

Last night in Clearwater, Scientology leader David Miscavige revealed that Scientology TV is now an app which is downloadable for both Android and Apple systems, and that programming will begin streaming on the app, and at DirecTV, tomorrow night at 8 pm Eastern.

L. Ron Hubbard Way in Los Angeles, meanwhile, has been blocked off at the southern end so that a celebration can take place there when the network goes live Monday night.

Also yesterday, Rod Keller spotted that a billboard in Miami was advertising that Scientology programming will show up on DirecTV channel 320…








For now, DirecTV’s channel 320 is showing infomercials unrelated to Scientology. We sent an email inquiry to AT&T media relations asking if that channel would begin showing Scientology programming, and we’ll let you know if they get back to us.

For now, the app is showing a countdown until Monday night and advertises Scientology TV’s twitter feed, which had not yet made any tweets last night (see above).

Some screenshots of the app that some of our readers posted in the comments late last night…











Well, we’re that much closer to Scientology TV, and we’re pretty excited to see what kind of reaction streaming Scientology propaganda generates!

Now, back to our regularly scheduled Sunday story from Rod Keller…



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Scientology at its most crass: The cutthroat competition of ‘The Birthday Game’



Yesterday, Scientology celebrated L. Ron Hubbard’s 107th birthday in an event at Ruth Eckerd Hall in Clearwater, Florida. The video will be edited and shown at orgs and missions around the world this week. If you’re a public OT, you better be there or have a very good excuse. Failure to attend the event could come up the next time you visit the Flag Land Base, and that is a frightening and potentially costly possibility. You really need to see the video and celebrate Hubbard’s birthday in the traditional Scientology method, with statistics. The winners of the Birthday Game were announced, a contest that pits orgs and missions against each other in a horse race-themed celebration of how much money each can bring in.





[South Coast mission in Lake Forest, CA is decorated with jockeys and checkered flags]

[2017 cake at the Budapest org]

The trappings of the birthday event are jockeys, checkered flags, and birthday cakes. Every year the winners of the Birthday Game are announced, with rules written by L. Ron Hubbard in 1982.







Advanced orgs compete against each other, orgs against orgs, missions against missions. Points are assigned for orgs who increase their stats and move up their condition, from Normal to Affluence to Power. Points are also awarded for completion of a variety of courses and completions. Scientology statistics are reported up the chain of command each week ending on Thursday at 2 pm, and those with the most total points by the birthday event wins the game.





[New York’s warning: “If you’re not planning on being there, we’re sorry to hear that — For your sake.”]



In recent years it’s always a new Ideal Org that wins the birthday game. This year the contest is between Valley and Denmark, and publics at each are being urged to pay for a course and donate to the IAS before it’s too late. It’s a tacit admission that the older Ideal Orgs have slowed down and don’t stand a chance of winning.





[Perth CF needs to be done by the 13th.]

[Filing at Washburn Academy]

The date is also significant for upcoming Ideal Orgs. Perth and Orlando have each been ordered to have their central files in order by the 13th. Perth is telling their publics that they are behind schedule. Orlando is also desperate to finish, and two shifts of children at the Scientology-run Washburn Academy in Clearwater have been recruited to finish the filing.







L. Ron Hubbard’s birthday is one of the most important events on the Scientology calendar. The announcement of Scientology TV may have been the highlight of the evening, but for orgs and missions near the top of the standings, the real drama is whether or not they will win the Birthday Game and walk off with the traditional jockey trophy.



— Rod Keller



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Make your plans now!

Head over to our HowdyCon 2018 website to start making your travel plans!







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Posted by Tony Ortega on March 11, 2018 at 07:00

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The Best of the Underground Bunker, 1995-2017 Just starting out here? We’ve picked out the most important stories we’ve covered here at the Undergound Bunker (2012-2017), The Village Voice (2008-2012), New Times Los Angeles (1999-2002) and the Phoenix New Times (1995-1999)

Learn about Scientology with our numerous series with experts…

BLOGGING DIANETICS: We read Scientology’s founding text cover to cover with the help of L.A. attorney and former church member Vance Woodward

UP THE BRIDGE: Claire Headley and Bruce Hines train us as Scientologists

GETTING OUR ETHICS IN: Jefferson Hawkins explains Scientology’s system of justice

SCIENTOLOGY MYTHBUSTING: Historian Jon Atack discusses key Scientology concepts

Other links: Shelly Miscavige, ten years gone | The Lisa McPherson story told in real time | The Cathriona White stories | The Leah Remini ‘Knowledge Reports’ | Hear audio of a Scientology excommunication | Scientology’s little day care of horrors | Whatever happened to Steve Fishman? | Felony charges for Scientology’s drug rehab scam | Why Scientology digs bomb-proof vaults in the desert | PZ Myers reads L. Ron Hubbard’s “A History of Man” | Scientology’s Master Spies | The mystery of the richest Scientologist and his wayward sons | Scientology’s shocking mistreatment of the mentally ill | The Underground Bunker’s Official Theme Song | The Underground Bunker FAQ

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