It doesn't look like televangelism, it doesn't ask for financial support, it doesn't do an alter call, it doesn't have a prayer response, in fact recognizing Free TV as a Christian program is not high on the list of priorities for the youth team producing the show. It's clever, quick and intuitively promotes the goal to love Jesus and love people.

"This is about while going into the world - with an emphasis on while going - preach the gospel," said 23 year old Todd Cantelon, host and executive director of the venture. "We're going to be who we are and I'm a guy who loves Jesus."

Cantelon is also a guy who loves TV. High energy, in your face, he's a tv preacher that bounces and bops and figures central in Free TV. Having grown up with TV hosting and producing parents Jim and Kathy Cantelon, his first work in the medium was at 11. By 15 he was hosting a summer discovery series on 100 Huntley Street, and at 19 he hosted two seasons of the teen version of Talk to Me, a 1996 Covenant Award winning series for youth programming. Cantelon then planted a youth congregation at St. George's Anglican Church in Milton, and is currently at Ontario Theological Seminary completing a Master's in Theology.

Free TV has a club atmosphere and is shot live to satellite with a studio audience gleaned from a mailing list of 200 southern Ontario youth groups. On the first program, over half the audience were non Christian, something Free TV hopes to continue to use as a litmus test to see if it's connecting. Music, interviews, audience interaction and a stable of 15 panel guests from multi-ethnic and multi-religious background ponder program themes on stage in a loft while someone in the background is busy making cappuccinos. Themes like relationships, suicide, body image, and abortion fill up the hour, and "what do you think?" is a pivotal question for every new idea.

"Christians need to be in the mainstream being seen as sponsoring the search for truth, we shouldn't be afraid to admit these are our issues," said Cantelon.

With only two weeks into it's 20 week initial run, there's already expressed interest in Free TV from networks in the U.S., Europe and Australia. The show is produced by Burlington's Northern Quest Productions and Cantelon Communications at Crossroads studios.

What it's doing different than any other tv program on Canada's Christian scene is it's partnership funding base and goal to be a for profit, mainstream commercial program. Toronto Airport Christian Fellowship, World Vision, Vision TV, Crossroads Television Systems, Life Lessons TV, CMC Music and Spaenaur Inc. are all backing Free TV in either finances or services. Meanwhile commercial sponsors with products from running shoes to stereos are actively being pursued to fill Free TV's commercial spots.