Religious broadcasting, sometimes referred to as faith-based broadcasts, is the dissemination of television and/or radio content that intentionally has religious ideas, religious experience, or religious practice as its core focus. In some countries, religious broadcasting developed primarily within the context of public service provision (as in the UK), whilst in others, it has been driven more by religious organisations themselves (as in the United States). Across Europe and in the US and Canada, religious broadcasting began in the earliest days of radio, usually with the transmission of religious worship, preaching or "talks". Over time, formats evolved to include a broad range of styles and approaches, including radio and television drama, documentary, and chat show formats, as well as more traditional devotional content. Today, many religious organizations record sermons and lectures, and have moved into distributing content on their own web-based IP channels.
Religious broadcasting can be funded commercially or through some sort of public broadcasting-style arrangement (religious broadcasters are often recognized as non-profit organizations). Donations from listeners and viewers, often tax-deductible, are solicited by some broadcasters. In the US, 42 percent of non-commercial radio stations currently have a religious format where on the other hand about 80 percent of the 2,400 Christian radio stations and 100 full-power Christian TV stations throughout the entire United States are considered non-profit.
In some countries, particularly those with an established state religion, broadcasting related to one particular religion only is allowed, or in some cases required. For example, a function of the state-owned Pakistan Broadcasting Corporation is by law "to broadcast such programmes as may promote Islamic ideology, national unity and principles of democracy, freedom equality, tolerance and social justice as enunciated by Islam..." (s. 10(1)(b)).
Broadcasting in both radio and TV has taken on a new look with the development of the internet and mobile devices. Internet radio stations and internet TV stations have been on the rise over the last few years. The main reason for the increase is that the cost to set up and operate is significantly less than traditional radio and TV stations. This is huge for religious organisations as it allows them to put their religious content to a world wide audience at a fraction of the cost.
Radio (The distinction between radio and television broadcasters is not rigid; broadcasters in both areas may appear in the Radio or Television section in this article.)
Australia Religious radio stations include 3ABN Australia Radio Melbourne Jewish Radio Australia National Hindu Radio (ANHR)
Brazil Rede Católica de Rádio (Catholic radio network) Rádio Canção Nova Rádio Aparecida Rádio Imaculada Conceição Rádio Evangelizar Rádio Novo Tempo (Seventh-day Adventist Church) Rede Aleluia (Universal Church of the Kingdom of God) Rádio Deus é Amor (God is Love Pentecostal Church) Rede Gospel FM (Reborn in Christ Church) Rede Nossa Rádio]] (International Grace of God Church) Rede Feliz FM (Peace and Life Christian Community) Rede Sara Brasil FM (Heal Our Earth Evangelical Community)
Canada
Canadian Islamic Broadcasting Network (CIBN) - Islamic Talk Radio
India World Hindu Radio;World latest Hindu Community Radio Station based in Ayodhya, India Asian Hindu Radio; based on Ayodhya and Suva Marithus Hindu Voice Fiji Hindu Radio Angel Radio Jai Ram Community Radio Hindustan World Radio Malabar Muslim Radio Asian Muslim World Lord Radio Jwiees Radio International Vice of Hindu (VOH) Vice of Jain (VOJ) Vice of Sikh (VOS) Vice of Parasi (VOP) Vice of Christian (VOC) VOH Hindi VOH Tamil VOH Bangla
Italy Radio Maria; International Catholic radio broadcasting, founded by Erba, has branches in 55 countries around the world. Vatican Radio is its sister media.
Netherlands
Buddhist Broadcasting Foundation Humanistische Omroep: A small broadcaster dedicated to secular Humanism. IKON (Interkerkelijke Omroep Nederland): A small broadcaster representing a diverse set of nine mainstream Christian churches. Joodse Omroep The new name of NIKmedia (Nederlands-Israëlitisch Kerkgenootschap): Dutch-Jewish broadcaster. NIO (Nederlandse Islamitische Omroep): Small Islamic broadcaster. NMO (Nederlandse Moslim Omroep): Small Islamic broadcaster, slightly more progressive than the NIO. OHM (Organisatie Hindoe Media): Small Hindu broadcaster. RKK (Rooms-Katholiek Kerkgenootschap): Small Roman Catholic broadcaster, actual programming produced by the KRO. Roman Catholic events and services on television are broadcast by the RKK. ZvK (Zendtijd voor Kerken): Small broadcaster that broadcasts church services from some smaller Protestant churches.
New Zealand Rhema Media encompasses three radio networks; Rhema, Life FM and Star.
Philippines Bible Radio DZBR (Cathedral of Praise) Catholic Media Network (Catholicism) Cebu Catholic Television Network End-Time Mission Broadcasting Service FEBC Philippines (Christianity) Hope Channel (TV), Hope Radio and Adventist World Radio (Seventh-day Adventist Church) INC Radio 954 (Iglesia ni Cristo) Sonshine Media Network International (Kingdom of Jesus Christ) ZOE Broadcasting Network (Jesus Is Lord Church Worldwide)
Poland Radio Maryja – A Christian-national Polish educational, guide and religious radio station based in Toruń, belonging to the Lux Veritatis Foundation registered in Warsaw.
