Funding for the production of this denominational program came solely from members of the denomination. Sheen's charisma and career were unusual in the life of the American Roman Catholic Church.
Religious Television: The American Experience by Peter Horsfield
The Development of Religious Television
The Making of the Monopoly
The most important factor influencing the growth of the monopoly in religious television in America was the commercial television industry. The prime-time programs also tend to be more in tune with the general interests of the television industry than other types of religious programs.
The Electronic Evangelists
34;The Gospel Hour of old," is an edited version of one of the morning services from the church. A person who genuinely questions the nature of the Christian faith is limited in the same way.
Religious Programs and Television Culture
In the 1950s, conflicts arose between the writers and producers of television drama and the sponsors of the. Even a casual observation of the pay-time programs reveals their correspondence with the television myths described above.
The Struggle within the Churches
This fact in itself is one of the criticisms of paid time. A few articles were written by broadcasters themselves - performers of images, not words. This functional displacement of the church by religious broadcasters can be recognized in several ways.
Another criticism leveled at broadcasters is that their programs undermine the corporate functions of the church. In the process, however, she was forceful in her affirmation of the social and political status quo. In his challenge to the use of mass media for religious communication, Muggeridge focuses on this question.
Editor James Taylor of the United Church of Canada suggests that the church today is in a new.
Research in Religious Television
Research and Religious Television
Producers of religious programs within churches have had to continually fight to convince church hierarchies of the value of mass media communication. The majority of research on religious television has focused on understanding the nature of television's audience. The findings of these studies are remarkably consistent across key demographic characteristics of religious television audiences.
Together with other research studies, they provide material for developing a relatively clear profile of religious television audiences. These services can regularly and comparatively obtain a large amount of information about various aspects of the audience of religious television programs. The nature of the research conducted over the last three decades seems to suggest that one of the main objectives of religious broadcasters was simply to gain a certain audience.
In evaluating the influence that religious television has or can have on its audience and society, one must therefore be aware of the.
Religious Television: The American Experience by Peter Horsfield Part 2: Research in Religious Television
The Effects of Paid-Time Religious Programs on the Structure of Religious Television
This characteristic is further illustrated by comparing the syndication patterns of the three major pay-per-view religious programs with the three major syndicated prime-time programs during Nielsen's November survey period each year. Note that two of the maintenance programs that suffered cuts due to increased syndication of paid religious programs were programs of recognized evangelical denominations. The effect of the growth of paid religious programming has not only been felt by other syndicated religious programming, but also by network religious programming.
As a result of the displacement of these other types of religious programs, there has been a growth in paid time religious programs. Another effect of the growth of paid religious programming is the steady increase in the number of channels now showing religion. This trend has probably become more accentuated since 1971 with the increase in the number of stations that find religious programming acceptable for a fee: a major consequence of the economic motivation of the general television industry.
Oral Roberts and Billy Graham are two of the pay-per-view religious broadcasters who have been able to buy coveted airtime for their specials.
The Size of the Religious Television Audience
However, in the markets where it is seen, or designated market areas (column 3), it draws a greater percentage of viewers than most of the other programmes. These figures certainly contradict the claims made by some of the paid religious television stations in the period before the 1980 election. This characteristic becomes more apparent when one considers the demographic specifications of the audiences of these programs.
The increases in the audience for pay-time religious programs in the early 1970s initially affected locally produced religious programs. The further inadequacy of the Nielsen figures lies in the fact that they do not measure the audience for cable programs. By 1981, less than 30 percent of television households in the United States were connected by cable.
It is clear that much more research is needed before the size of the total audience of religious programs and its distribution into categories of programs can be accurately evaluated.
Religious Television: The American Experience by Peter Horsfield
Research in Religious Television
Characteristics of the Religious Audience
Increasing age has consistently been found to be one of the strongest differentiating variables between listeners and non-listeners of religious television programs. The general trend is that women over 50 are the largest viewing group in the audience of the syndicated programs. Men in the 18-49 age group were the smallest adult group of viewers, accounting for only 8.8 percent of the audience for “Everywhere.
