Gospel Superfest To Re-Write TV history 2nd New York City Session

Dr. Bobby Cartwright, Jr. Executive Producer of the nation’s most widely distributed Gospel Music TV show in US domestic syndication sets the record straight and breaks silence on key facts and accomplishments of Gospel Superfest TV series

New York City - In recent years, the Gospel Superfest Television show has become one of the most talked about properties in gospel music. Looked upon in its first years as daring, considering that for over two decades, gospel enthusiasts had very few choices when channel surfing for gospel music programming on TV. In the year, 2000, Gospel Superfest launched its classy upscale TV production, with noted network veteran Clifton Davis (AMEN) at the host position, Dr. Bobby Cartwright, Jr. Executive Producing, and Chuck Vinson (NAACP Image Awards) as co-producer, quickly became a contender for national viewership, in the very competitive arena of gospel music TV production.

Everyone in America and probably many abroad, associate black gospel music television, with the illustrious Dr. Bobby Jones host of Bobby Jones Gospel (BET). For decades in gospel television, this was the cadence, Bobby Jones Gospel every Sunday morning while getting ready for church, and each January the Stellar Awards. But in recent years, this very uplifting and powerful presentation called Gospel Superfest, kept popping up on TV sets all year long. And these shows keep popping up on major network affiliates such as ABC, NBC, CBS, FOX, cable networks, and Christian Networks, and doesn’t seem to run out of great moments and performances. The consistency in its production during its first five years has been seamless. The Gospel Superfest series consists of four quarterly specials each year, all, starting off with what else, Gospel Superfest something! Gospel Superfest Salute to Black History approaching its sixth consecutive year, Gospel Superfest Easter, Gospel Superfest Most Memorable, Gospel Superfest Back to School Jam, and Gospel Superfest Holiday. Wait, that’s five shows! Most Memorable is the latest offering from the series’ owner, United Television, LLC of Ohio. The Gospel Superfest TV event (the live recording session soon to take place at The Christian Cultural Center in Brooklyn, NY this October) has become a key industry event, as thousands attend each year to hear some of their favorite gospel artists perform in front of the cameras. Many then go back to their hometowns and wait for the broadcasts to air in their market. And hopefully, they just may see themselves in the audience, praising, shouting and having themselves a good time. (New Yorkers will see the final edited versions of Gospel Superfest on WABC-TV-7 later this year and early 2006)

Gospel Superfest TV has recently achieved some history making and significant benchmarks that many in the gospel industry and the television advertising industry may not be aware of, and its Executive Producer Dr. Bobby Cartwright has broken his diplomacy and silence to set the record straight once and for all. Cartwright states, “Gospel Superfest has had the highest cumulative ratings among gospel TV shows in broadcast syndication for three consecutive years in many key demos including black households and general market households. And many are simply unaware of this well documented fact.” But not for long if Dr. Bobby Cartwright, Jr. gets his way. As Founder and Executive Producer, of what he says is “God’s TV show”, Dr. Cartwright is determined that this year, the truth about how America’s black gospel TV shows measure up in the area of ratings and distribution must be brought to light in order for all that are interested in this industry to know the facts. He says, “If you have the number one selling album in any genre, you would be published in Billboard Magazine. And no one would argue the fact that for that measurement period, and for that week or weeks, you are simply number one on the charts! Case closed! (With possibly a bullet or something.) But in gospel music television, there are only one or two entities that specialize in measuring the audience delivery and household distribution for TV shows, and most people in the general public do not have access to this data. So if anyone is to know, they either find out by the syndicator themselves or a news agency that is interested in sharing the ratings of a show for whatever reason. Case in point, when American Idol achieves high ratings (which is every show), the next day, either Entertainment Tonight, Extra or The Insider usually lead their broadcasts with a story stating 26 million viewers watched Idol last night and who was eliminated, etc, etc. But in gospel music, most of our shows are not covered by major news TV magazines unless there is a mainstream participant of interest.” Dr. Cartwright has determined after a brief conversation with a key industry professional who was somewhat unaware of how the gospel TV shows of today measure up, according to the Nielsen Ratings, that it was long overdue and the right time for the facts to be known. He states, “for the last three consecutive years (2003, 2004 & 2005) Gospel Superfest has delivered, cumulatively, the highest ratings in general market and black households than any other gospel music TV special or series in domestic syndication now and in TV history.” (Source Nielsen Media Research) In fact, in the year 2004, Gospel Superfest delivered a higher cumulative African American household rating than both major gospel awards shows combined. Gospel Superfest’ four syndicated specials totaled a 12.1 cumulative African American household rating (AA-HH) with its closest gospel music competitor reaching a 9.0. (Source Nielsen Media Research) In household distribution, Gospel Superfest is unparalleled in overall distribution both domestically (in the US) and internationally (the entire world). “Gospel Superfest is distributed domestically in broadcast syndication, similar to Soul Train, The Judge Shows, Oprah Winfrey, Wheel Of Fortune, etc. Domestic broadcast syndication is when you are carried on a CBS in one market and an NBC, FOX, UPN or NBC in another during the same broadcast period. Another key-measuring component is how many households are reached with each show. And this is another area in which Nielsen Media Research data must be used to determine the amount of households reached by a show.” For the last two years and for four consecutive quarters, Gospel Superfest’ TV distribution in domestic syndication has achieved 93% of all US television households. This while reaching an astonishing 94% US household distribution with its most recent release of Gospel Superfest Most Memorable Performances hosted by Shirley Murdock & Byron Cage. Subsequently surpassing all gospel music TV shows in syndication to date in this category. (Source Nielsen Media Research)

