Basic HTML Version
Scripture quotations were used, and even the name of God was used
only twice, and that incidentally. It was probably the only
program I have ever broadcast that did not contain quotations and
expounding of Scripture--but of course its purpose was to arouse
the interest of a non-religious audience, and prepare the way for
the programs to follow. The sales manager of WBBM had urged me, on
the telephone prior to our trip to Chicago, to produce programs
which, although getting over Christ's gospel MESSAGE, would speak
this message in the language of the world, and without mentioning
that it actually came from the Bible. In other words, a program
that would appear totally NON-religious. IF I could produce such
a program, he said, and IF the College would sponsor it instead of
the Radio Church of God, and I would speak as a college president
rather than as a Minister of Jesus Christ, he felt that this
powerful station might accept the program for broadcast--and not
only on WBBM, but all CBS-owned stations--possibly the entire CBS
Network. That is why I had selected this particular program for
them to hear.
As the program was getting started, the Vice President
remarked, "I like the way it starts out--it captures my interest
immediately. I never thought of it this way--now I want to hear
what these laws are."
As the program progressed, after about 20 minutes, he said to
the Sales Manager, "I don't see any objection whatever to this
program. I think it would be a fine program on CBS."
As it ended, he said: "Mr. Armstrong, if you can produce
programs like that, with no more religious content than this one,
I would be prepared to take a few of your tapes to our president
and board members in New York, and I feel that we might accept it
for CBS."
But--here was the fatal CONDITION! It must not be in any
sense a religious or Gospel program. CBS has a firm policy against
selling any time for religious programming. They do GIVE free time
every Sunday for three half-hour religious programs on the entire
Network--one an official Roman Catholic program, one an official
program by the national association of Protestant churches, and one
an official Jewish program. But that is the extent of religious
programming. I might mention here, however, that I am now speaking
only of the Network and its Network-OWNED stations. Other
stations, privately owned, affiliated with the CBS Network may sell
time for religious broadcasting, according to the policy of each
station. The WORLD TOMORROW is released by a number of such CBS
stations.
Well, dear Co-Workers, there is the story. IF I could manage
to deliver Christ's gospel MESSAGE to the world without using any
religious language or terminology--without quoting or expounding
any Scripture--without mentioning God or Christ, except in an
occasional off-hand casual manner just like any educator or
scientist or non-religious man might do--then it probably would be
acceptable to CBS. Last summer I ran up against the same situation
on Radio LUXEMBOURG. They would probably clear the most-listened-
to-time of 8:00 P.M. six nights a week for us, reaching all the