Settlement Reached in Calvary Satellite Network Split – DIYmedia (original) (raw)
The parties in the nasty power-struggle over control of the multimillion-dollar Calvary Satellite Network have come to a 
settlement agreement.
In a nutshell, the “Idaho faction” (Mike Kestler et al.) walks away with close to half the full-power FM stations in the CSN inventory and the overwhelming majority of translator stations (400+). The “California faction” (Chuck & Jeff Smith et al.) retains control of 29 full-power stations and just two translators, as well as most of those currently wending their way through the application- and construction-approval process at the FCC (with whom a copy of this settlement agreement has already been filed). The Idaho faction will make a symbolic payment of $200,000 to the California faction for the media empire it’s wangled out of the deal, as well as bear the costs of doing the necessary FCC paperwork to formalize this schism.
The operation in Idaho also retains the right to continue operating under the trade name (but not the corporate identity) of “CSN International,” even though Kestler’s church and other business operations are, as part of the settlement, excommunicated from the Calvary Chapel franchise itself, up to and including the use of its associated branding.
Most importantly, “Neither party admits any liability or wrongdoing of any kind whatsoever, notwithstanding the terms and conditions of this agreement; and neither the payment of any consideration or anything contained herein shall be construed as an admission of any liability whatsoever by any party hereto or any other person.” This includes an explicit dismissal of the California faction’s salacious assertions that the Idaho faction used CSN money in a variety of inappropriate ways, and a covenant that neither party will ever speak to these issues again.
However, the notion of keeping the entire deal under wraps was blown by “considerable interviews, press coverage, blogging…and information related to this agreement has already been leaked, reported on, discussed publicly, or otherwise disclosed prior to [the settlement].”
This (perhaps) brings to a close yet another chapter in the never-trust-a-televangelist saga. It certainly won’t be the last.