Broadcasting Act 1990
Section 6 (1)(d) requires the ITC to do all it can to secure that licensees exercise ‘due responsibility’ in relation to religious programmes and that they do not involve any improper exploitation of any susceptibilities of viewers or abusive treatment of the religious views and beliefs of those belonging to a particular religion or religious denomination.
Section 16 (2)(e) requires that a ‘sufficient amount of time’ be given to religious programmes on Channel 3 and Channel 5.
Schedule 2 Part II(2) disqualifies religious bodies from owning a terrestrial service but the ITC is given the discretion to award a licence for a licensable programme service or a satellite television service to a religious body.
ITC Codes
The ITC programme code provides detailed guidance implementing the legislation on religious programming and other relevant sections. This includes rules for responsible follow-up material, a ban on recruitment to particular religions on services not owned by religious groups, restrictions on appeals for funds for religious purposes and a requirement for programmes on Channels 3, 4 and 5 to reflect the worship, thought and action of the mainstream religious traditions present in the UK, recognising that these are mainly, though not exclusively, Christian. Rules are also set out for appeals for funds on behalf of religious charities; these are only allowed if it can be reliably demonstrated that any proceeds will be devoted to ‘disadvantaged third parties’ and are not linked with the promotion of any other objective. Actual demonstrations of exorcisms and occult practices are not acceptable in factual programming except in the context of a legitimate investigation.
The ITC code of advertising standards and practice includes rules for religious advertising. Additional guidance on religious sponsorship is in the ITC code of programme sponsorship. There are also provisions for religious broadcasting in the ITC Rules on the Amount and Scheduling of Advertising (RASA).
ITC Licences
Channel 3. Regional Channel 3 licensees must provide an average of at least two hours a week of religious programmes, including acts of worship and a range of other programme types. In London, the requirement is placed on the weekend licensee, except for programmes covering major weekday religious festivals.
GMTV. The national breakfast-time licensee, as part of diversity, must include a weekly reflection slot, coverage of religious festivals and items within general programming.
Channel 4. Although Channel 4 is not required by the Broadcasting Act to carry religious programmes, its revised licence carries a commitment to include approximately one hour a week of religion in peak time.
Channel 5. Five has to provide at least one hour a week of religious programmes.
Performance Review
Channel 3. In its 2002 Performance Review, the ITC acknowledged that ITV had largely delivered its religious programming requirement, although there has been a steep increase in the proportion of programmes shown after midnight. There is still only a slight showing for non-Christian faiths in the religious broadcasting schedules. ITV commenced its flagship religious series My Favourite Hymns in 2002, which included an Act of Worship. There is also a monthly programme featuring a full service, usually linked to key religious festivals. These developments have generally been well received by the Central Religious Advisory Committee (see below).
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GMTV. Continues to offer a good and intelligent mix of topical religious items in its Sunday Review strand. Occasionally, The Sunday Programme is also devoted to a fuller exploration of contemporary religious issues.
Channel 4. The channel is required to include religion in its peak-time schedule and the Witness strand is a main vehicle for this. It continues to deliver documentaries predominantly, but not exclusively, on religious themes and seeks to address multi-faith and multicultural issues, in line with the C4 remit of providing complementary programming.
Channel 5. The channel continues to broadcast quality religious programmes at various points within the schedule. For example, Divine Designs, about religious architecture, was transmitted at mid-evening peak time.
Religious Channels
The ITC has licensed a number of specialised religious channels to be carried by cable or satellite including: The Vision Channel; Muslim Television (Ahmadiyya); Christian TV, Revelation TV and Sat-7.
CRAC
The Central Religious Advisory Committee (CRAC) is appointed by the ITC and BBC for advice on policy matters relating to religion and reviews programme output after transmission. An annual report is presented both to the Commission and the BBC Board of Governors. Chaired by the Archbishop of Cardiff, CRAC reflects the diversity of religious belief and practice in the UK. Members include a wide range of Christian denominations and people from the Buddhist, Hindu, Jewish, Muslim and Sikh traditions.
Further References
IBA/ITC Publications
* ITC Library bibliography: Religious broadcasting, February 2000 edition
ITC programme code
ITC code of advertising standards and practice
ITC code of programme sponsorship
ITC Rules on the Amount and Separation of Advertising
Guidance note 6 on the acceptability of religious advertisers and sponsors. (February 1994)
Licences for non-broadcast television services: notes for the guidance of licence applicants. 1994 (Annex A on religious ownership guidelines).
VINEY, Rachel: Religious broadcasting on UK television: policy, public perception and programmes. In Cultural Trends. 2000. Issue 36
IBA/ITC Television Research Monographs (published by John Libbey, now at the University of Luton Press)
Godwatching: viewers, religion and television. IBA. 1988.
Seeing is believing: religion and television in the 1990s. ITC. 1994.
June 2003
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