Africa

Southern Africa

The Association of Christian Broadcasters in Southern Africa – FEB’s Global Media Partners – have elected a new Chairman, Peter Rice. The Board appointed Karel Verhoef from Radio Pulpit as deputy chair and treasurer and Ronnie Johnson from Rainbow FM as secretary of the Board. Other Board Members are: Hardus Zevenster (Radio Tygerberg), Oliver Raper (CVC), Coenie Botha (TBN Namibia) and Steven Mabugana (GNCR). Christie Crowsen from Integrity Media was co-opted to represent the music houses.

Peter Rice said, “Together we represent a broad spectrum of the Christian Media Industry which I have no doubt can only add value to the vision and future of ACB.
Contact: info@acb.org.za

Democratic Republic of Congo

Mabutwa Miatsi, IBRA’s man in Goma, DR Congo reported on a fuzzy telephone connection that the FM Goma Station is now on air. The 33m high antenna took 8 months to build and cost 15,000 dollars. The funds came from Mabutwa’s listeners. Last November, rebels threatened to take over Goma city and there was uncertainty for a few weeks. Around the beginning of February 2009, Mabutwa was finally able to make his phone call, and said, ” Hallelujah! If it was only for that one man that called yesterday and gave his life to Christ after listening to us, then it was worth all the work!”
Contact: info@ibra.se

Madagascar

Recent upheaval in Madagascar has led to violent protests in the capital city of Antananarivo. The Red Cross estimates that more than 100 people have been killed and almost 350 people injured during the protests and riots. TWR’s James Burnett and Joe Fort travelled to Madagascar to evaluate the Malagasy “Thru the Bible ” ministry. About 40 km from Antananarivo, they met Oliviere, who has listened to the programme for 3 years. Oliviere said that after a year, he decided to travel to the city to find Pastor Richard. At their first meeting Oliviere committed his life to the Lord. “My family saw a big change in me,” he said. “I was brutal before; now I am very humble. I have been set free.”
Visit: www.twr.org

Libya

When IBRA’s Eskil Johansson died last summer, IBRA received memorial gifts that were designated to church planting via Media in the Middle East and North Africa. 34,000 US Dollars were received and during 2008, IBRA recorded the first radio programmes in Libyan Arabic. Thanks to the memorial gifts, the broadcasts are now on air.
Contact: info@ibra.se

Algeria

The Algerian Government is launching a religious TV station to “enhance national religious identity .” Officials from the ministries of Communications and Religious Affairs, are making the final arrangements for the channel’s launch. “The new TV station will air religious programmes presented by Algerian Muslim scholars who will offer fatwas and preaching that are in line with the Maliki School adopted in Algeria,” said Minister of Communication Azzedine Mihoubi. The new satellite channel fills a gap in broadcasting that has led many Algerians to watch religious TV channels from the Gulf – such as SAT-7 and Life TV.
Visit: www.arabvision.org

Asia

Iran, Afghanistan and Tajikistan

On Wednesday 14 January, BBC Persian Television went live. Millions of viewers in Iran, Afghanistan and Tajikistan can now watch the BBC in their own language. Two years ago, the BBC began to create a television channel for the 100 million Persian-speakers. Minutes after going live, the BBC was deluged with hundreds of viewers contacting them. Three-quarters of the potential audience is estimated to be under 30 and BBC Persian TV builds on the journalistic reputation and experience established over 70 years by BBC Persian Radio.
Source: BBC World Agenda

China

CBN China reports that in Western and Central China, 1331 villagers have been given free medical check-ups and treatment, and in Gansu province, villagers received 361 solar ovens that will provide clean, free energy for boiling water and cooking. “This place is an arid region and solar ovens are important for us. Now we don’t have to go out looking for firewood,” said Nan, the secretary of Tongwei village.
Visit: www.cbn.com/worldreach

Australia

Hope 103.2

Sydney’s Christian Community Radio Station, Hope 103.2 was given the International Innovation Award at the 2009 US National Religious Broadcasters’ (NRB) Convention. The award is presented to an organisation based outside the United States that excels in innovative uses of electronic media in the proclamation of the Gospel. The NRB award committee highlighted Hope 103.2’s innovative website and weekly syndicated talkback show “Open House” as examples of the work the station is producing. Hope’s new Technologies Manager Andrew Morris explained, “The goal of the www.hope1032.com.au website has always been to communicate the love of the Gospel in a culturally relevant way, through the use of the new media options that are available.”
Source: Christian Media Australia

