TV network TVE marks four decades of secular religious broadcasting
The 40-Year Anniversary Bash of TVE's Diverse Religious Shows
This Thursday, TVE celebrated a monumental milestone for their religious programming, hosting a celebration at Prado del Rey that gathered representatives of shows like 'Shalom', 'Good News TV', and 'Medina on TVE', which air every Sunday on La 2.
Alfonso Morales, TVE's general secretary, expressed his pride in these programs reaching their impressive 40-year anniversary. "We're a public television, and we're damned proud of this service. It's a big bloody deal to make it this far, giving Sunday a window for religious communities to spread their message is bloomin' cause for celebration," he said. Urbana Gil, director of the area of Society and Culture for our website, noted their pride in facilitating the meeting between these different faiths.
Journalist Fede Cardelús, known for 'The Adventure of Knowledge', hosted the event, which featured three round tables for each space. Coty Aserín, director of 'Shalom', and other Jewish leaders like María Royo, director of communication of the Federation of Jewish Communities of Spain, and former Federation president Isaac Querub, graced the table for 'Shalom'. The 'Good News TV' table included its director, Esteban Lozano, Evangelical Federation president Esteban Muñoz de Morales, and psychiatrist and writer Pablo Martínez Vila, the program's first ever guest. Bouziane Ahmed Khodja, 'Medina on TVE' director, and others like Hicham Oulad Mohamed, a member of the Islamic Commission of Spain, and Ricardo García, professor of Law and former deputy director of the Ministry of Justice's relations with the confessions, represented the Islamic community's space. Monsignor Salvador Giménez, representing the Episcopal Conference, and Catholic programs of TVE programming were also present.
TVE Dives into the Religious Diversity Pool
TVE gave the green light to religious programming on September 7, 1982, and since then, Evangelical, Muslim, Jewish, and Catholic confessions have shared their programs on the channel, making TVE a pioneer in Spanish television for reflecting its country's diverse faith landscape.
'Good News TV', hosted by Beni Moreno and directed by Esteban Lozano, delivers the message of the Good News Jesus Christ announced in an accessible and contemporary way, by showcasing the lives of Christians that bring the light of the Gospel into their environment, fostering a better world.
'Shalom', presented by Coty Aserín and Gemma Ruth Lazovsky, takes a stab at introducing Spanish Jewish community's identity, customs, traditions, and values, helping to preserve and broadcast the Sephardic legacy while contributing to Spain's modern development.
'Medina on TVE', the Islamic community's space, tackles current issues faced by Islamic collectives in Spain and the recovery of Spain's historical Islamic past, under the direction of Bouziane Ahmed Khodja and María Rodríguez.
Non-Catholic Religious Programming in a Nutshell
Throughout history, and even today, TVE has been dominated by secular programming, with a strong Catholic influence due to Spain's Catholic heritage. However, the advent of diverse religious content reflects the ongoing religious diversity in the country. Non-Catholic programming faces challenges such as limited airtime and visibility compared to mainstream or Catholic content, but there are ever-expanding opportunities with the rise of digital platforms that cater to niche content. Faith-based channels like Daystar Español, expanding into Puerto Rico, and EWTN, offering extensive Catholic programming globally, underscore the growing importance of faith-based media.
- The average viewer of TVE might find a change in lifestyle as they delve into the diverse programming beyond Sunday religious shows, exploring topics like fashion-and-beauty, food-and-drink, home-and-garden, relationships, pets, travel, cars, and shopping.
- As one reflects on the impact of TVE's non-Catholic religious programming, it's worth noting the exploration of average lifestyle choices, such as food preferences and travel destinations, shown through shows like 'Good News TV' and 'Shalom', which offer insights into different faith communities' customs and traditions.
- Paired with lifestyle content, pet enthusiasts can find companionship in programs like 'Medina on TVE', which not only addresses the Islamic community's current issues but also introduces pets from various backgrounds as part of diverse households.
- In the world of travel, programs like 'Good News TV' and 'Shalom' showcase faith-based journeys and spiritual experiences from across the globe, opening the average viewer's eyes to the unique perspectives and values of different religious communities.
- The average shopping experience could also evolve as one becomes more aware of the diverse religious values reflected in fashion-and-beauty choices, as shown in TVE's non-Catholic religious programming, creating a more inclusive and culturally-sensitive marketplace.
