Satellite "Footprints" Over Europe

Development of satellite broadcasting in Europe moves on apace, and such operations as Rupert Murdoch's "Sky Channel" urge viewers to buy satellite dishes to receive their programmes. Covering large areas, inclusive of different European countries, such satellite "footprints" make possible the reception of a wide variety of programmes which may not always be compatible with the broadcasting policies of the countries concerned.

For example the deregulation of broadcasting is being actively pursued by the British government, and much debate centres around certain aspects of religious broadcasting. There is a studied attempt to inhibit specific spiritual challenge such as the gospel of Jesus Christ requires. Religion may be discussed as a matter of debate, offering this viewpoint or that, but insistence on the great truths of repentance from sin and faith in Jesus Christ as the means of personal salvation from the judgement of God is not welcome. During the BBC's monopoly of broadcasting in Britain religious programmes have generally been controlled in line with this policy. Hence the need for such organizations as Trans World Radio to transmit gospel programmes from Monte Carlo across Europe to Britain. Now with deregulation in view, when many different channels and outlets will be available, the Government wishes to safeguard the same principle. The following extract from its "White Paper" on the proposed legislation illustrates the point: "The government envisages that... bodies whose objects are wholly or mainly of a religious nature... will be disqualified from holding any licence".

Debate in the House of Lords contested this issue. It was pointed out that Britain is the only country in the free world which sticks to such rigorous controls. But the Government's policy is already being outflanked by the "Sky Channel" decision to include short Christian messages on its Astra television channels. It is reported also that they will broadcast three American television programmes, including Armstrong's Worldwide Church of God, the Seventh Day Adventists and Robert Schuller, a televangelist. So while the Government labours to contrive restrictions which will prevent promoters of such programmes from

obtaining licences in the United Kingdom, the vast "Sky Channel" footprint already makes possible their reception. Opportunity to use "Sky Channel" in this way depends of course on financial resources to meet the heavy cost, which effectively limits the number of organisations able to participate.

The financial aspect will also be crucial in British broadcasting arrangements after deregulation. Programmes yielding the highest revenue will be given priority; those with less appeal to the majority of listeners will tend to be pushed to the margins of broadcasting time, and some commercial stations may allocate no time for them at all. If therefore church groups are not allowed to have their own stations and commercial stations regard religious programmes as unprofitable, the outlook for inclusion of gospel programmes would appear unpromising.

Significantly "British Satellite Broadcasting" (main rival to "Sky Channel") has already indicated that under the terms of their contract they are not required to include religious programmes. For the time being it appears they may close the door to any kind of religious broadcasts. Similarly the Home Office has confirmed that applicants for Channel 3 franchises will not have to make commitments about broadcasting religious programmes. Again this points towards diminishing opportunity to communicate the word of the truth of the gospel.

How well the god of this age understands the importance of impeding the spread of the message which is the power of God unto salvation! He spared no effort to blind the minds of the unbelieving, that the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should not dawn upon them (2 Cor. 4:4). The vast global battle for mind and heart rages on. In the first century the apostle Paul appealed for prayer that God's word might prevail. "Pray for us", he wrote to the Thessalonians", that the word of the Lord may run and be glorified". In the late twentieth century that prayer is just as relevant. We cannot be too thankful for many areas of the world where freedom to broadcast the gospel is fully available. We should nevertheless be aware of the subtlety with which in other areas opportunities are being eroded, and the genuine message of repentance towards God and faith in Jesus Christ is being substituted by spiritually powerless religious discourse.

unknown | Jul 1989
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