Upper Botswavia
28-05-2006, 17:59
This comes from The Church Herald, the magazine of the Reformed Church of America. Interesting to see how Pat, Jerry et al want to be able to continue to force their way into your homes and make you pay for it even if you don't want to... and equally nice to see that not all Christian's think the same.
So what do you think?
Religious Broadcasters Divided about a la Carte Programming
While cable television customers may applaud the notion of paying for only those channels they want, some religious broadcasters say it will diminish their reach.
Pay-per-channel pricing "would have a devastating effect on the inspirational programming we currently provide" and "decimate both the audience and financial support for religious broadcasting," according to a group calling itself the Faith and Family Broadcasting Coalition.
The group includes Pat Robertson, founder of the Virginia Beach-based Christian Broadcasting Network, and the Rev. Jerry Falwell.
In February, the Federal Communications Commission said customers could save as much as 13 percent on their cable bills with per-channel pricing because they no longer would have to buy packages that may include dozens of channels they do not want.
But many evangelical broadcasters, as well as much of the cable industry, dispute the savings and oppose per-channel pricing, or a la carte cable.
Even Christians may skip a la carte religious channels, said Megan Mullen, a communications scholar who wrote The Rise of Cable Programming in the United States.
Nonetheless, some Christian activists say there is a moral issue involved. "Christians shouldn't have to pay for programming they find morally objectionable," said Rick Schaatz, of the National Coalition for the Protection of Children and Families. The group has come out in favor of a la carte programming. (EP)
So what do you think?
Religious Broadcasters Divided about a la Carte Programming
While cable television customers may applaud the notion of paying for only those channels they want, some religious broadcasters say it will diminish their reach.
Pay-per-channel pricing "would have a devastating effect on the inspirational programming we currently provide" and "decimate both the audience and financial support for religious broadcasting," according to a group calling itself the Faith and Family Broadcasting Coalition.
The group includes Pat Robertson, founder of the Virginia Beach-based Christian Broadcasting Network, and the Rev. Jerry Falwell.
In February, the Federal Communications Commission said customers could save as much as 13 percent on their cable bills with per-channel pricing because they no longer would have to buy packages that may include dozens of channels they do not want.
But many evangelical broadcasters, as well as much of the cable industry, dispute the savings and oppose per-channel pricing, or a la carte cable.
Even Christians may skip a la carte religious channels, said Megan Mullen, a communications scholar who wrote The Rise of Cable Programming in the United States.
Nonetheless, some Christian activists say there is a moral issue involved. "Christians shouldn't have to pay for programming they find morally objectionable," said Rick Schaatz, of the National Coalition for the Protection of Children and Families. The group has come out in favor of a la carte programming. (EP)