Is Congress Turning Off Your Televangelist?

national journal ^ | alex brown

[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."

[hadaclueonce]

Will I still be able to watch Jack Van Imp and Benny Hinn if I get cable?

And Peter Popoff! I have seen that he out lasted the Amazing Randy's outing.

[markomalley]

I want a la carte cable.

If I want EWTN, I’ll pay for it.

If I don’t want the pornographic, homosexualist garbage on so many other channels, I resent having to pay for that.

[Steve_Seattle]

I’m not sure what is meant by “local channels.” Most cities have local affiliates with ABC, NBC, and CBS. These affiliates carry the network shows plus local programming, including local news. There is no way that cable companies would drop those major network affiliates. The only other local station is the public access channel, which - where I live - is mostly a bunch of goofy leftists like Democracy Now! and a few conspiracy-mongers. As for televangelists, there are two major national religious networks - Daystar and TBN. I don’t see any reason why cable networks would drop them.

[Steve_Seattle]

To correct myself, we do have a couple of other local channels - the University of Washington channel, the local government channel, and maybe one or two others.

[Steve_Seattle]

"Will I still be able to watch Jack Van Imp and Benny Hinn if I get cable?"

The major televangelists appear on Daystar or TBN, both of which are national networks that would probably still be carried on cable.

[DannyTN]

"I’m not sure what is meant by “local channels.” Most cities have local affiliates with ABC, NBC, and CBS. These affiliates carry the network shows plus local programming, including local news. There is no way that cable companies would drop those major network affiliates. "

I could be wrong, but I think by locak channels, they mean local affiliates. Those local affiliates as well as any other local TV station are what are required by law today.

If it's not required by law and the compensation set by law. Then cable channels will negotatiate and it is very possible if they don't get the deal they want, they would drop the local station.

[Steve_Seattle]

They would be crazy to drop the local network affiliates - the public would not stand for their favorite shows being dropped. They’d all cancel their cable subscriptions.