PBS puts limits on religious programming

WASHINGTON — PBS officials voted June 16 to not allow new religious programming at member stations, but allowed select PBS stations to continue broadcasting their current faith-based line-ups. The PBS Board of Directors took the action Tuesday after concerns were raised that religious programming could violate the organization’s nonsectarian status. The board unanimously elected to grandfather in the handful of existing shows that are directly religious in nature; the ruling does not affect news shows or documentaries.

“The board has basically voted to insure that the religious programming that stations currently provide and that communities have come to rely on are able to stay on air,” said PBS spokesperson Jan McNamara. Only six of over 350 member stations broadcast religious programming, according to McNamara. Since 1985, PBS has committed its programming to be noncommercial, nonpolitical and nonsectarian in order to guarantee fair and balanced coverage. For the last 18 months, PBS has been conducting an overall policy review to update the organization for the new media age.