The Broadcasting Act 1990 and Communities of Faith .sx Rev Eric Shegog .sx The Broadcasting Act 1990 which received the Royal Assent in November last year has direct implications for religious communities in three ways .sx These are religious programming , ownership of licences and advertising .sx Programmes In the Act , which is concerned almost exclusively with commercially funded television and radio , religious programmes are , for the first time explicitly mandated as a required programme category on channels 3 , 4 and also channel 5 when it arrives .sx Until now , religious programmes gained a place in the schedules on the basis they were deemed an essential element of the balanced schedule demanded by previous legislation .sx Their inclusion in the new Act reflects strong political lobbying during the drafting stage and guarantees a place for religious broadcasting in the foreseeable future on independent television's major channels .sx The key passage is Section 16 ( 2 ) ( e ) , which states :sx " that a sufficient amount of time is given in the programmes included in the service ( of channel 3 ) to religious programmes .sx " .sx As in previous broadcasting legislation , the concept of 'religious' as opposed to 'Christian' has been retained , in spite of a strong lobby to have it changed .sx One person's surfeit is another person's deprivation .sx The new regulatory body , the Independent Television Commission , has determined they expect a minimum of two hours of religious programming a week on Channel 3 which is roughly what ITV provides now .sx The two hours a week should include acts of worship and a range of other programme types .sx The responsibility for this is laid , as now on whoever gets the weekend franchise , currently London Weekend Television .sx This means effectively , that in the main , religious programmes which are networked nationally will stay as now , on Sunday .sx What the ITC can not influence is the scheduling of the programmes .sx It is odds on , that acts of worship will remain , for obvious reasons on Sunday mornings .sx There is no requirement however , for them to be live transmissions as now .sx It would clearly be cheaper in an increasingly competitive environment to pre-record services during the week when cheaper rates apply .sx The current closed period agreement , whereby the BBC and ITV transmit Songs of Praise and Highway , simultaneously at 6.40 pm , is unlikely to be maintained , though given their relative popularity they may achieve an early evening slot .sx Channel 4 will continue to provide a minimum of an hour a week of religious programmes .sx Of interest to religious communities is the Act's requirement that 25% of the output on BBC and Channel 3 ( News and Current Affairs excepted ) will be given over to independent producers .sx For the last two years the Church's TV and Radio Centre at Bushey , initially funded by Lord Rank , has paved the way , co-funding and co-producing a range of programmes with the BBC and others .sx Cable , Satellite and Radio .sx The mandate for religious broadcasting does not include cable , satellite nor local and community radio .sx Unquestionably there will continue to be religious programming on these , as there has been in the past .sx The deciding factor will be money .sx Just recently LBC , one of London's major radio stations threatened to axe its religious output unless pounds40,000 was found .sx The Baha'is came up trumps .sx For years both BBC and Independent local radio have been subsidised by local clergy and laity voluntarily producing or presenting programmes .sx In the case of LBC's 'You don't have to be Jewish' the programme is sponsored by a local travel agency .sx There will be no payment for providing programmes for radio , cable or satellite .sx Quite the opposite in fact , where a non-domestic satellite channel is concerned .sx Groups will have to buy time .sx There will be opportunities for faith-communities on local cable systems .sx But only those with a capability to provide programming will stand a chance .sx The Programme Code .sx Irrespective of the medium , all religious programmes on Independent television or radio will have to conform to a new code drawn up by the ITC and , where radio is concerned , by the Radio Authority .sx The code is based on Section 6 ( 1)(d ) of the Broadcasting Act which states :sx " That due responsibility is exercised with respect to the content of any of its programmes which are religious programmes , and that in particular any such programmes do not involve- .sx ( i ) any improper exploitations of any susceptibilities of those watching the programmes , or .sx ( ii ) any abusive treatment of the religious views and beliefs of those belonging to a particular religion or religious denomination .sx " .sx Interestingly , the ITC and the Radio Authority codes reflect this requirement differently .sx On the whole the ITC's code for religious programmes appears more rigorous than that of the Radio Authority , though the latter's code has not yet been finalised .sx For example , in line with the BBC , proselytising is forbidden on Channels 3 , 4 , and 5 and only permitted on a specialist religious channel where viewers deliberately opt in .sx There is no such embargo for local or community radio .sx The philosophy here appears to be , that the market will decide in the form of the listeners .sx If they do not like it , they will not listen and since commercial radio will be operating in a highly competitive market , in theory the programme will come off .sx But since it will be possible to appeal for funds for programme costs or to further the aims of the group providing the programme , subject only to an overall balance of charitable appeals being maintained , the market will be irrelevant .sx There will always be some faithful who will stump up to keep the show on the road .sx On TV , funds may only be solicited for disadvantaged third parties .sx And what will happen in , say , Golders Green or Finchley if Churches' radio groups evangelise , albeit responsibly and properly and without denigrating the Jewish faith ?sx Is it likely to be less offensive to the local Jewish community ?sx Clearly , the Radio Authority is going to have its work cut out to monitor the 400 new stations