Here’s today’s dispatch from the crossroads of faith, media and culture.

The premiere episode of the family reality series Bringing Up Bates on New Year’s Day was UP TV’s  strongest original telecast ever for the network among women in both the 18-49 and 25-54 demographics.  Based on live + same day data, the series ranked #16 in the time-period among ad-supported cable networks among the former group and #20 among the latter. The series premiered last Thursday at 9:00 PM (ET).

 Expressing satisfaction with the numbers, UP President and CEO Charley Humbard says “I can’t think of a better way for UP to start 2015 than having viewers embrace Bringing Up Bates and this remarkable family.” 

Bringing up Bates chronicles the exploits of Gil and Kelly Jo Bates and their 19 kids, ranging in age from 2 to 25, as they confront life’s challenges in rural Tennessee.  You can read my review of the series premiere here.

Encourage one another and build each other up – 1 Thessalonians 5:11