Editing Religious broadcasting (section)

==Radio==
(The distinction between radio and television broadcasters is not rigid; broadcasters in both areas may appear in the Radio or Television section in this article.)

===Australia===
Religious radio stations include
* [[3ABN]] Australia Radio
* [[Melbourne Jewish Radio]]
* Australia National Hindu Radio (ANHR)

===Brazil===
*Rede Católica de Rádio (Catholic radio network)
**Rádio Canção Nova
**Rádio Aparecida
**Rádio Imaculada Conceição
**Rádio Evangelizar
*[[Rádio Novo Tempo]] ([[Seventh-day Adventist Church]])
*[[Rede Aleluia]] ([[Universal Church of the Kingdom of God]])
*Rádio Deus é Amor ([[God is Love Pentecostal Church]])
*Rede Gospel FM ([[Reborn in Christ Church]])
*Rede Nossa Rádio]] ([[International Grace of God Church]])
*Rede Feliz FM (Peace and Life Christian Community)
*Rede Sara Brasil FM (Heal Our Earth Evangelical Community)

=== Canada ===

* [https://www.radioislam.ca/ Canadian Islamic Broadcasting Network (CIBN)] - Islamic Talk Radio

===India===
* World Hindu Radio;World latest Hindu Community Radio Station based in [[Ayodhya|Ayodhya, India]]
* Asian Hindu Radio; based on [[Ayodhya]] and [[Suva]]
* Marithus Hindu Voice
* Fiji Hindu Radio
* Angel Radio 
* Jai Ram Community Radio
* Hindustan World Radio
* Malabar Muslim Radio
* Asian Muslim World
* Lord Radio
* Jwiees Radio International
* Vice of Hindu (VOH)
* Vice of Jain (VOJ)
* Vice of Sikh (VOS)
* Vice of Parasi (VOP)
* Vice of Christian (VOC)
* VOH Hindi
* VOH Tamil
* VOH Bangla

===Italy===
*[[Radio Maria]]; International Catholic radio broadcasting, founded by Erba, has branches in 55 countries around the world. [[Vatican Radio]] is its sister media.

===Netherlands===
<!--a long list that would be pointless, except that it adds some non-Christian examples, sorely lacking from the article as a whole. From the Netherlands Public Broadcasting article. pol098-->
{{Further|Netherlands Public Broadcasting#other}}
* [[Buddhist Broadcasting Foundation]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.buddhistmedia.com/defaultengels.aspx|title=Buddhist Broadcasting Foundation – Buddhist Broadcast Foundation|author=Human Content Media Producties B.V.|access-date=23 August 2015|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150831083933/http://www.buddhistmedia.com/defaultEngels.aspx|archive-date=31 August 2015}}</ref>
*'''[[Humanistische Omroep]]''': A small broadcaster dedicated to secular Humanism.
* '''IKON''' (Interkerkelijke Omroep Nederland): A small broadcaster representing a diverse set of nine mainstream Christian churches.
* '''[[Joodse Omroep]]''' The new name of NIKmedia (Nederlands-Israëlitisch Kerkgenootschap): Dutch-Jewish broadcaster.
* '''[[Nederlandse Islamitische Omroep|NIO]]''' (Nederlandse Islamitische Omroep): Small Islamic broadcaster.
* '''[[Nederlandse Moslim Omroep|NMO]]''' (Nederlandse Moslim Omroep): Small Islamic broadcaster, slightly more progressive than the NIO.
* '''[[Organisatie Hindoe Media|OHM]]''' (Organisatie Hindoe Media): Small Hindu broadcaster.
* '''[[Rooms-Katholiek Kerkgenootschap|RKK]]''' (Rooms-Katholiek Kerkgenootschap): Small Roman Catholic broadcaster, actual programming produced by the KRO. Roman Catholic events and services on television are broadcast by the RKK.
* '''[[Zendtijd voor Kerken|ZvK]]''' (Zendtijd voor Kerken): Small broadcaster that broadcasts church services from some smaller Protestant churches.

