Gospel Music Assn.'s (GMA)

After bouncing around on various
networks and in syndication, the Gospel Music Assn.'s (GMA)
Dove Awards have landed a new TV home on the Gospel Music
Channel, an Atlanta-based cable network airing Christian/gospel
music content 24 hours a day.

The multiyear agreement begins with the 2008 Doves, which
will be broadcast live April 23 from Nashville's Grand Ole Opry
House. GMC has committed to multiple additional airings of the
program as well as developing other programming around the
awards show, such as a new series leading up to the event, "The
Road to the Doves."

"The Dove Awards celebrate all styles, much like the Gospel
Music Channel," GMC founder/president Charles Humbard said. "We
share a very similar mission and values with them."

GMA president/CEO John Styll also sees the two entities as
compatible. "The programming philosophy of GMC is very similar
to the GMA philosophy," he said. "Any kind of faith-based
music, regardless of the style, is what the GMA embraces, and
that's what the Gospel Music Channel embraces. They define
gospel as anything from contemporary Christian to a black choir
to a Southern quartet to a punk band. So does the GMA, so
there's a good editorial fit."

The last time the Doves aired live was in 2002 on the PAX
network. In recent years, the program has aired in syndication.
"It's been hard staying in one place. Networks change. The PAX
network is a different network now. The Family Channel is a
different network now. TNN is a different network now," Styll
said. "I think we're a little bit of a square peg in a round
hole in some ways, and we're aware that this is a very
different kind of show for most networks to air. It's a
challenge."

GMC launched in 2004. According to Humbard, the network
will be in 45 million homes by the end of this year, and is the
fastest-growing cable network. Comparable to CMT, MTV, VH1, GAC
and other music-driven channels, GMC offers Christian/gospel
music fans a place to see the genres' established and
up-and-coming talent.

Industry insiders are pleased that the show will be live
this year, offering greater visibility and better marketing
opportunities. "Unlike years past, no one is going to know who
won until they watch. An awards show needs the drama," Humbard
said. When the awards show was syndicated, media attending the
event announced the winners before its airing.

This year's nominees in the artist of the year category are
Casting Crowns, the Clark Sisters, Natalie Grant, Point of
Grace, Skillet, Chris Tomlin and tobyMac. Casting Crowns
frontman Mark Hall is the year's most-nominated artist with six
nods, including male vocalist and song of the year.

The Doves are the centerpiece of GMA Music Week, the
gospel/Christian industry's annual gathering.

The American Bible Society has signed on as the presenting
sponsor for the 39th annual awards, as well as the designated
charity of the event. Plans call for additional Dove sponsors
to be announced in coming weeks.