Religion and Media

Religion and Media

1ai): Today’s Terrestrial television presents many different varieties

of programs for its viewers. There are different styles of programs

for certain days and time periods.

When religious broadcasting first became known on terrestrial

television the main target audience was Christians; Christians who

regularly went to church and accepted the traditional church beliefs.

Most of the religious broadcasting on terrestrial television today is

closely related to Christianity. This is because Christianity is the

main religion of the British community, and has been for many years.

Although, as time has passed the viewers of religious programs have

changed. With a new audience come different views on religion. Today

the religious styles of programs found on terrestrial television are

targeted towards people who are classed as being ‘vaguely religious’.

The name ‘vaguely religious’ is given to the large group of people who

attend church for such events like: weddings, funerals, christenings,

etc. and who feel God has some purpose or existence.

The BBC aim to answer questions for their viewers by displaying many

programs of different varieties all of which are built around three

very important questions; ‘Where have we come from?’, ‘Why are we

here?’ and ‘How should we live?’

These three questions provoke people to think about the importance of

religion and they help them to explore the different ways in which

people try to answer them, whether it is through worship, prayer or

simply giving food for thou

The BBC offers many religious programs through different formats.

There are: documentaries, comedies, dramas, soaps, films, magazine

talk shows and many more. The variation in format makes religion seem

quite appealing to those who aren’t even ‘vaguely religious’. Although

some comedies have religious themes they are still appealing to

teenagers and families who are not interested in religion.

This change in broadcasting has meant that there has been a decline in

sincerely religious programs found on terrestrial television. In 1998

there was much upset caused after it was announced that there would be