Portugal Rádio Renascença - Owned by the Portuguese Catholic Church Rádio Maria – Catholic radio Rádio Canção Nova – Catholic radio
South Korea GCN Global Christian Network (broadcaster) CTS (Christian Television System) CBS (Christian Broadcasting System) FEBC Korea (Far East Broadcasting Company) PBC (Pyeonghwa/Peace Broadcasting Corporation); catholic BBS (Buddhist Broadcasting System) WBS (원음방송 – Original Sound Broadcasting)
Spain Cadena COPE - Owned by Spanish Catholic Church Radio María – Catholic radio
Trinidad and Tobago Radio Jaagriti 102.7 FM (Hindu); owned by the Sanatan Dharma Maha Sabha
United Kingdom Religious broadcasting in the UK was established on 30 July 1922, a Sunday, when the first radio sermon was transmitted by J. Boon of the Peckham Christian Union, from the Burdette Aerial Works at Blackheath, to the congregation at Christ Church, Peckham, and listeners up to 100 miles distant.
The religious ethos of the British Broadcasting Corporation, and the importance attributed to the place of its religious output is predominantly due to the distinctive and formative role played by the BBC's first director-general, John Reith. Reith was the son of a Presbyterian minister. Although opposed to narrow dogmatism, he strongly believed that it was a public service duty of the BBC to actively promote religion. The pattern established by Reith in the early days, and the advisory system that he established, continued to exert a strong influence on the corporation's religious output through the war years and beyond, and eventually extend from radio into television.
British broadcasting laws prohibit religious organizations, political parties, local government, and trade unions from running national analog terrestrial stations. Some religious radio stations are available in certain areas on the MW (medium wave) or VHF (FM) wavebands; others transmit using other methods, some of them nationally (such as via digital terrestrial TV broadcasting, satellite, and cable).
Premier Radio is available on MW in the London area and also nationally on DAB. United Christian Broadcasters is available in both the London and Stoke-on-Trent areas, and nationally as well via DAB. TWR-UK is available on Sky, Freeview, Freesat and online. There are several UK-based radio stations that serve a genre group or locality, such as Cross Rhythms based in Stoke-on-Trent, a contemporary music station with a local FM community radio license. Branch FM operates across West Yorkshire and is a volunteer-run community Christian radio station. Like most other local Christian stations, they also use the Internet to gain national coverage. There are other UK-based radio channels which apply for regular temporary licenses, such as Flame FM on the Wirral, Cheshire which applies for two months of local FM broadcasting per year via a Restricted Service Licence (RSL), and Refresh FM, which regularly broadcasts in Manchester for 3 or 4 weeks over the Easter period.
Also, there are religious broadcasters that transmit to the UK from outside on medium wave at night (when MW signals travel much further) by buying airtime on commercial stations such as Manx Radio (from the Isle of Man) and Trans World Radio (from Monte Carlo).
Although there are tight restrictions on religious groups setting up their own radio and TV stations, there is a legal requirement for the BBC and ITV to broadcast a certain amount of religious programming. Some commercial local radio stations carry a limited amount of religious programming, particularly in Northern Ireland and parts of Scotland.
United States The United States does not have a state religion or established church, and religious broadcasts most commonly feature various Christian sects. Although originally provided by independently operated stations, it currently is mainly provided by local or regional networks. Most stations hold non-commercial educational broadcast licenses. Although religious radio began with individual stations, because of the deregulation in the 1996 Telecommunications act it has become more consolidated with local affiliates under a national radio company.
Religious broadcasts began before a formal broadcasting station category was established. Beginning in May 1920, the sermons of Rev. Clayton B. Wells, pastor of Fairmont Congregational Church of Wichita, Kansas, were read on Sunday evenings over an amateur radio station, 9BW, operated by C. A. Stanley."Enter—The Radio Preacher" by C. A. Stanley, Radio News, November 1920, pages 270, 312. After the development of organized broadcasting, the first full worship service, originating from the Calvary Episcopal Church, took place on 2 January 1921, over KDKA in East Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania."Broadcasting Church Services" by W. W. Rodgers, Radio Broadcast, August 1922, pages 321-329. On 22 December 1921, the first broadcasting station license assigned to a religious institution was issued for WDM, operated by the Church of the Covenant in Washington, D.C."New Stations", Radio Service Bulletin, 3 January 1922, page 2 (incorrectly listed as "WDN"). Limited Commercial license, serial #261, issued for a thirty day period to the Church of the Covenant in Washington, D.C. Other prominent early religious stations included KFSG, the Foursquare Gospel Church in Los Angeles, KFUO, The Lutheran Church – Missouri Synod, serving St. Louis, WLWL, the Paulist Fathers, and WBBR, Jehovah's Witnesses, both in New York City, WMBI, Moody Bible Institute in Chicago, and WBBL, Grace Covenant Presbyterian Church in Richmond, Virginia. However, the cost of operating a radio station on a non-commercial basis, plus generally restricted hours of operation, led to most of the early stations either shutting down or selling out to secular commercial operators.
The development of radio networks made national broadcasts possible, although the networks preferred non-controversial and non-denominational broadcasts. In April 1938, Time magazine described the Columbia Broadcasting System's interdenominational Church of the Air as "innocuous"."Religion: Maier v. Council", Time, 11 April 1938.