RELIGIOUS BROADCASTING AS PUBLIC SERVICE

Religious broadcasting represents one of the basic elements of the public service broadcasting (broadcasting for the public benefit). It serves various public needs and purposes - according to the ritual model of communication it serves the intermediary function (it allows to participate in the liturgy at the actual time for that part of the audience, which is unable to visit the actual place), according to the transmission model and reception model of communication in particular, it fulfils the educative function by spreading the common Christian values, creates the space for dialogue inside the Church and between the Church and the world. But above all, the main purpose of religious broadcasting is evangelization and bringing the spirit of gospel into the life of the audience. Each of these aspects of religious broadcasting has a specific audience; therefore the forms of addressing it should be different as well. At least, it requires the cooperation between the broadcaster and relevant church authorities. However, the problem lies in the fact that even in countries with a long tradition of religious broadcasting as a component of public service, the legislation does not specify the role of the broadcaster should it provide broadcasting space only or should it actively intervene in the broadcasting? Is it allowed to do so according to the documents of the Church? Would it be possible to make the religious acts more appropriate for broadcasting by the use of elements such as a preferred style for the religious texts or special camera angles for liturgical acts in TV transmissions? There are many unanswered questions yet, and the answers to these questions can be found neither in the legislation, which the broadcaster follows, nor in religious documents.