Loophole opens way in Canada
Dec 23, 2009 09:43
God has provided a new avenue to take the gospel message into communities where there is little to no religious programming either on television or radio. A recently discovered loophole in Canadian law opened the doors for broadcasting Hope Channel and Esperanza TV in 12 communities in British Columbia, and soon across the country.
“I was searching on the Canadian Radio-television Telecommunications Commission (similar to the FCC) website for information concerning the 25 VOAR (Voice of Adventist Radio) radio stations that are approved for broadcasting and are we installing throughout British Columbia,” says Stan Jensen, communication director for the British Columbia Conference of Seventh-day Adventists. “I was amazed to find a special exemption that will allow us to broadcast programming on small cable companies.”
The exemption allows cable companies with less than 6000 subscribers to carry up to five religious channels on their network without having to receive CRTC approval. Normally, religious programming within Canada must be produced within the country but this exemption does not have that particular requirement.
“I was shocked to find this opening,” says Jensen. “I was even more shocked to find that it is not being used. There are around 90 communities just within British Columbia that fit the necessary profile, enabling us to broadcast within their territory.”
One cable company was extremely eager to begin airing both Hope Channel and Experanza TV in about a dozen towns.
In this area there are 11 communities of First Nations people. “There are about 800 tribal elders who oversee the governing of these groups,” says Jensen. “They have been so impressed with the work of the Adventists in their communities that they are now requesting to have Adventist media broadcasts.”
“Being born and raised in British Columbia, I know the broadcasting challenges that have been faced in the past throughout Canada,” says Brad Thorp, Hope Channel president. “I am thrilled with this breakthrough that is a blessing from God.”
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