===New Zealand===
* [[Rhema Media]] encompasses three radio networks; Rhema, Life FM and Star.

===Philippines===
* [[DZBR|Bible Radio DZBR]] ([[Cathedral of Praise]])
* [[Catholic Media Network]] (Catholicism)
* [[Cebu Catholic Television Network]]
* [[Pentecostal Missionary Church of Christ (4th Watch)|End-Time Mission Broadcasting Service]]
* [[Far East Broadcasting Company|FEBC Philippines]] (Christianity)
* [[Hope Channel Philippines|Hope Channel (TV), Hope Radio and Adventist World Radio]] ([[Seventh-day Adventist Church]])
* [[DZEM|INC Radio 954]] ([[Iglesia ni Cristo]])
* [[Sonshine Media Network International]] ([[Kingdom of Jesus Christ (church)|Kingdom of Jesus Christ]])
* [[ZOE Broadcasting Network]] ([[Jesus Is Lord Church Worldwide]])

===Poland===
* [[Radio Maryja]] – A Christian-national Polish educational, guide and religious radio station based in Toruń, belonging to the Lux Veritatis Foundation registered in Warsaw.

===Portugal===
* [[Rádio Renascença]] - Owned by the Portuguese Catholic Church
* [[Radio Maria#Radio stations in Europe|Rádio Maria]] – [[Christian radio|Catholic radio]]
* Rádio Canção Nova – [[Christian radio|Catholic radio]]

===South Korea===
* '''GCN''' Global Christian Network (broadcaster)
* '''CTS''' ([[Christian Television System]])
* '''CBS''' ([[Christian Broadcasting System]])
* '''FEBC Korea''' (Far East Broadcasting Company)
* '''PBC''' (Pyeonghwa/Peace Broadcasting Corporation); catholic
* '''BBS''' (Buddhist Broadcasting System)
* '''WBS''' (원음방송 – Original Sound Broadcasting)

===Spain===
* [[Cadena COPE]] - Owned by Spanish Catholic Church
* [[Radio Maria#Radio stations in Europe|Radio María]] – [[Christian radio|Catholic radio]]

===Trinidad and Tobago===
* [[Radio Jaagriti 102.7 FM]] ([[Hindu]]); owned by the [[Sanatan Dharma Maha Sabha]]

===United Kingdom===
Religious broadcasting in the UK was established on 30 July 1922, a Sunday, when the first radio sermon was transmitted by J. Boon of the Peckham Christian Union, from the Burdette Aerial Works at [[Blackheath, London|Blackheath]], to the congregation at Christ Church, [[Peckham]], and listeners up to 100 miles distant.<ref>{{Cite Q|Q112427565}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Sermon by Wireless, Clothes-Prop Aerial on London Church |work=The Times |issue=43097 |date=31 July 1922 |page=8}}</ref>

The religious ethos of the [[BBC|British Broadcasting Corporation]], and the importance attributed to the place of its religious output is predominantly due to the distinctive and formative role played by the BBC's first director-general, [[John Reith, 1st Baron Reith|John Reith]]. Reith was the son of a Presbyterian minister. Although opposed to narrow dogmatism, he strongly believed that it was a public service duty of the BBC to actively promote religion. The pattern established by Reith in the early days, and the advisory system that he established, continued to exert a strong influence on the corporation's religious output through the war years and beyond, and eventually extend from radio into television.

British broadcasting laws prohibit religious organizations, political parties, local government, and trade unions from running national analog terrestrial stations. Some religious radio stations are available in certain areas on the MW (medium wave) or VHF (FM) wavebands; others transmit using other methods, some of them nationally (such as via digital terrestrial TV broadcasting, satellite, and cable).

