Scientology unveils plans for news network dubbed 'Scientology CNN'

Tom Cruise has been rumoured to be leaving the Church of Scientology. Photo / AP

Despite recent rumours he might be leaving the church, Tom Cruise and the Church of Scientology have plans for a new TV news network - dubbed "Scientology's CNN".

The controversial church plans to compete with major movie studios and TV stations with its new Sunset Boulevard studio, Scientology Media Productions - which could be bigger than Paramount or Universal.

The studio will also be used to make movies to recruit more followers, with reports that Cruise will film future blockbusters at the new facilities.

Previously, Scientology productions had been done at Gold Base, its main HQ in Hemet, outside of Los Angeles.

Ex-Scientologist Gary Morehead, who was once head of security at Gold Base, told the Daily Mail that sets for numerous films, including Nicole Kidman's Far And Away, were built there.

A statement on the Scientology website proclaims: "The global media centre that will revolutionise the Church's communications footprint throughout the print, broadcast, and internet media worlds as a state-of-the-art hub helping beam Scientology's message all over the globe."

An artist's impression of the proposed Scientology Media Productions studio. Photo / scientology.org

Former Scientologists say the project is being built by 50-cent-an-hour workers from the church's Sea Org - among the church's most dedicated members, who are required to sign a billion year "religious commitment" on joining.

Morehead told the Daily Mail these workers were likely to be new recruits.

"They would be doing this either as punishment or be someone who is going through introductions, getting their basics, getting flag orders, they'd be earning next to nothing."

Former Scientology spokesman Mike Rinder, who was once No. 3 in the church, said the studios would likely be bigger than Paramount but was really a fundraising ploy to look good to followers.

"They've had world class studios at the base in Hemet for years. They don't need this new base, so the question becomes why? It's just a fundraising ploy, to buy real estate, to persuade people to give them money, and if they can come up with the concoction that this is the next great thing to tell the world about Scientology, then all the better.

"There's tens of millions of stuff now being spent, but it will be just another empty building. It doesn't matter what goes on there, it makes it look like they're expanding, so [followers will think] they must be doing well."

The Church of Scientology was the subject of Going Clear: Scientology and the Prison of Belief, a scathing documentary released earlier this year featuring many former members speaking out against the church.

It screens at the New Zealand International Film Festival later this month.

- nzherald.co.nz