Liberty, one channel that mixes in secular programming
Religious broadcasters, of which there is no shortage on FTA, could grow their flocks while making the world a better place if they’d only make one small change: Add a bit of secular programming.
This is not a new idea. Pat Robertson’s original CBN Satellite Service slowly evolved into The Family Channel, then Fox Family, and now ABC Family. Along the way, CBN grew a hugely profitable network and eventually retained a prime slot for its 700 Club program. A big part of the success story was the mixture of carefully selected secular programming with religious shows.
Have other religious channels taken note of this successful formula? Not so much. Most religious channels carry nothing but religious programming. For those who believe in that particular flavor of religion, that might be very comforting, but for everyone else, it’s like a continuous infomercial.
I often hear that a primary mission for these channels is evangelism, carrying their message to those who don’t already believe it. Well, the first step of evangelism is to lure these non-believers into your tent, and the way to do that is to offer something that they want to watch. Once a secular viewer has tuned in, a channel can use commercial breaks to talk about other shows that could help fill a need in the viewer’s life. Or the commercials could be for the attractive elements of some religious show. Or the channel could just take advantage of the secular lead-in to whatever religious show follows. In any event, a channel with occasional secular programming will not be a channel that non-believers automatically skip.
There are a few channels with the right idea. Start with the Liberty Channel, which I have to admit isn’t on FTA these days. Check Liberty’s program guide. There are game shows, cooking shows, college sports, classic TV, secular movies, and a generous serving of religion. Then look at BYU’s schedule. They’ve got college sports, musical performances, and Discussions on the Book of Mormon. These are both university stations, but there’s no reason why Daystar or 3ABN couldn’t run an afternoon movie or episodes of Bonanza.
Everybody wins when religious broadcasters add secular programming. Broadcasters get the opportunity to present their message to a new audience. Viewers can discover a new way to improve their well-being. Even hard-core non-believers will enjoy being able to watch shows that they like. In all, it would fulfill another primary goal of most religions: It would make the world a better place.
4 Comments to 'Religious broadcasters, please throw us a bone'
March 23, 2010
It would have to be family friendly of course, and probably no swearing at all. I think if they was to do this, 75% of programming should be religious, after all, it is religious tv channel. Movies would be good.
Plus, I’ve seen many shows that are fun to watch, family friendy and anyone would watch, and then, in little parts of the show the have religious parts in it, to get the message that the channel wants to get across.
However, I don’t think every one of the religious channels should do this, but maybe a few of them.
March 25, 2010
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THE BEST PART IS, THAT I USED A SLIGHTLY LARGER DISH THAN THE 30″ ONES I HAD BEEN USING, AND PUT AN OLD STARCHOICE LNB ON IT, HOOKED THIS TO AN OLD C/S 5000, AND IN A SHORT BIT OF TIME, “PRESTO” THERE IT WAS….
NOW ALONG WITH MY GLORYSTAR NETWORK, AND STARCHOICE.. I’LL HAVE THE WORLD BY THE TAIL… AS MICHAEL SAYS,… JUST KEEP ON TRUCKING, AND YOU WILL GET THERE SOONER OR LATER…. CHEERS
March 25, 2010
Well… As I read the comments, it seems as though there are a few folks that seem to want one type of programing, or another… We are not blessed with a big variety of programming, as it has been in the past, although there is still a good variety to pick and choose from… I for one have made my own choice as far as the programs I like to watch, and this should be the way it should be for others,,, so, here is the “bone” as you call it…
If you like Christian programming, for gosh sakes, you have the opportunity of putting togather a system, with variety, that contains other good stuff… Don’t blame the programmers, as they have just as much right to broadcast their programs as any of the sports, or movie folks have… I think we should be very greatfull for what we are getting, and not to make problems for others, just because we don’t agree with their views… If you don’t like it, don’t watch it… really quite simple ok
March 26, 2010
Thanks for commenting, Reg, but I’m definitely _not_ saying that religious broadcasters don’t or shouldn’t have the right to show whatever they want. I’m saying that they would be _wise_ to add a limited amount of secular programming (that they didn’t mind carrying, of course). It would lure in more followers, and it would also make the world a better place for that large, sad group that will never convert to their flavor of religion. Sorry that my headline didn’t match that thought better.