[[Premier Christian Radio|Premier Radio]] is available on MW in the London area and also nationally on DAB. [[United Christian Broadcasters]] is available in both the London and Stoke-on-Trent areas, and nationally as well via [[Digital Audio Broadcasting|DAB.]] [[TWR-UK]] is available on Sky, Freeview, Freesat and online. There are several UK-based radio stations that serve a genre group or locality, such as [[Cross Rhythms]] based in Stoke-on-Trent, a contemporary music station with a local FM [[community radio]] license. Branch FM operates across West Yorkshire and is a volunteer-run community [[Christian radio]] station. Like most other local Christian stations, they also use the Internet to gain national coverage. There are other UK-based radio channels which apply for regular temporary licenses, such as Flame FM on the Wirral, Cheshire which applies for two months of local FM broadcasting per year via a Restricted Service Licence (RSL), and [[Refresh FM]], which regularly broadcasts in [[Manchester]] for 3 or 4 weeks over the [[Easter]] period.

Also, there are religious broadcasters that transmit to the UK from outside on medium wave at night (when MW signals travel much further) by buying airtime on commercial stations such as [[Manx Radio]] (from the Isle of Man) and [[Trans World Radio]] (from Monte Carlo).

Although there are tight restrictions on religious groups setting up their own radio and TV stations, there is a legal requirement for the [[BBC]] and [[ITV (TV network)|ITV]] to broadcast a certain amount of religious programming. Some commercial local radio stations carry a limited amount of religious programming, particularly in [[Northern Ireland]] and parts of [[Scotland]].

===United States===
The United States does not have a state religion or established church, and religious broadcasts most commonly feature various Christian sects. Although originally provided by independently operated stations, it currently is mainly provided by local or regional networks. Most stations hold [[non-commercial educational]] [[broadcast license]]s. Although religious radio began with individual stations, because of the deregulation in the 1996 Telecommunications act it has become more consolidated with local affiliates under a national radio company.

Religious broadcasts began before a formal broadcasting station category was established. Beginning in May 1920, the sermons of Rev. Clayton B. Wells, pastor of Fairmont Congregational Church of Wichita, Kansas, were read on Sunday evenings over an amateur radio station, 9BW, operated by C. A. Stanley.<ref>[https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=uc1.c2559865&seq=294 "Enter—The Radio Preacher"] by C. A. Stanley, ''Radio News'', November 1920, pages 270, 312.</ref> After the development of organized broadcasting, the first full worship service, originating from the Calvary Episcopal Church, took place on January 2, 1921, over [[KDKA (AM)|KDKA]] in East Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.<ref>[https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=mdp.39015013717361&seq=331 "Broadcasting Church Services"] by W. W. Rodgers, ''Radio Broadcast'', August 1922, pages 321-329.</ref> On December 22, 1921, the first broadcasting station license assigned to a religious institution was issued for [[WDM (Washington, D.C.)|WDM]], operated by the [[National Presbyterian Church|Church of the Covenant]] in Washington, D.C.<ref>[https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=umn.319510008420257&view=1up&seq=284 "New Stations"], ''Radio Service Bulletin'', January 3, 1922, page 2 (incorrectly listed as "WDN"). Limited Commercial license, serial #261, issued for a thirty day period to the Church of the Covenant in Washington, D.C.</ref> Other prominent early religious stations included [[KFSG (Los Angeles)|KFSG]], the Foursquare Gospel Church in Los Angeles, [[KFUO (AM)|KFUO]], The Lutheran Church – Missouri Synod, serving St. Louis, [[WLWL (New York City)|WLWL]], the Paulist Fathers, and [[WPOW (New York City)|WBBR]], Jehovah's Witnesses, both in New York City, [[WXES|WMBI]], Moody Bible Institute in Chicago, and [[WBBL (Virginia)|WBBL]], Grace Covenant Presbyterian Church in Richmond, Virginia. However, the cost of operating a radio station on a non-commercial basis, plus generally restricted hours of operation, led to most of the early stations either shutting down or selling out to secular commercial operators.

