
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: TUESDAY, February 5, 1991                   TAG: 9102050423
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: B-3   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: FRANCES STEBBINS CORRESPONDENT
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Short

RELIGION CHANNEL ENDORSED BY GROUP

The Roanoke Valley Ministers Conference, an interfaith group for religion professionals, has endorsed a proposal to add the VISN channel to Cox and Salem Cable TV systems.

The channel carries 24-hour programming to offer instruction on contemporary religion issues. Its national supporters include all the mainstream denominations, except Southern Baptist, represented in the Roanoke Valley.

Dane C. McBride, the Mormon representative to the conference, said VISN programs have minimal sectarian bias and are produced under guidelines that permit no solicitation for funds or members.

Those who teach on the programs also are held accountable to maintain objectivity and are not permitted to attack other groups, McBride said.

Cox Cable carries the programs in the Hampton Roads area. McBride said with the Cox contract up for renewal, now is a suitable time to seek the addition of an on-going, high quality religion channel.

The conference endorsed the proposal on condition that efforts also be made to include the Salem Cable system.

McBride said he and others promoting the addition of VISN will take the proposal to the Roanoke City Council within the next month. No time was discussed for getting the programs on Salem Cable.

For many years the conference sponsored short TV meditations on commercial channels, but this free time now has been eliminated except for sign-on and sign-off spots on one station.

by CNB