Posted on 12/17/2013 7:19:50 PM PST by Morgana
Congress is trying to take televangelists from your televisions.
That's the argument from faith-based broadcasters who are pushing to preserve the nation's "must-carry" rules. The rules, which date back to 1992, require cable and satellite companies to pick up local broadcast affiliates—even the small, less popular stations.
Rep. Steve Scalise, R-La., is pushing legislation to scrap those rules as part of a broader effort to deregulate the airways. Online video and expansive satellite lineups have given consumers so many options that the government no longer needs to decide who carries what, Scalise said.
But local broadcasters say they provide a public good, and therefore providers should be barred from dropping them in favor of potentially more lucrative outside programming.
And that's where televangelists come in. By and large, their sermons aren't carried by major networks, making them more vulnerable if providers are suddenly relieved of their mandate to carry local programming. Under Scalise's bill, if DISH Network decides another channel can bring in more money than local Christian network affiliates, it's under no obligation to keep bringing viewers their daily dose of Pat Robertson.
The bill "would be a significant detriment to a number of Christian TV stations and the viewers who rely on them for spiritual guidance," said National Religious Broadcasters President Dr. Jerry Johnson. "These long-standing carriage rules ensure that viewers can access the important and edifying programming their local Christian broadcasters offer free-of-charge."
(Excerpt) Read more at nationaljournal.com ...
I’m sorry, but I just can’t follow the arguments in this piece. How would “deregulation” threaten televangelists? I would think the opposite - that new REGULATIONS might threaten them.
I’m guessing we will be seeing turban headed Imams repacing them?
I’m guessing we will be seeing turban headed Imams replacing them?
(I don’t follow this issue so much)
how does a satellite system have room
for stations from dozens of different cities,
for their signal that cover half the US?
That’s from 2007. I remember this.
Create a channel through Roku and let people subscribe to it. You'll get far more viewers and make more money since there's little advertising.
I think the regulations that the congressman wants to eliminate require cable companies to provide a medium for programs that are not commercially viable because nobody wants to watch them. These include tele-evangelists who cannot drum up enough viewership to succeed without the government forcing the cable companies to carry them.
How would that impact EWTN?
Take a look at this piece:
... But local broadcasters say they provide a public good, and therefore providers should be barred from dropping them...
The broadcasters AKA network news affiliates (NBC CBS ABC) don't won't to be dropped from cable (because of low ratings) That's what this is *really* all about.
Comcast in Philly never provided a studio to produce in-which is the law.They have the highest building in Philly.Rendell let them slide and so all local origination producer’s had nowhere to go .What ever happened to Rendell.They pulled him out for the Mandella thing and put him back in camphor balls.
Must-carry rules require cable/satellite operators to carry local tv stations, some of which are religious stations. That is what this refers to.
A major business segment is at risk. Expect a wave of bankrupcies among Lexus and Cadillac dealers, as well as among mansion builders.
EWTN has no local tv stations. They are strictly satellite/cable/internet.
Will I still be able to watch Jack Van Imp and Benny Hinn if I get cable?
Well it sounded to me like it’s not just televangelists that are threatened. It’s all local programming. Local news, local programs, anything local.
If cable companies don’t have to carry local channels, then the question is are local channels viable any more? Are we all going to go buy rooftop antennas and switch between antennas and cable. And even if we did, would we really watch enough local channels given the inconvenience for them to remain viable.
Well it sounded to me like it’s not just televangelists that are threatened. It’s all local programming. Local news, local programs, anything local.
If cable companies don’t have to carry local channels, then the question is are local channels viable any more? Are we all going to go buy rooftop antennas and switch between antennas and cable. And even if we did, would we really watch enough local channels given the inconvenience for them to remain viable.
You don’t really need rooftop antenna any more - they have antennas that you can just mount on your wall - very inexpensive as well.
Before we deal with this, can we defund PBS first? I mean, if we are deregulating things, does a billion dollar franchise like Sesame Street need taxpayer help?
Even if a known pedophile is the one bringing in the bucks?
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