Public television, religion and limits of universalism

A regular part of the Czech public service TV broadcasting are programs with Christian content. Their aim is to preach spiritual values, tolerance and peaceful life style. Crucial goal of all these programs is an universalistic effort to address all spectators without difference between religious and non-religious. Nevertheless, television is a very complex medium and can heavily deform the original message and make it a part of the popular spectacle. In my work I have analyzed four TV Christian magazines addressed to young people to describe the most of the issues which can occur when conveying such an abstract message through the medium of television. To achieve these results I used the Czech TV web archives and related literature about spirituality and media. I have also discussed chosen TV programs with editors and script advisors from the Czech TV. I have found all these programs very innovative in looking for new ways to address young audience but not entirely able to communicate strong spiritual ideas. The supposed audience is actually too broad to target it with a specific and profound message. In the unprecedented situation of our region I see this broadcasting as a dignifield attempt to integrate Christianity in the public television and I find many ways how to improve it