“Many people look at us as the new kids on the block so to speak, and in some regards that may be true, but six consecutive years in domestic syndication is an eternity in the world of television. Shows, like “The Magic Hour with host NBA Superstar Magic Johnson, Vibe with Comedian Sinbad, and most recently ‘The Wayne Brady Show, and the re-birth of Star Search hosted by Arsenio Hall, only made it a year or two in syndication. Even one of my favorite shows ‘City of Angels, with Vivica Fox and Blair Underwood, only ran for two seasons on CBS. And the show that made the host of Gospel Superfest, Clifton Davis, a household word, “Amen”, starring Sherman Hemsley and Anna Marie Horsford, ran for five seasons in “first run network syndication” on NBC. That said, it is obvious that six years in broadcast syndication has to be considered at best, all grown up!”

The Executive Producer of Gospel Superfest, Dr. Bobby Cartwright, Jr. came from one of the most miraculous testimonies that the Christian music industry has ever witnessed. Being a former crack cocaine addict; he was homeless eighteen years ago; he was left by his former wife due to his addiction and had a felony assault case and possible jail sentence pending. Being out on the streets of Dayton, Ohio with no job, or income in site, completely broke and with one suitcase, Cartwright was finally taken in, reluctantly, by his sister Nyra Davenport who is a Pentecostal Evangelist. He adopted what at that time he considered was “his sister’s holly roller religion" and began to re-build his shambled life to what it has become today. Honored with a doctoral degree in the field of Christian Communication, Dr. Cartwright has become an influential figure in the gospel music industry. Television is still one of the most powerful means of communication and advertising and gospel Superfest TV has become a highly sought after opportunity. “I have no formal training in TV and never studied one day in a formal setting as it relates to television or radio”, Cartwright states. He has held positions as a station manager, general sales manager and general manager of both radio and TV properties in the Midwest. “On each job I have had, I either created the position or in the case of radio, made a demo tape and auditioned. And for me to be called in recently by The Word Network to technical consult and art direct, a newly established conference, co-founded by Zomba Record executive Max Siegel, proves that someone is paying attention. My take is that someone other than The Word Network should know what the clear picture is as it relates to the gospel music TV landscape. This is a new era in all aspects of gospel music, not only in TV, but radio, print, Internet, etc, and this is just the beginning of many miracles that God has in store for them that love him and serve him with their talents” he continues to elaborate.

Gospel Superfest to make another Jot In the History Books at CCC this October!

