In the late 1990s, The SCOAN began gaining international attention due to the distribution of video cassettes, showing clips of Joshua's early ministry and alleged miracles. Additionally, Joshua began airing regular programs purporting to show ‘miracles’ on local Nigerian television. However, when Nigeria's National Broadcasting Commission, under the instruction of then President Olusegun Obasanjo controversially banned the showing of ‘miracles’, in 2004, most of his programs were taken off air. This eventually paved the way for the emergence of Emmanuel TV in March 2007. Since its inception, Emmanuel TV has broadcast Christian programmes, stating that its mission is 'to preach the Good News to all mankind.' From humble beginnings, it has rapidly grown to become one of Africa's most well known brands and popular television stations. In its profile on Joshua, the BBC described him as "Nigeria's best known televangelist".
Programming
Emmanuel TV broadcasts a range of programmes from The Synagogue, Church of All Nations. It has gained a reputation for being a Christian station that does not run any on-air campaigns for financial assistance and among the only Christian stations that does not syndicate programs of other pastors.
Emmanuel TV is also found on DStv Channel 390 where Biblical Readings, Testimonies, Teaching and Christian Kids Programmes like Cartoons which are mainly about the Bible and Jesus Christ are found.
Reach
Emmanuel TV is broadcast worldwide on various satellites. Its programmes air weekly on a number of local television stations across Africa, debuting on DStv and GOtv in November 2015, as well as Startimes in February 2016. Its playout centre is located in Johannesburg, South Africa. Emmanuel TV's motto is 'Changing Lives, Changing Nations, Changing the World.' The station is also known for its catch-phrase, ‘Distance Is Not A Barrier’, encouraging viewers to ‘pray along’ with T.B. Joshua by ‘touching the screen’. There are several claims of people receiving miraculous 'healing' through these prayers, including popular Nollywood actress Tonto Dikeh who said Joshua's prayers ended her 14-year smoking addiction. T.B. Joshua has donated televisions to prisons and hospitals so that they will be able to watch the Emmanuel TV broadcasts.
Emmanuel TV's YouTube Channel is the most subscribed Christian ministry YouTube channel worldwide and the third most subscribed in Nigeria, having amassed more than 1,000,000 subscribers and over 500 million views since its inception. Google ranked one of Emmanuel TV's YouTube videos as the fourth most viewed clip ever within Nigeria.
Controversy
A Ghanaian psychiatrist in UK was controversially sacked from the NHS after recommending Emmanuel TV to a patient with a history of 'satanic abuse', although later cleared of any wrongdoing by a tribunal.