expected over the next 10 years .sx Given its light touch and post hoc regulatory stance , this is not going to be easy .sx Ownership The second area of direct relevance to religious groups is ownership .sx In the past , religious groups have not been allowed to hold a licence for radio or television .sx Now , under the Act , they may hold a licence for local or community radio , but not for one of the three expected national stations .sx They may at the discretion of the ITC be licensed to provide a cable or non - domestic satellite service but they may not hold a licence for a channel 3 region nor channel 5 .sx Where radio is concerned , any religious group will have to demonstrate that the service they offer is enlarging listeners' choice more than a competitor , who may be offering a jazz station or one devoted to sport , or better community service if the station is directed at a local community .sx More significantly , they will have to demonstrate they have a business plan which is reasonably capable of ensuring survival .sx Already some local religious groups are expressing interest in community radio licences .sx Wear FM in Sunderland is a new station based on a cooperative model .sx Under the chairmanship of the local Rural Dean , various community groups , including the Anglican deanery , together with the local polytechnic and council , have a stake in the action .sx In High Wycombe , the local Council of Churches is putting together an application for a community radio licence .sx Whatever form local churches' and synagogues' involvement in local radio takes , training is paramount and only superseded in importance by the need to harmonise with the overall station sound .sx Advertising The other area of relevance to religious groups is advertising .sx For the first time the new legislation allows religious groups to advertise .sx The scale of economy is such , that it is unlikely many religious communities will be able to afford major advertising campaigns , especially on TV .sx Radio , however is a different proposition .sx It is cheaper to produce the ads and buy the space .sx And , it can be targeted at local audiences .sx The Anglican dioceses of Lichfield and Oxford recently led the religious field with advertisements on local radio reminding listeners it was Easter .sx All religious advertisements must conform with the ITC and Radio Authority code which was drawn up in consultation with a range of religious groups .sx Britain is now entering what a former BBC mandarin called " The Third Age of Broadcasting .sx " He was referring , of course , to satellite and cable , where there is a projected growth over the next 5 years of at least 40 channels and probably more being available .sx There will also be an expansion of radio with 3 national commercial stations and 400 local and community radio stations .sx Within the next three years , channel 5 will be on air , though it will not , for technical reasons , be available to everyone .sx How should we Respond ?sx How can , how should religious communities respond to this development ?sx First , we must recognise that being on the air is no substitute for the ministry of the church or synagogue at the local level .sx Second , we must recognise the limitations of television and radio , and that if we are to use them to communicate effectively , we must learn their grammar and syntax .sx Third we need to consider how we respond at different levels , national TV or radio , regional TV or local radio and cable .sx Some will argue why should we bother at all , particularly when the BBC and channels 3 , 4 and 5 will continue to provide access to major audiences for religious people at no cost to them .sx And particularly , since the terrestrial channels will continue to attract a major share of the audience , at least for the immediate future .sx A counter argument to this is based on editorial freedom .sx In religious programmes as in any other programme , editorial responsibility lies with the broadcaster .sx Even where the originator of the programme is a religious group , it has to abide by the programme policy expressed in the programme code .sx This still , of course , allows a considerable degree of freedom .sx In practical terms however , it will be some time before mainstream religious bodies are able to make the resources available to gain the experience necessary for network television production .sx It is much more likely that religious entrepreneurs will take the lead .sx My own view , is that religious communities should major at the local level and build on their experience in local radio .sx This allows any involvement in local cable or radio to be incorporated into a wider strategy .sx Local involvement is also more viable .sx Mixing Love and Faith .sx Rabbi Jonathan Romain .sx Twelve years ago Mary and Daniel fell in love with each other .sx They shared everything , except religion .sx When they wanted to become engaged Mary's parents refused to let her marry a non-Catholic , whilst Daniel's parents were equally adamant that he should not marry outside the Jewish faith .sx The couple split up .sx If their tail had ended there it would have been a relatively common one , reflecting the fate of many couples from different religious backgrounds .sx However , although Daniel went away and married someone of his own faith it proved an unsuccessful match and ended in divorce .sx He returned to his home-town and , to his surprise , found Mary still living there .sx This time they allowed no external factors to impede their togetherness , and they now have two children .sx Both regard the marriage as blissfully happy , and only regret the twelve years that they needlessly spent apart .sx Their story will be seen in some quarters as the triumph of love over tradition .sx Others will view it as a religious disaster , typical of the demise of the family unit sharing the same faith and passing it on to the next generation .sx Curiously enough , even secular parents feel alarmed when their offspring marry out of the faith .sx Even within Christianity ancient theological divisions rear themselves when it comes to marching down the aisle .sx Thus Sally , a lapsed Catholic , is often referred to as a 'left-footer' by Williams's lapsed Church of England parents .sx