A new beginning

At the end of 2003 the regulatory landscape of broadcasting and communications in the UK changed as the new Office of Communications (Ofcom) took over the functions of the five existing regulator bodies. Today we have a growing Christian broadcasting industry and with the new legislation - Communications Act 2003 - they now have the opportunity to obtain radio or TV licences including those for national and local DAB (Digital Audio Broadcasting) radio, terrestrial digital TV, AM/FM local radio, satellite/cable radio and TV stations.

The current radio broadcasters

Apart from the religious programmes on the BBC there is very little religious programming on Independent Local Radio or Community radio stations. The exceptions are two stations, one in London and one in Stoke-on-Trent. Premier Christian Radio (AM 1305/1332/1413 ) is the station for the Christian community of Greater London. This station first started broadcasting on 10 th June 1995 and has pioneered a local radio worship music and speech format. In Stoke-on-Trent Cross Rhythms City Radio (FM 101.8) has been broadcasting for three years as a trial community radio station and on 20 th April this year their new full 5-year licence was granted. Cross Rhythms say that they are a "Christian life style station for the whole community".

A few local mainstream commercial stations have a Christian programme every Sunday morning and HCJB-UK broadcast their award-winning programme on Pulse Classic Gold.

Currently the place where you can find real choice of Christian radio is by listening via DSAT (Digital Satellite) through the TV and Christian stations available this way include Calvary Chapel Radio, Trans World Radio and UCB .

New radio opportunities

For Christian radio broadcasters there are new opportunities appearing in a number of fields. Premier Christian Radio took up the opportunity to broadcast nationally by using one of the few audio channels available via Freeview's DTT (Digital Terrestrial Television) system.

Community radio is another way for Christians to broadcast to their local area and in the autumn of 2004 the UK regulator Ofcom received 192 applications for the first wave of community radio licences. Some of these applicants are members of CBC, such as Hope FM in Bournemouth and the Wirral's Flame FM . The areas covered by such stations will be small with a radius of 5-10 kilometres.

Due to the size of the UK, in many parts of the country there is a shortage of analogue spectrum, especially FM, and even with the new community radio stations there will still be limited opportunities for Christian broadcasters especially in urban areas. However in the longer term the new DAB digital radio will offer opportunities.

British Christian TV

Prior to 1990 Christian TV programmes were limited to the religious slots on both BBC and ITV or on cable TV. Fran Wildish started the first Christian TV Channel - Vision Channel - in the UK in 1986 broadcasting on Swindon's cable network. Today, Vision broadcasts on the general entertainment channel Life TV (Sky 160).

The first UK-based Christian DSAT TV station came on air in 1995 when Rory & Wendy Alec, launched Christian Channel Europe which broadcast two hours a day in the early morning. Today GOD TV broadcasts 24 hours per day from uplink facilities in Jerusalem, while maintaining offices and studios in Britain plus new offices in America, India and South Africa.

There's a host of Christian satellite TV channels but the one that is redefining British Christian Television is REVELATION TV. It broadcasts "live" programmes every day on Sky 676 from their central London studios.

During 2004 UCB TV launched on the Sky 677. Their programme line up includes material that has not been seen before on Christian television in the UK and the emphasis is on television programmes that have been developed for UK and Commonwealth audiences.

The Future

John Battle MP John Battle MP, the Prime Minister's adviser on religion, has said, "We live in a very secular culture with a strongly pro-active secular media, so there isn't much space left for the truth and life of faith communities to be expressed and revealed. So we end up with a very tabloid view of what it means to be a Christian or a Muslim."

To help change things we need to pray that, within the next ten years, every home in Britain will have access to full-time culturally relevant Christian TV, will be able to view many programmes on mainstream channels made by independent Christian producers, and that on radio there will be a range of Christian radio music and speech formats.

So what are the choices?

There's a wide range of choices. for example UCB, currently operate five distinctive radio stations and one channel on digital satelite to meet the different listening and viewing need.

UCB Europe (Ch 875) is there for the whole family through its musi and teaching.

UCB Inspirational (Ch 886) more gentle and relaxed music.

UCB Talk (Ch 885) where you will hear inspiring and encouraging speakers.

UCB Bible(Ch 884) is God's word uninterrupted.

And if you enjoy a more contemporary style of music then UCB has a radio station. the word is online:www.thewordismusic.com

Another platform to reach people is UCB TV (Ch 677), a mix of teaching, music, documentries etc from across the globe.

Find out more www.ucb.co.uk

ALTERNATIVE TELEVISION FOR DISCERNING DISCIPLES

Increasingly there is a move amongst Christians; "We want wholesome programmes, positive images and Godly values in our homes. How can we get the Christian Channels without subscribing to Sky?"

Christian TV, based in Suffolk, has come up with the answer. From the Shetland Isles to the Channel Isles, covering the whole of the UK and Ireland, David and Jan Green and their Team are providing the equipment to view the Christian channels via Satellite. Packages are tailor made for each customer - a complete installation, or receiver only for those who already have a Satellite dish. Purchase the equipment, and there are no monthly payments thereafter. Or you may rent your system with either a new or reconditioned Receiver, replaced every three years.

God TV partners are now directed to Christian TV if their box needs attention, and a retuning service is available to update the channels on their receivers.

"The vision of Christian TV is to have the Christian channels available to every Christian home, and we always seek to encourage and be a blessing to our customers," says Managing Director, David Green.

For safe family viewing, make a note of the number: call free on 0500 618 180.

STUDIO IN A SUITCASE

Feba's answer to programming in faraway places

Engineers at the UK office of the international radio mission Feba, which broadcasts to Africa, Asia and the Middle East, have produced a new resource for radio producers: a mobile 'suitcase studio'.

Built into a standard suitcase and weighing less than 20 kilos, the studio contains mixer, computer, mini-disk recorder, CD player, microphones and speakers. It's easy to use and has been warmly welcomed by producers working in remote locations. "We can carry out recording in all sorts of

places," explains Norman Brierley, Feba's Development Director for Eastern Africa, "and we even have a car battery adaptor so that we can run it in a village without electricity."

Suitcase studios have been delivered to production teams in Ethiopia, Mozambique, India and the Middle East. "They're of special advantage in locations where there's hostility to Christians, as producers can work in the privacy of their own homes," says Feba's Project Engineer Tim Miller.