This year, Gospel Superfest will make yet another entry in the history books by being the first nationally syndicated black gospel TV show to originate from the entertainment capital of the world, New York City, for two consecutive years. “When we launched Gospel Superfest TV in the year 2000 in Louisville, KY and delivered our first special, there were not a lot of gospel TV opportunities out there. The Word Network had just launched on Direct TV (2/14/00), The Gospel Music Channel executives were happily employed at The Turner Network, and their new GMC was unheard of. The Dream Network, The NU TV network both have come and gone. However, now, TV One, has come on very strong, The Word Network has certainly become the source for urban ministries without question, and The Black Family Channel, has continued to make significant progress in all areas and is doing great. So now, there are many choices for gospel fans to catch their favorite gospel performers. But these are cable networks, and they are not independently produced syndications such as Gospel Superfest, Soul Train and Entertainment Studios’ plethora of productions with Byron Allen etc. And in syndication there are still very few independently produced shows and minority producers that have sustained the test of time in delivering first run specials and television series, year after year after year,” Dr. Cartwright states.

Gospel Superfest is the only independently produced black gospel TV show, to air on the world’s largest Christian Network, TBN (Trinity Broadcasting Network). This affiliation alone puts the Gospel Superfest Brand, in over 2 billion TV Households worldwide. Coupled with domestic syndication at the highest levels to date Gospel Superfest is a clear and obvious leader in the field of black gospel television. And a TV phenomenon that has somewhat silently re-written the gospel TV history books. The producers of Gospel Superfest have chosen not to be silent any more, and they shouldn’t be. As mentioned earlier, if you have a hit record, not only would you hear it every day on your favorite radio station, you could also pick up a copy of Billboard or Jet Magazine, and see the rankings for your self. It is the intention of Dr. Cartwright and his talented production team, to celebrate their success in God. They know very well that it is His anointing and presence in their lives that allow them to function in this capacity and at this level. “We want our artist this year, to have a sense of pride when they come to New York City and participate in this International TV recording, that will reach millions of viewers in cities and countries around the world. These shows will air in places where the artists and producers may never get to go in their lifetime,” Cartwright further states.

Each performer that graces the Gospel Superfest New York-2 elaborately decorated stage, and each gospel music fan that sit in their seat at the Christian Cultural Center in Brooklyn, NY this October 28 th & 29 th, 2005 (Pastor, The Honorable Dr. A.R. Bernard) will be a part of gospel music TV history. “We all should be very thankful to God, and very proud that we are so privileged to a part of such a rich American tradition; the tradition of gospel music. Gospel Superfest New York –2’s General Sponsor is CCCMG, the in-house independent record label of the Christian Cultural Center. Sponsors in for the specials in syndication include General Motors, Kraft, P & G, Toyota and others. Media partners for the live TV recording are The Daystar TV Network, Kiss FM of New York, The Word Network, Gospel Today Magazine, Gospel Truth Magazine and Gospel city.com.

Gospel Superfest will be held Friday & Saturday October 28 th & 29 th, 2005 at the Christian Cultural Center located at 12020 Flatlands Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11207. Tickets for the event can be purchased at all ticketmaster outlets or on line at www.ticketmaster.com. Or by calling 212-307-7171. Information is also available at the show’s website www.gospelsuperfest.com or by call the show hotline at 212-631-4200. Host hotel for Gospel Superfest is the Hampton Inn-JFK 718-322-7500.

Footnotes:

Gospel Superfest Airs

Domestic Syndication - approximately 94 Million each broadcast

Re-expression vehicles /Networks:

PAX TV 68 Million TV HH
The Daystar TV Network 51 Million TV HH
The Word Network 41 Million TV HH
The Gospel Music Channel (numbers not published)

Weekly Series:

Gospel Superfest Back Stage Pass on TBN - 2 Billion TV HH Worldwide /97 Million in the United States.

For more information on Gospel Superfest Television, please visit www.gospelsuperfest.com

For information on the up coming New York TV taping please call the Gospel Superfest New York Hotline at 212-631-4200.

Written by United Television Staff writer, Michelle Lee, Michelle can be reached at unitedtv@fuse.net