Christian Media Australia

CMA is the regional industry body for Christian Broadcasters and programme producers in Australia – and FEB’s Australia Partner. CMA was recently able to help 101.9 Wagga’s Life FM in negotiations with ACMA. Manager George Chapman explains, ” Wagga’s Life FM had its licence renewed at the start of 2008 but conditions were imposed. They had been trying hard to meet the conditions, but in December 2008 they received questions that were difficult to answer. They were under the impression that they would probably lose the licence within a few months. I sent the questions to David Turrell at Christian Media and he spoke to ACMA about them and arranged a phone conference between ACMA, David and myself. After a 40 minute phone conversation, we were much relieved to find that ACMA were not going to be so severe with them and that they were satisfied that they were trying to positively improve the running of the station.”
Ring the CMA office on +61 8 8121 4277

Europe

19 Countries at FEB Sofia Conference

Delegates at the FEB Conference in Sofia in March enjoyed inspirational Bible Studies with Dr Paul Negrut. One commented, “Paul Negrut is an excellent teacher, a very good communicator with a beautiful mind and faith.” Other comments about the Conference included: “It has been the most amazing blessing. Thank you.”; “I enjoyed fellowship with so many interesting and inspiring people from many different countries – thanks for an inspiring weekend.”; and “Great to see what God is doing in Europe.” Delegates came from 19 Countries and represented the full range of Christian Broadcasters across Europe – with visitors also from North America.

The next FEB Conference is planned for November 11-14 next year 2010. The Venue will be announced soon.
Visit: www.feb.org

Europe

Europe is the world leader for Mobile Telephone Services: with a penetration rate of 119% of the population in 2008. The EU is far ahead of the USA (87%) and Japan (84%). Despite the economic crisis, the European Telecommunications Sector (that generates 3% of the EU’s GDP) continued to grow in 2008: its revenues are estimated at over 300 billion Euros. However, the Commission also points out that if co-ordination on a European level does not improve, the lack of coherence between the national regulations may endanger the benefits provided by the single telecommunications market.
Contact: info@robert-schuman.eu

Europe

Connecting the 30% of the EU’s rural population that has no high-speed internet access, should be a priority for achieving “broadband for all ” by 2010, says the EU Commission. Improved internet connectivity is a tool to stimulate swift economic recovery. The Commission says it would use its own support programmes to boost internet networks and services in rural areas, and called on EU Member States to do the same. Good internet access can make farms and companies in rural areas less isolated and more competitive through access to international markets. The European Parliament and the Council are discussing a Commision proposal to make a further €1 billioin available through the European Economic Recovery Plan to spread high speed internet access more widely across all regions of Europe.
Source: EU Press Release

Croatia

Vladimir Psenko writes that yearly contracts with 3 Christian Radio Stations have been renewed – the Martin Radio; RVG Velika Gorica Radio in Zagreb and Zupanja Radio eastern Croatia (Slavonia). Negotiations are continuing to renew contracts with two other Radio Stations. The Croatia Christian Radio team plans to extend their Radio Ministry to Croatian Christian Broadcasting, which will include a Video Bible Presentation. They will videotape 20 five minute video slots with Bible messages and place them on the Croatian Christian Radio Ministry webpage as a first step.
Contact: Bob Perkins bcperk1@bellsouth.net or Mladen Jovanovic mladen.jovanovic@zg.htnet.hr

Albania

In the eastern part of Tirana, Radio 7 now operates from a new building, with over 700 square metres of space, including studios and offices. Radio 7 has 3 large recording studios, 2 small editing studios and a music recording area. Partners at Hope for Albania committed themselves to finish the project within one year. Several groups of volunteers from the Netherlands put together every piece of the building and TWR’s Pierre-Yves Mutrux designed the acoustics for the studios, and continues to assist with technical needs.
Contact: info@radio-7.net

