Hope Media Europe

Hope Media Europe e.V. (formerly Stimme der Hoffnung e.V.) is a Christian media center of the Seventh-day Adventist Church, based in Alsbach-Hähnlein, south of Darmstadt, Germany. It is the operator of the television channel Hope TV and traces its origins to the Adventist radio mission Voice of Prophecy, founded in 1929. The German branch was established in 1948 under the name Stimme der Hoffnung, initially led by Max Busch in Berlin-Zehlendorf, with radio programs produced in Paris and broadcast via Radio Luxembourg from 1948 to 1985. Over the decades, the organization expanded its reach through various European shortwave stations and local private broadcasters, and it also founded a Bible correspondence school that later became the International Bible Study Institute, now Hope Courses. In 1956, the Friedensau Bild- und Tonstelle was created to ensure reception in East Germany and Eastern Europe, and in 1959 the Stimme der Hoffnung moved to Darmstadt, producing its own studio programs. A lending library for the blind was established in West Germany in 1964, and similar institutions were founded in East Germany in 1965, later integrated after 1992. The organization began video production in 1994, became an internet provider in 1997, and started satellite broadcasting in 1998. A new media center was inaugurated in late 2006, and in 2008 it received a license from the Hessian State Authority for Private Broadcasting and New Media (LPR) for nationwide satellite and internet radio. In January 2009, the Commission on Concentration in the Media (KEK) granted a license for its own television channel, Hope Channel, now Hope TV, broadcast via ASTRA satellite and internet. Since September 1, 2015, Hope TV has been broadcast in HD quality. In 2014, a generational change took place: Klaus Popa succeeded Matthias Müller as managing director, and Sven Fockner took over the leadership of the International Bible Study Institute, now Hope Courses. In 2019, the association renamed itself Hope Media Europe e.V. Today, Hope Media Europe operates Hope TV (a 24-hour German-language television channel available via satellite, internet, DVB-T in the Vienna area, and as an app), Hope Podcast (formerly Hope Channel Radio, a 24-hour German-language radio station available via ASTRA satellite, internet, regional cable networks, app, and radio.de), Hope Audiobooks (formerly the lending library for the blind, providing free audio books in audio, MP3, DAISY, and cassette formats to blind and visually impaired people in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland), and Hope Courses (formerly Hope Bible Study Institute, offering free Bible correspondence courses for various age groups, with over 6,000 participants annually in 11 free faith courses).

Hope Media Europe e.V. (formerly Stimme der Hoffnung e.V.) is a Christian media center of the Seventh-day Adventist Church in Alsbach-Hähnlein, south of Darmstadt, Germany. It operates the television channel Hope TV. The predecessor organization Stimme der Hoffnung maintained one of the first Christian private radio stations in Germany since 1948 and the oldest German institute for free Bible correspondence courses. The Stimme der Hoffnung traces its origins to Voice of Prophecy, founded in 1929 as an Adventist radio mission. Voice of Prophecy purchased airtime on Radio Luxembourg, and in 1948, following the idea of its founder H.M.S. Richards and German team member Henrique G. Stoehr, a German branch was established. The first leader in Berlin-Zehlendorf was Max Busch, and the radio programs were produced in Paris. From 1948 to 1985, the radio program of Stimme der Hoffnung was broadcast by Radio Luxembourg. Due to listener responses, a Bible correspondence school (BKS) with free Bible courses was founded, the predecessor of the International Bible Study Institute, now Hope Courses. In 1956, the Friedensau Bild- und Tonstelle was founded to ensure reception in East Germany and Eastern European countries. In 1959, Stimme der Hoffnung moved to Darmstadt, and from then on the programs were produced in its own studio. In 1964, the Adventist lending library for the blind was established in West Germany. In 1965, the Friedensau Bible correspondence courses and a lending library for the blind were founded in East Germany. From 1992, the original institutions in East Germany were integrated into Stimme der Hoffnung. This included the Bible Study Institute in 1992 and the lending library and image center Friedensau in 1994. From 1971, various other European shortwave stations were added: from 1971 to 1992 broadcasts were via Radio Trans Europa (Portugal), 1975–78 via Radio Mediterran Malta, 1979–1981 via Radio Andorra, since 1985 via Adventist World Radio (Forlí, Italy), 1992–1996 via Radio Moscow, 1994–1998 via Radio Slovakia International, and finally until 2007 via Radio Austria International. Since the opening of the German media landscape for private broadcasting in 1983, programs were broadcast via numerous local private stations. In some cases, Stimme der Hoffnung also acted as its own licensee for local radio. In 2007, the 24-hour program Hope Channel Radio began, broadcast via the Eutelsat Hotbird 6 satellite in addition to the internet. Later, the HOPE Channel Radio and TV program could also be received regionally via cable (e.g., EWE TEL GmbH, wilhelm.tel, S+K Servicekabel AG, etc.). In 1994, the first video productions were created; in 1997, it first appeared as an internet provider; in 1998, the broadcast of radio and television programs via satellite began. In 2003, for the ecumenical Year of the Bible, live broadcasts were conducted for the first time. Before the founding of its own television channel, Stimme der Hoffnung supplied programs to the multilingual HOPE Channel Europe as well as rheinmaintv and Kabel BW. At the end of 2006, the newly built media center was put into operation, which in 2008 received approval from the Hessian State Authority for Private Broadcasting and New Media (LPR) for nationwide transmission of its 24-hour radio program via satellite and internet. In January 2009, the Commission on Concentration in the Media (KEK) granted the media center approval for its own new television channel Hope Channel, now HopeTV, for digital distribution via the ASTRA satellite and on the internet. Since September 1, 2015, the television program of Hope TV has been broadcast in HD quality. In 2014, a generational change was initiated at Stimme der Hoffnung. Klaus Popa succeeded the previous managing director Matthias Müller, and Sven Fockner took over the leadership of the International Bible Study Institute, now Hope Courses. In 2019, the association renamed itself Hope Media Europe e.V. The media center operates: Hope TV (formerly Hope Channel) – German-language 24-hour television channel, receivable via satellite (Astra 1KR) and internet, in the greater Vienna area via DVB-T and as an app; Hope Podcast (formerly Hope Channel Radio) – German-language 24-hour radio station, receivable via satellite ASTRA and internet, in some regional cable networks, as an app and via radio.de; Hope Audiobooks (formerly Lending Library for the Blind) – serves blind and visually impaired people primarily in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. Christian magazines and book titles are recorded as audiobooks in audio, MP3, and DAISY format or cassette and lent free of charge to subscribers; Hope Courses (formerly Hope Bible Study Institute) – free Bible correspondence courses for various age groups. Annually, over 6,000 participants study one of a total of 11 free faith courses.

