Faith-based broadcasting has always been about more than transmission. It is about message, mission, and meaningful connection. As audience behaviours shift and digital platforms reshape the global media landscape, ministries today are focused on how to extend that mission further by reaching audiences wherever they consume content while building sustainable growth.
At this year’s NRB convention in Nashville, those strategic conversations were front and centre. As an official workshop sponsor, iKO Media Group was proud to support the event and engage directly with faith broadcasters navigating this next phase of industry evolution.
Representing iKO Media Group on the ground were Mark Berenshtein, SVP Sales North America and Special Accounts, and Mark Demichovski, SVP Sales Operations, who spent the week meeting ministries, technology providers and platform representatives. We asked them to share what they observed and what it signals for faith-based broadcasters looking to scale with confidence. Here’s what they had to say:
What were the key themes or challenges you saw emerging at NRB 2026?
NRB continues to grow, both in attendance and in the diversity of solutions being offered to faith-based broadcasters. Beyond traditional broadcast infrastructure, there was a noticeable increase in companies presenting donation platforms, digital engagement tools, production equipment, and content syndication services.
The overarching theme was transformation. Faith broadcasters are no longer thinking only in terms of linear transmission. They are actively exploring digital expansion, audience engagement tools, and new monetisation models. The ecosystem around them is clearly evolving to support that shift.
What concerns or ambitions did you hear most often around growth and distribution?
The dominant ambition is reach. Many broadcasters are looking to launch FAST versions of their channels and expand distribution across OTT platforms.
There is a strong understanding that traditional satellite and cable distribution alone is no longer sufficient for growth. Ministries want to meet audiences where they consume content today, on connected TVs, mobile apps, and streaming platforms, and they are actively looking for partners who can help them navigate that transition efficiently.
Did you notice any shift in how organisations are thinking about global reach, digital platforms, or monetisation?
Yes, the shift is clear. While satellite, fiber, and cable remain important, organisations increasingly view OTT as essential rather than optional.
Global reach is now closely tied to digital presence. Broadcasters are looking beyond geographic limitations and exploring multi-platform strategies to increase visibility and attract new audiences. Monetisation is also being reconsidered, with greater openness to ad-supported models and hybrid distribution strategies.
Where do you see the biggest gap between what ministries want to achieve and what they’re currently equipped to deliver?
The biggest gap lies between ambition and infrastructure.
Many ministries aim to increase donations and monetise their content by launching FAST channels or expanding distribution. However, faith-based content faces specific challenges: limited advertising categories, platform hesitancy toward religious programming, and restrictions tied to denominational affiliation.
As a result, while the desire for expansion is strong, many organisations lack the strategic partnerships, platform relationships, and technical framework required to execute effectively at scale.
How does iKO Media Group’s Faith Beyond solution respond to the needs you witnessed at NRB?
We provide a comprehensive, end-to-end solution, from cloud playout (iKOCLOUD) and broadcast management systems (iKOBMS) to FAST channel creation, monetisation strategy, OTT onboarding, and satellite distribution.
Our strategic focus now is strengthening relationships with platforms worldwide. By doing so, we aim to remove the entry barriers that faith broadcasters often face and offer them direct access to global distribution opportunities.
In a market where platform access can determine success, we believe this positioning will become a decisive advantage for our partners.
From Distribution to Sustainable Growth
NRB 2026 reinforced a clear shift in the faith media landscape. Distribution alone is no longer the objective. Reach, engagement, and sustainable revenue are.
Ministries are ready to expand, but expansion requires more than presence. It requires the right infrastructure, platform access, and monetisation strategy to turn distribution into measurable reach, reach into meaningful engagement, and engagement into sustainable revenue.
Through Faith Beyond, iKO Media Group delivers the integrated technology, strategic support, and global platform solutions needed to bridge that gap. By combining cloud playout, broadcast management, FAST channel creation, OTT onboarding, monetisation strategy, and strengthened international partnerships, faith broadcasters are equipped to scale with clarity and confidence.
For faith-based organisations ready to extend their mission globally and future-proof their distribution strategy, IKO Media Group is the experienced and end-to-end partner to rely on. If you are exploring FAST channels, OTT expansion, or global distribution opportunities, contact mb@ikomg.com to discuss how Faith Beyond can help transform your distribution into reach, your reach into engagement, and your engagement into sustainable revenue.