UK

Product placement will continue to be banned for UK-made TV shows, the government has decided. Culture secretary Andy Burnham has ruled out allowing product placement advertising in all programmes made by and for UK television broadcasters in his final response to the EU Audiovisual Media Services Directive. Burnham said there was a lack of evidence of economic benefits, along with “serious concerns about blurring the boundaries between advertising and editorial. ” The ruling will come as a blow to commercial broadcaster ITV, whose commercial boss Rupert Howell recently made an impassioned plea for product placement to be allowed in the UK, admitting the broadcaster was “scrapping for its life”. The decision on product placement will be reviewed again in 2012.
Source: broadcast

France

EVE (Evangile (Gospel) and Events) has applied to the RNT (Digital Land Radio) for a National Radio Service. The application has been submitted on time for commercial and specialised Broadcasts (to avoid certain compulsory rules in the other radio categories). It also allows advertising on air. The application is for 19 towns. 12 more towns will be added within 3 years. The coverage constraints of the digital technology T-DMB, depend on the capacity of coverage and EVE, in France, will be able to reach a potential 7.5% of the French Population. EVE plan to reimburse the initial investors at the end of the fifth year.
Contact: Alain Bonset a.bonset@orange.fr

UK

FEBA UK has announced the appointment of Jonathan Frank as Chief Executive. He was introduced at the AGM on 14 March, and will take up the position in May. John Rogers, who led the FEBA recruitment committee, says, ” I am delighted to welcome Jonathan Frank as our next Chief Executive. He comes with a wide range of experience, a proven track record of leadership in both the secular and the Christian spheres, and is committed to building successful teams to share the vision and ministry of FEBA in an engaging way.”
Visit: www.feba.org.uk

Romania

The Radio Voice of the Gospel in Romania has shifted its 24 hour Satellite Broadcast to a new Satellite: Satellite Sirius 4 (4.8E), 12.265 KHz, horizontal polarisation, SR 27500. Besides its Satellite Broadcast, Radio Voice of the Gospel has been broadcasting on FM in 9 of the biggest cities in Romania: Bucharest, Brasov, Constanta, Cluj, Oradea, Timisoara, Sibiu, and Suceava. Last December they also received a licence for Hunedoara. The Satellite Broadcast also provides Christian programming to the Romanian diaspora in Europe and to rural areas in Romania.
Contact: Lucian Despa rvesc@yahoo.com

UK

After entertaining and educating British youngsters for almost a century, the BBC is cutting out the last children’s show on its mainstream radio stations after discovering the average age of its audience is over 50. The Radio 4 weekly magazine programme Go4it focuses on books, literature and poetry and is aimed at children between 4 and 14. But Radio 4 controller Mark Damazer admitted that the programme, which has an audience of 450,000, sometimes registered no listeners in its target group. He added, “The average age is in the 50s.” The decision to axe the show in May ends a tradition which started with Children’s Hour in 1922.
Contact liz.thomas@dailymail.co.uk

Turkey

Many responses from spiritual seekers are coming from TV programmes in Turkey (where IBRA is the main Partner in a Christian TV Satellite Channel). A viewer writes, “We are a group of 30 people who meet and discuss different issues. We usually bring up the matter of God’s forgiveness. The other day, I happened to see your TV programme. I am a rather suspicious person, but if it just happens to be that the Christian faith is right, I believe that you will surely win not only me, but my group of friends as well. We are all searching for answers concerning our questions and thoughts. Please continue to be in touch with me!”
Source: IBRA Newsletter

UK

Many Churches will highlight the potential of the Internet on 26th April 2009, by holding an “Internet Evangelism Day”. This international focus day programme provides help for Christians to use the Web effectively. Churches can build a presentation into their services on or near that day, using the free downloads from IE Day’s website www.internetevangelismday.com including Powerpoint, video clips, music, drama scripts and handouts. “You don’t need to be technical to be an online evangelist,” says IE Day co-ordinator Tony Whittaker. “There are many ways you can share your faith in your spare time, without any technical knowledge at all.” Church leaders have welcomed this resource. Elder Statesman John Stott writes, “I am glad to commend Internet Evangelism Day”.
Contact: office@internetevangelismday.com

