Channel 4 to broadcast the Islamic call to prayer every morning during the holy month of Ramadan

Castiel · 2 Jul 2013 at 20:33

robfosters said:
Would Al Jazeera show songs of praise?

No, thought not.

Al Jazeera show quite a lot of Christian programming, particularly in broadcast regions with significant Christian populations such as Egypt.

muon · 2 Jul 2013 at 20:34

Nexus said:
I don't have an issue with it, other than the fact that it seems strange that they have decided to specifically cater to the religion of Islam and their holiday.

By that I mean that I don't really see Channel 4 doing much to cater for other religions in their programming. Yes, Christmas is a Christian holiday, but does 'Xmas Specials' of regular programming really count as the same?

I think it'll be something like 5 minutes a day for 30 days. There is a lot more programming about Islam, long before this idea was touted.

T345 · 2 Jul 2013 at 20:36

Nexus said:
I don't have an issue with it, other than the fact that it seems strange that they have decided to specifically cater to the religion of Islam and their holiday.

By that I mean that I don't really see Channel 4 doing much to cater for other religions in their programming. Yes, Christmas is a Christian holiday, but does 'Xmas Specials' of regular programming really count as the same?

Well, yes I think so, as there is always things like Christmas specials, but I couldn't care either way, as there are many other things to see what time you need to pray, rather than that. BUT with the time of prayer in the morning being so early it won't affect 'normal' people's lives.

Doohickey · 2 Jul 2013 at 20:36

The Running Man said:
I think that's the point isn't it, they aren't the god channel so why are they going all religious?

But they aren't going all religious? The BBC shows Songs Of Praise, I don't think of the BBC as religious.

Bottom line, it'll still be better than Hollyoaks.

dowie · 2 Jul 2013 at 20:38

Nexus said:
By that I mean that I don't really see Channel 4 doing much to cater for other religions in their programming. Yes, Christmas is a Christian holiday, but does 'Xmas Specials' of regular programming really count as the same?

Channel 4 could do some Ramadan specials too - plus maybe show Four Lions or something as the Ramadan movie?

shephga · 2 Jul 2013 at 20:38

Castiel · 2 Jul 2013 at 20:39

dowie said:
Don't see a massive issue.... I've got a mosque alarm clock so wake up to the call to prayer every morning - basically its irritating as **** and means I pretty much have to get out of bed and thump the alarm clock.

That actually sounds pretty cool...where do you get them.

Suarez7 · 2 Jul 2013 at 20:39

T345 said:
Well, yes I think so, as there is always things like Christmas specials, but I couldn't care either way, as there are many other things to see what time you need to pray, rather than that. BUT with the time of prayer in the morning being so early it won't affect 'normal' people's lives.

That's why I don't get all the fuss being made over it as 99% of people won't be watching channel 4 at that time anyway. Pretty sure it's the idea of it all what is getting peoples backs up and not because it's interrupting their tv viewing though.

Participant · 2 Jul 2013 at 20:40

Castiel said:
haha, I read this at about 5am this morning and I bet my wife that someone would start a thread on it before we went to bed tonight, she said that no one would bother with something so trivial......cheers to the OP, I now have a favour logged in the Bank of Wife.

Right again! Does it ever get tiresome?!

I have a "channel change" and "off" button on my remote (I thought they all did?), so I'm not that bothered.

FoxEye · 2 Jul 2013 at 20:41

Channel 4 aren't doing this for any other reason than as a publicity stunt, I'd wager.

I can't even remember the last time I watched C4, probably the same for many of us...

adolf hamster · 2 Jul 2013 at 20:41

Doohickey said:
Bottom line, it'll still be better than Hollyoaks.

this^

*looks forward to the hell this is going to raise on all the comedy programs*

dowie · 2 Jul 2013 at 20:42

Its blatantly been done to troll the EDL - which is amusing.

They got a load of flack from Muslims not so long ago with their 'Islam: The Untold Story' so perhaps needed to work on their Muslim PR a bit too.

Castiel · 2 Jul 2013 at 20:44

Participant said:
Right again! Does it ever get tiresome?!

I have a "channel change" and "off" button on my remote (I thought they all did?), so I'm not that bothered.

I'm wrong on plenty of things, I simply like to actually find out about something before gobbing off about it...and if I'm still wrong I'll admit it.

And, exactly...simply don't watch it, still it gets everyone talking about Channel 4 and I wonder how many people will actually watch it just because they are curious now...

dowie · 2 Jul 2013 at 20:45

Castiel said:
That actually sounds pretty cool...where do you get them.

Got it in the Middle East a few years ago, not sure if you can get them over here - perhaps e-bay.

RDM · 2 Jul 2013 at 20:46

I would prefer it if no religion were promoted by any broadcaster, especially publicly owned ones, but as I don't watch Channel 4 it isn't really going to bother me.

Castiel · 2 Jul 2013 at 20:46

dowie said:
Got it in the Middle East a few years ago, not sure if you can get them over here - perhaps e-bay.

I'll have a look...I didn't even know they existed before you mentioned it.

Edrof · 2 Jul 2013 at 20:46

I can't see how it could be truly negative therefore who am I to stand in the way.

Castiel · 2 Jul 2013 at 20:49

RDM said:
I would prefer it if no religion were promoted by any broadcaster, especially publicly owned ones, but as I don't watch Channel 4 it isn't really going to bother me.

Surely a public broadcasters remit is to cater for everyone within its remit (i.e The Public) so as a proportion of those would be religious so they have a right to programming that caters for them and the broadcaster a duty to provide it?

SexyGreyFox · 2 Jul 2013 at 20:53

I won't be up up at 4am in the morning so not really bothered if I was channel surfing, accidentally turned on CH4 and then my batteries went flat so I couldn't switch the channel over.

RDM · 2 Jul 2013 at 20:55

Castiel said:
Surely a public broadcasters remit is to cater for everyone within its remit (i.e The Public) so as a proportion of those would be religious so they have a right to programming that caters for them and the broadcaster a duty to provide it?

Just my preference, I wasn't aware that my preferences had to be inclusive and representative?

I won't watch it, but is has the advantage of stirring up the bigots but I still feel religion is outdated and anachronistic and see little point is promoting superstition. However I am fully aware that broadcasters are not there to pander to only my whims or we would have more than 6 episodes per Top Gear season!