PBS officials voted June 16 to not allow new religious programming at member stations, but allowed select PBS stations to continue broadcasting their current faith-based line-ups.
The PBS Board of Directors took the action Tuesday after concerns were raised that religious programming could violate the organization's nonsectarian status.
The board unanimously elected to grandfather in the handful of existing shows that are directly religious in nature; the ruling does not affect news shows or documentaries.
"The board has basically voted to insure that the religious programming that stations currently provide and that communities have come to rely on are able to stay on air," said PBS spokesperson Jan McNamara.
Only six of over 350 member stations broadcast religious programming, according to McNamara. At stake for at least three of the stations were long-running Sunday Masses, broadcast mostly to the elderly.
For the last decade, the televised "Mass for Shut-Ins" has aired on Denver's KBDI every Sunday at 6:30 a.m. The Archdiocese of Denver produces the program, which has been on-air continuously for 53 years.
"I have to say that any time, whether it's weather or a malfunction, if Mass doesn't air, we have voice mailboxes full of the elderly calling us," said Jeannette DeMelo, spokeswoman for the archdiocese.
The 30-minute program serves as the only way some homebound seniors and nursing-home residents can connect with their community of faith, said DeMelo.
"Aside from it being the church's role to provide for the vulnerable and the weak, I think society in general seeks to do that," said DeMelo. "That's why we're grateful that PBS has allowed this to continue to happen because I really do think it's a service for the broader public."
Public broadcasting stations in New Orleans and Washington recently have shown similar Sunday Masses. KBYU out of Provo, Utah, which is affiliated with Mormon-owned Brigham Young University, shows daily Mormon programming alongside PBS favorites like "The NewsHour with Jim Lehrer" and "Sesame Street."
The vote may come too little, too late for one program. Washington's WHUT already released its "Sunday TV Mass" from the line-up, according to Archdiocese of Washington spokeswoman Susan Gibbs.
Gibbs said the archdiocese, which funds the long-running televised service, has been shopping around for a new home for the show since March, after word came from WHUT that PBS would be reconsidering its religious broadcasts.
Gibbs said the archdiocese recently signed a contract with The CW-Channel 50, at a price that will cost $60,000 more per year than it did on public broadcasting.
Since 1985, PBS has committed its programming to be noncommercial, nonpolitical and nonsectarian in order to guarantee fair and balanced coverage. For the last 18 months, PBS has been conducting an overall policy review to update the organization for the new media age.
share thisPosted by Sarah Pulliam Bailey on June 18, 2009 12:03PM
Comments
I wonder if they will discontinue Dr. Wayne Dyer's PBS show (cf. http://www.drwaynedyer.com/). Dr. Dyer ascribes to the "Law of Attraction" school of self-help religion. If you have ever watched his show or read his books, as I have, I imagine you might find his offerings "religious." Just because the new religions, like that of Dyer, are non-traditional, does not mean that they're not religions.
Posted by: Kelli at June 18, 2009
PBS presents several lecture type shows that seem to be "secular religion". I don't know much about them since they hold no interest for me. I have never seen an explicitly relgious program on PBS. I will be watching for these pseudo-religious shows and will be calling in my disapproval.
Philip Hudson
Posted by: Philip Hudson at June 19, 2009
Infomercials selling stuff are the wrath of modern TV programing and public TV at least tries to constrain commercial intrusion and control. Let PBS do what they do and hope their live up to their intent. At least they are thinking about what they put on the air and put things on the air that get people to think.
One too many Elmer Gantry is out there already on TV. Let them go buy infomercial time or their own station, as we all know too many of these religious entrepreneurs are just supporting jet set lifestyles from their holy appeals for money, and getting on the air is just part of their hook.
Religious infomercials and lots of bible thumpin' programs are just trying to make a buck selling their wares like any other advertiser. We have too much religious salespitch programming on TV now, being bought up by too many millionaire preachers getting rich selling their charm and blessings. Why encourage this garbage.
These days we parents have to restrict our kids viewing of religious crap in addition to the violence, sex, commercial excess, and other trash on TV.
Go for it PBS.
Posted by: PJ at June 20, 2009
Guess they have to stop giving airtime to the Jesus Seminar now.
Posted by: Matt Stephens at June 28, 2009
Not with my money they dont.
Posted by: Renee Linnen at July 8, 2009
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