Global

Merged Media

Martin Buxton reports that in the age of converged media, viewers are exerting ever-greater control over the content they consume, and how they choose to consume it. Media Summit 2009, held in London, brought together executives from Television and Film, Music, Online and Advertising to discuss and predict ways to commercialise the new multi-platform environment. The main agreement of the day was the need for a more connected approach across media and platforms, and between Advertisers, Producers and Broadcasters. Simon Francis, CEO for advertising agency Saatchi and Saatchi, suggested the answer was for advertisers and content producers to work together and simplify advertising, with a single “big idea” that could cross categories, brands and platforms. He pointed to the now infamous T-Mobile London Liverpool Street Station flashmob dance as an example that worked across platforms. The television ad featured 350 dancers positioned around the station who spontaneously begin dancing, much to the public’s surprise. A few days later, the ad had been watched online 15 million times, with 400 different versions being posted on YouTube. Within a week the ad had its own Facebook page, which led to 13,000 people descending on the Station to recreate the advert at 2130 on a Friday.
Source: C21Media.net

Middle East

Iraq

Data from a nationwide study in Iraq has found that 97% of the population has access to satellite television and that 18.8%, or 5.3 million people in that country alone (out of a population of 28 million), watch SAT-7. The study also found that 2.6 million are watching on a regular daily or weekly basis. Intermedia, the independent audience research firm which conducted the study, also provides data on such channels as Al Jazeera and BBC Arabic. According to the study, SAT-7 is close to BBC Arabic in the number of people aware of the channel. SAT-7 is also providing support to the Christian community in Iraq. “Iraqi Christians have really suffered in recent years and many have fled the country,” says David Harder, SAT-7’s Communications Manager. “Iraqis often call and text us asking for prayer and now we know that millions of Iraqis, Christian and non-Christian, are watching the broadcasts.”
Contact: sat7news@sat7trust.org

Saudi Arabia

A Saudi national who has been writing openly on the internet about his decision to follow Jesus Christ has been arrested, and his Blogspot platform has been blocked by Google. The 28 year old blogger, Hamoud Bin Saleh, was arrested because of “his opinions and his testimony that he had converted from Islam to Christianity”, according to the Arabic Network for Human Rights Information (ANHRI). Serious concerns have been expressed about how the authorities are treating him, including fears that he may be executed for apostasy. This is the third time that Hamoud has been detained, having been held for 9 months in 2004 and for one month in 2008. “The efforts of the Saudi authorities to silence Hamoud do not come as a surprise,” commented Arab Vision’s international director. “But it baffles us that Google should aid the Saudi authorities in blocking Hamoud’s site. Violation of Blogger Terms of Service is the explanation given when you now try to access his blog page. Does Google consider conversion from Islam to Christianity a violation?”
Contact: office@arabvision.org

Internet Church

A homepage within Arabic cyberspace is to be launched: an electronic congregation. For many years, Partners in the Middle East have produced Radio and TV programmes as well as having a webpage which describes how a congregation functions. “There is now a new vision to build a congregation movement on the internet for people to receive teaching, attend a church service and become involved in a small house group, which will help support believers in the Arab world.” says Bengt-Ake Bengston, IBRA’s regional leader in the Middle East.
A preview of the new webpage is at http://preview.anawabeiti.com

North America

Radio Freedom Act

Senator Blanche Lincoln has re-introduced the “Local Radio Freedom Act”, a resolution endorsed by NRB and its Radio Members. It states: “Be it resolved that Congress should not impose any new perfomance fee, tax, royalty, or other charge relating to the public performance of sound recordings on a local radio station for broadcasting sound recordings over-the-air, or any business for such public performance of sound recordings.” Senator John Barrosso is a co-sponsor with Ms Lincoln. Rep. Gene Green re-introduced the House version of this resolution in early February. It now has over 160 co-sponsors. Both resolutions are meant to counter the “Performance Rights Act” winding its way through both the House and Senate. That legislation would put another fee or tax on sound recordings aired by broadcasters. Visit www.freedomtobroadcast.com
Source: Inside NRB

Strategic Parterships – Global

Jesus Internet Project Conference

Eric Celerier reports on the first “Jesus Internet Project Conference” in Paris. “Since the birth of the ConnaitreDieu.com website (2005) and its development into 13 languages, this was the first time the Partners of these different languages from all over the world have met and discussed the impact of ConnaitreDieu in their own countries. The climax of the meeting was the anticipation of launching a new strategy together. We will develop ConnaitreDieu (also called ‘Looking for God’) into a “Widget” that can be embedded on an innumerable number of websites. Thousands more people will have the opportunity to meet Jesus through this new Internet Strategy. Please look at this page: http://godrev.com/widget_demo/ (beta version).”
Contact: ec@topchretien.com

