Hope Channel Philippines on the verge of covering half the population with gospel
Feb 13, 2012 17:32
The Adventist church's Southern Asia-Pacific Division has acquired rights to two broadcast franchises that will expand current coverage to half the country.
The first is a platform for applying for 15 TV frequencies and 20 radio frequencies. The second has frequencies in eight large cities including: Metro Manila (North Philippines); Cebu (Central Philippines); and Davao (South Philippines).
"Metro Manila has a potential viewership of close to 20 million people," says Jonathan Católico, Southern Asia-Pacific Division communication director. "All cable stations reached by the signal will carry our programs. In total, we will soon reach close to 50 percent of the Phillipine population."
The acquisition has been made possible, in part, by church members who give 50 cents per Sabbath for five years combined with denominational contributions and, as Católico puts it, "donations from kindhearted church members all over the world."
"We currently use the Hope Channel International signal as the main source of programs, and add three hours of local programming each day," explains Católico. "We receive a lot of letters and calls from our viewers asking for additional information, Bible studies, and baptism. The locally produced programs are very well received and denominational prejudices breaking down."