• 2019

  Association renamed Hope Media Europe e.V.

• 2015

  Hope TV begins HD broadcast on September 1.

• 2014

  Generational change: Klaus Popa becomes managing director; Sven Fockner leads Bible Study Institute.

• 2009

  KEK grants license for own television channel Hope Channel (now Hope TV).

• 2008

  LPR grants license for nationwide satellite and internet radio.

• 2007

  24-hour Hope Channel Radio begins, broadcast via Eutelsat Hotbird 6.

• 2006

  New media center put into operation.

• 2003

  First live broadcasts for the ecumenical Year of the Bible.

• 1998

  Satellite broadcasting of radio and television programs begins.

• 1997

  First appearance as an internet provider.

• 1994

  First video productions; lending library and image center Friedensau integrated.

• 1992

  East German institutions integrated into Stimme der Hoffnung, including Bible Study Institute.

• 1983

  German media landscape opens for private broadcasting; programs aired via local private stations.

• 1971

  Broadcasts begin via Radio Trans Europa (Portugal) until 1992.

• 1965

  Friedensau Bible correspondence courses and lending library for the blind founded in East Germany.

• 1964

  Adventist lending library for the blind established in West Germany.

• 1959

  Stimme der Hoffnung moves to Darmstadt; programs produced in own studio.

• 1956

  Friedensau Bild- und Tonstelle founded for reception in East Germany and Eastern Europe.

• 1948

  German branch Stimme der Hoffnung established; radio programs broadcast via Radio Luxembourg until 1985.

• 1929

  Voice of Prophecy founded as an Adventist radio mission.

Christian media center providing free, faith-based content across television, radio, audio, and online courses.

• Hope TV

  German-language 24-hour television channel, formerly Hope Channel, available via satellite (Astra 1KR), internet, DVB-T in Vienna area, and app.

• Hope Podcast

  German-language 24-hour radio station, formerly Hope Channel Radio, available via ASTRA satellite, internet, regional cable, app, and radio.de.

• Hope Audiobooks

  Lending library for the blind, providing free audiobooks in audio, MP3, DAISY, and cassette formats to blind and visually impaired in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland.

• Hope Courses

  Free Bible correspondence courses for various age groups; over 6,000 participants annually in 11 free faith courses.

1. 1Hope Media Europe - Wikipedia (German)de.wikipedia.org
2. 2Hope Media Europe - Wikidatawikidata.org
3. 3Hope Media Europe official websitehopemedia.eu