Spotlight

FEBA’s Spotlight programme in Specialised English is broadcast on over 60 stations, for an international audience whose first language is NOT English. Countries include Ecuador, Nepal, Peru, Cameroon, Italy, Russia, US, Indonesia. Spotlight programmes are provided to broadcasters and radio stations free of charge in this joint project of FEBA, Words of Hope, and Back to God Ministries International. “The Stations are carrying the programmes for nothing,” says Mike Procter, Head of Specialised English at FEBA. “Because the programme is presented in Specialised English (with a slow speaking rate and limited word list) and contains a wide range of international topics, people enjoy listening to it to practise their English.” The Producer schedules time at multiple locations to record the voices (at least 3 or 4) “to get UK and US voices mixed together in the same programme. ” They use music, drama and storytelling to engage their listeners. Mike explains, ” Not all of the programmes have obvious Christian content. What we try to do is in the totality of the programming we demonstrate the Christian woldview of love and concern for all people. The programmes talk about things that Christians believe without criticising alternative beliefs.”
Contact: angela@feba.org.uk

Strategic Partership – Germany

ERF

ERF Medien turns 50 in 2009. For half a century the Christian broadcaster has been communicating the Christian faith to the world. ERF is the Media Partner of the German Protestant Church, the Association of Evangelical Free Churches and many other Denominations. The highlight of the year will be a two-day commemorative event in Wetzlar’s 4000-seat Rittal Arena on Saturday and Sunday October 24-25.

On March 1, the Christian Media Enterprise started up the 24 hour channel “ERF Eins ” via Astra Digital, with television programming and two radio channels being offered in a single bundle. Also debuting on April 1 was ERF Pop, an Internet radio channel. In addition, ERF started broadcasting 30 minutes daily on “Das Vierte ” a German movie channel. For the first time in its history, ERF has now obtained a VHF licence, and is broadcasting on 90.0 MHz in Wetzlar, home to ERF’s headquarters.
Contact: Michael.vom.Ende@erf.de

Strategic Parterships – Africa

TWR and Mercy Ships Partner in West Africa

TWR has entered into a partnership with Mercy Ships in West Africa. Mercy Ships provides free surgeries and implements many community development projects in the areas of health, education, water, agriculture and spiritual needs. TWR will be the media arm of Mercy Ships along the West Coast of Africa. The ship, Africa Mercy, is currently docked in Cotonou, Benin, and will remain there for 10 months. Surgeries are performed onboard the ship and clinics on the mainland provide consultations. TWR is promoting the screenings at the clinics in English, French, Fon, Goun and Yoruba. The next step will be interviewing the doctors who perform the surgeries, followed by a series of holistic programmes about public health to complement the work being done in the clinics.
Contact: Hannah Combe hcombe@twr.org.uk

Diary Dates

The UK Churches Media Council Conference is from 8-10 June 2009 at Hayes Conference Centre, Derbyshire, UK

The opening Keynote address will be given by Baroness Patricia Scotland, the Attorney General. She will speak about “Faith in the Public Space”. She is a leading Member of the UK Cabinet and a committed Roman Catholic. Also speaking will be Philip Graf who chairs the OFCOM Content Board. He has responsibility for the regulation of quality and standards on TV and Radio. He will take part in a conversation about “The Future of Public Service Broadcasting” with the BBC’s Media Correspondent Torin Douglas.
Visit: www.churchesmediacouncil.org.uk/conference

Chrisian Artists’ Seminar

The 2009 Christian Artists’ Seminar will be held in the Conference & Congresscentre Zonheuvel (SBI), Doorn, Netherlands from 1 – 6 August 2009. Days will start with worship in the chapel followed by a workshop/masterclass and the key plenary meeting. After lunch – two more masterclasses, a lifestyle forum or a special lecture and then dinner. The evening will include presentations and performances of 7 different leading artists/groups/bands. This structure opens up opportunities for learning, insight, fellowship and new European contacts.
Contact: ca@christianartists.org