The development of radio networks made national broadcasts possible, although the networks preferred non-controversial and non-denominational broadcasts. In April 1938, ''Time'' magazine described the Columbia Broadcasting System's interdenominational Church of the Air as "innocuous".<ref name=time>[https://time.com/archive/6758743/religion-maier-v-council/11 "Religion: Maier v. Council"], ''Time'', 11 April 1938.</ref>
Also, in December 1938, Lenox R. Lohr, president of the National Broadcasting Company (NBC), which at this time operated two nationwide networks, stated that NBC did not sell airtime for religious broadcasts; instead, it maintained a policy "to provide time, without monetary recompense, to the three great types of religious faiths prevailing in America — the Protestants, the Jews, and the Catholics — as distinguished from individual churches, or small group movements." Lohr said that NBC "turned to the most representative religious groups in the country to aid us in determining what religious programs are broadcast. All our regular Protestant programs are scheduled through the Federal Council of Churches; in the field of Catholicism, the National Council of Catholic Men acts in a like capacity, and, for the Jewish programs, the United Jewish Laymen's League."<ref>[https://archive.org/details/broadcasting15unse/page/25/mode/1up "Churches Advised To Protect Radio"], ''Broadcasting'', December 15, 1938, page 26.</ref> The one national network at this time that was willing to accept commercial religious broadcasts was the Mutual Broadcasting System, which carried the Lutheran Hour.<ref name=time/> 

In the late 1930s, a Roman Catholic priest, Father [[Charles Coughlin]], had a popular. although controversial, weekly broadcast carried by an independent commercial network. Coughlin was accused of being both pro-fascist and anti-semitic.<ref>[https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn83045462/1939-07-17/ed-1/seq-20/ "Elliot Roosevelt Rakes Coughlin In Radio Talk"], ''Washington Evening Star'', July  17, 1939, page B-2.</ref> Neville Miller, the head of the [[National Association of Broadcasters]] (NAB), called for the elimination of broadcasts that play "on religious bigotry... religious or racial prejudice or hatred".<ref>[https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn84026749/1938-12-22/ed-1/seq-14 "Miller Orders Ban on Bigotry in Radio Talks"], ''Washington Times'', December 22, 1938, Page 14.</ref> In 1939, largely in response to Coughlin, the NAB Code was updated to ban member stations from broadcasting commercial programs which featured controversial issues.<ref>[https://archive.org/details/broadcasting17unse/page/n678/mode/1up "Ban on Coughlin Under Code Indicated"], ''Broadcasting'', October 1, 1939, page 13.</ref>

In 1938 the [[Federal Council of Churches]] petitioned the [[National Association of Broadcasters]] and the [[Federal Communications Commission]] formally requesting that  paid religious programs be barred from the air. The oouncil represented about thirty more liberal "mainstream" denominations, which was less than half of American Protestantism. In 1929, the council's general secretary had stated that, "in the future, no denomination or individual church will be able to secure any time whatever on the air unless they are willing to pay prohibitively high prices....”<ref>{{cite book|title=A Man Spoke, a World Listened: the Story of Walter A. Maier|url=https://archive.org/details/manspokeworldlis00maie|url-access=registration|first=Paul L.|last=Maier|publisher=McGraw-Hill|year=1963 |pages=187–191}}</ref><ref name=time/>

The Moody Bible Institute was the first religious organization to use satellite radio to reach a larger audience than before, and was also one of the first religious broadcasting networks to receive a non-commercial educational FM license from the FCC, allowing them to open other stations.

Several national networks exist, including:

*[[Air1]]
*[[American Family Radio]]
*[[EWTN Radio]]
*[[Family Radio]]
*[[K-LOVE]] 
*[[LifeTalk Radio]]
*[[Northwestern Media]]
*[[Radio 74 Internationale]]
*[[Relevant Radio]]
*[[Salem Radio Network]]
*[[3ABN Radio]]
*[[VCY America]]