Dennis found in 1962 that one's place of birth in one of the southern states was a significant factor in distinguishing listeners from non-listeners of religious programs.(20). Most of the audience for religious programs are people who already show a great interest in religion. Several of the findings of this uses-and-gratifications approach are of direct interest to understanding the nature of the audience for religious television. programs and the reasons for viewing.
As part of the larger study, Frank and Greenberg also studied viewing of religious programs on television.
Religious Television and Attitude Change
One of the most useful models for evaluating the personal effects of religious television programming can be found in Television and Human. In this chapter the aim is to explore relevant aspects of the model and how research in the field of religious television relates to it. The salience of viewed behavior to the viewer also depends on the perceived reality of the behavior.
Such behavior also reduces arousal, returning the person to the starting point of the pattern. However, there are several studies that illuminate aspects of the model as it applies to religious television programs. To the extent that religious television programs are able to do this, religious television can play a valuable complementary role to the functioning of the local church by laying the groundwork for cultivating favorable attitudes toward religious belief.
The nature of the effect achieved will vary according to the centrality and function of the attitude in the human psyche.
Religious Television and the Local Church
Reference has previously been made to some characteristics of the calls received at this centre. There is little evidence to support the claim that religious programming on television increases overall church membership. Radio – a five minute daily program on one of the local radio stations along with occasional spots.
The second most important reason -- newspaper advertising -- was named by only 8 percent of respondents. None of those who participated said they were motivated to participate because of television advertising. A major effect of religious programs on church membership can be the channeling of church members from one church to another.
A survey of the research allays some fears of a dramatic undermining or replacement of the local church by paid religious programs.
Religious Television and American Culture
Subsequent research into the political influence of the religious broadcasters suggests that they were not a major influence in the actual election outcome. However, the research mentioned above indicates that in the 1980 election the political activities of the religious broadcasters were not a significant factor in the election outcome. The influence of pay-time religious television also takes on a wider meaning when placed in the broader context of the.
One of the important issues arising from recent trends in religious television lies in the symbolic and actual implications of religion's acceptance of this process and the subjugation of religion. The Christian Church had been one of the few remaining alternative ideologies that remained in creative interaction with the television industry. The effects of this endorsement of the normalization of religious thought by pay-time religious broadcasters may be twofold.
It is likely that only as long as the paid time religion serves the interests of the broadcasting industry will it remain in the favored situation it now enjoys.
The Future of Religious Television
The Future of Current Trends
While some shifts in the overall picture can reasonably be expected, it is unlikely that the overall size and characteristics of the audience for paid religious programming will vary significantly. In light of these limitations, it is interesting to note the recent movements of some of the mainline churches. Much of the growth of evangelical programs in the past has been due to the coincidence of its strongly authoritative and traditional message and.
Much of the influence that paid time broadcasters wielded in the past was also due to the novelty of their ventures and the mystique surrounding their meteoric rise. Much of the future influence of paid-for religious broadcasters may also be altered by the opportunities they have to exercise it. There are some indications that some of the paid religious broadcasters are starting to do this.
One of the persistent criticisms of mainstream religious programs made by evangelicals in the past was that the mainstream programs have.
A Strategy for the Religious Use of Television
A review of the history of the religious use of television shows that religious television is currently at a crossroads in its development. First, it is necessary to break down the objectives of a religious television program in terms of which audience it wants to target. Once the program's audience is determined, program objectives related to that audience must be defined.
The research casts doubt on the validity of the evangelistic purpose of using television. What are the advantages and limitations of the specific method chosen to achieve the goals. Theologically, the message and activities of religious broadcasting are seen as inadequate and incomplete expressions of the Christian.
Since its inception, the local church has remained a model for embodying the message of the Christian faith.