news on their site.

I think the TBN Saturday block stays to fulfill the E/I block, they really scaled back things there too just two hours and it's one show (Veggie Tales). Daystar still has a slightly more variety kids' block. Though both Daystar and CTN both air the new Superbook.

It's an even harder market than non-Christian's children's TV because in general, there's less of quality programming out there in that market.

 

[MilkTheCouch]

i personally never got the channel so it's not a huge loss as far as i'm concerned, though if i ever did, i probably would've been all over VeggieTales.

it and its sister program, 3-2-1 Penguins, are two of the rare Christian-oriented programs that anyone can enjoy.

VeggieTales and 321 Penguins also aired on qubo in the mid-2000's, and I watched that.

 

[entransify]

VeggieTales and 321 Penguins also aired on qubo in the mid-2000's, and I watched that.

I mainly watched VeggieTales when it was on NBC on Saturday mornings. didn't give 3-2-1 Penguins a chance until much later, when it was on KTV.

 

[RandomMe]

I had to delete unsourced text on the channel's Wikipedia article. Replacing it on cable with Disney XD? No way, it's impossible. The slot outside OTA is still owned by TBN.

 

[superkeegan9100]

In a Discord server I was in, someone posted this video:
That's right, TBN's children's channel Smile is shutting down on January 12, 2025 after a nearly two-decade long run in favor of focusing on their Yippee streaming service. It is unknown if this will affect TBN's Saturday morning broadcasts of VeggieTales.

Honestly, I saw this coming. The channel's been on autopilot for at least a couple of years now, and this is evident in the fact that they only run a select number of VeggieTales episodes, unlike what TBN does.

never thought I'd see the day

 

[Jonathan Teka]

Another television network is going away. 2025 may be off to a rough start.

As if Inspiration TV going off the air in July of this year wasn't bad enough...

 

[PrevueLovesAnimeTV]

On it's 19th anniversary??? that is sad

 

[CartoonLover2604]

It’s crazy to me that Smile outlasted Qubo. I was never a huge fan of Smile like with Qubo, only really watched it for the Big Idea stuff and occasionally Zula Patrol. My former cable provider dropped the channel years before the shut down so I never kept up with it afterwards. Kind of a bummer seeing it go since over the air children’s networks are becoming more rare by the day and not every kid has access to the internet. Well, least we still have PBS Kids and MeTV Toons (even if the latter is more general audiences oriented than the former.)

 

[LinusFan303]

The Channel has shut down, the over the air feed is running infomercials , the online feed is gone , it's not on TBN Plus anymore. It shutdown before at 11pm ET. It's Done.

 

[Perla Magica]

I see someone recorded the final closedown.