TV Broadcast
From SPARK
Television (TV) broadcasting is a powerful medium, especially if you want to reach a large audience. TV broadcasting requires a special broadcasting station. TV reception requires a TV receiver and antenna. Most TVs require electricity to operate although the price of portable TVs has dropped recently so that the price is within reach for some individuals.
Now that satellite stations ring the world, it is possible to receive satellite TV in almost any part of the world—as long as they have electricity. In 1999 China had the ambitious goal to provide a TV signal for every Chinese by the year 2000. Satellite TV was their means of reaching this goal. In other parts of the world satellite TV is gaining a large following. A greater percentage of people watch satellite TV in the Arab world than in the USA. See www.SAT7.org
The most cost effective means of taking advantage of TV is to buy time on a station. Some stations are looking for additional programing. Some local stations have accepted a vernacular video to be broadcast.
Considerations
| Strengths | Limitations |
|---|---|
| * Crosses political and religious barriers | * Viewing is dependent upon when the program is aired |
| * Popular | * Requires programming |
| * Covers a broad or narrow geographic area | * Aimed at mass audiences |
| * Can be live or pre-recorded | * Encourages audience passitivity |
| * May give credibility to the message | * Often only broadcast in major languages |
More Information
At a recent conference of SAT-7 Partners, Associates, staff and supporters of SAT-7, a TV ministry directed at the Middle East, a bishop reported, “It [satellite TV] can do what no church can: It can enter a person’s home EVERY DAY, bringing with it MANY DIFFERENT SPEAKERS, presenting a Christian view on MANY DIFFERENT SUBJECTS. And, it can do this in millions of homes at the same time!”
Doris Porter, Scripture Use Consultant with Wycliffe said this in a recent newsletter: “Television is reaching farther and farther into rural societies. Roads and electricity have made it possible for many families to own small television sets. When doing some research on use of mother tongue Scriptures in some rural churches, many church members that were interviewed spoke of how TV was disrupting family life. Where Christian families used to read the vernacular Scriptures together in the evening, they now are gathered around the television watching very secular focused programs in the language of wider communication. This not only impacts traditional values but influences language attitudes and use.”
She continued, “If television is a viable option for a people group, perhaps we should be looking more and more into making use of this medium. Vernacular Media Services at JAARS has a variety of Scripture video options. Careful planning for effective use of these media could result in very positive impact.”
