Charter Communications said it expanded its carriage of Jewish Broadcasting Service (JBS) and Jewish Life Television.

The networks will be available to Spectrum TV customers on the Entertainment View tiers in areas where they were not previously carried.

“Our goal is to provide programming that meets our customers’ diverse interests and reflects the communities where we operate,” said Tom Montemagno, executive VP of programming acquisition for Charter. “This expansion helps broaden our Jewish-themed television options throughout the country by giving millions of our subscribers access to the networks’ news, entertainment and lifestyle content in areas where it was not previously available.”

JBS is an independent, nonprofit television channel featuring daily news from Israel, Jewish issues and events, call-in programs, holiday services for the home-bound, children’s programs, films, music, books and entertainment. 

“JBS thanks Charter for their continuing support in bringing our important and relevant programming to their customers,” said David Brugnone, CMO of JBS. “As we head into the Jewish New Year, Spectrum viewers who live far from a synagogue or are unable to attend in person will now be able to watch our live close captioned Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur services from a Reform Synagogue and recorded High Holiday services from an Orthodox Synagogue.”

Jewish Life Television provides programming for audiences of all faiths who share an interest in the Jewish experience and the state of Israel, with content across multiple genres.

“It is a powerful statement that at this critical time, Charter Communications is leading the charge in supporting diverse voices by expanding the availability of JLTV throughout Spectrum’s national footprint,” Brad Pomerance, executive VP at JLTV, said.

Hours before the community begins observing Rosh Hashanah, Shalom TV will ring in a new name, transforming into the Jewish Broadcasting Service.

The Jewish Broadcasting Service rebrand on Sept. 24 reflects Shalom TV's expanding role on the world Jewish scene as the channel said it is making efforts to become the global English-language Jewish channel.

Shalom TV proffers an array of public affairs programming, major event coverage, twice-daily educational children's programming, plus Jewish studies programs that enable viewers to learn to read Hebrew and study the Talmud.

JBS will also continue to serve as television home of the 92nd Street Y's presentations from the Kaufman Auditorium, deliver a Jewish Film Festival with multiple movies each week, and remain the only channel on American television that televises live Friday evening Shabbat services for those unable to attend synagogue in person.

After bowing as video on demand service with Comcast in 2006, Shalom TV over the years gained a VOD foothold across the nation with on-demand deals with providers, reaching more than 40 million households.

The service in 2012 gained its first linear berth on Cablevision systems serving the New York DMA. It also has carriage with RCN in New York City, Boston, Philadelphia, Maryland and Virginia; in Miami Beach via Atlantic Broadband; Metrocast in Maine and New Hampshire; Service Electric in Allentown, Bethlehem, Easton, Emmaus, Penn. and Hunterdon, NJ; Hot Wire Communications in Miami, Manhattan and New Jersey; Blue Ridge Communications in Penn.; and Google Fiber in Kansas City, Provo, Utah, plus an upcoming launch in Austin, Tex.  The service also has a Roku channel, can be streamed on the JBS website www.jbstv.org, and heard on Tune In Radio.

"From the moment we premiered as a 24/7 channel, our viewership skyrocketed," said Mark Golub, president and executive producer, in a statement. "Our daily news from Israel, and our extensive coverage of events in Israel, has established Shalom TV as a 'go to' channel throughout the Jewish community."

Golub said Shalom TV distinguished itself this summer among Jewish leaders and Jewish and non-Jewish viewers as the only channel on American television to concentrate on the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza on a daily basis.  A wide array of outstanding Jewish and non-Jewish figures, reflecting the entire political spectrum, participated in Shalom TV's ongoing series, Israel In Turmoil.

"The interest in our channel has also continued to grow among television providers both in America and in foreign markets,” he said.  “A number of television providers plan to add JBS in the coming months and at the start of the 2015 season."