Channel 4 Chief Executive Andy Duncan is to help churches face the future, and give the keynote address to this year’s Churches’ Media Conference.

While the Catholic Cardinal and the Church of England, or at least its two archbishops, are perceived to be at war with the government over one set of public services, in relation to the equalities agenda, yesterday (25 January 2007) they set their face in favour of a public service ethos in relation to broadcasting.

Representatives of faith communities have told Parliamentarians that faith does not figure sufficiently in BBC programmes and services.

In a shot across the bows of those who feel that religion is being marginalized in broadcasting, most notably those who focus on 'entitlements' to religious slots, the BBC's director general has urged Christians to be more creative and 'subversive' in their broadcasting approaches.

The Bishop of Norwich, the Rt Rev Graham James, has called for the renewal of the BBC Charter and the retention of the licence fee in his maiden speech in the House of Lords.