So I live in Toronto and was in the condo gym and on one of the TV’s they had a show on , called GMA3, on ABC, broadcast from a station in Buffalo . I’m casually watching it while working out then they had something called “ Faith Fridays.” I’m thinking the station changed by itself . Then I realized it was part of the show itself . Like religious broadcasting as part of a news show in the middle of the afternoon. Can someone explain this ? Like it’s not a religious tv station , nor a Sunday, but like ABC ?
Are people in the States that much into religion?
8 comments
[removed]
Daytime TV is usually catering to people who will watch it. In this case ABC has determined that daytime TV on Fridays is good for religious programming for old folks who have the TV turned on to GMA.
The US is a fairly secular country, all things considered, but demographically speaking, folks watching a show like GMA until midday are of a more religious generation.
To answer your last question first, yes, many people in the states are very much into religion. Around 35% of Americans identify as evangelical christians, and that’s only one type of religion. If a local station has time to fill and they believe their audience is or could be substantially made up of religious people, it might be a good business strategy to cater (or pander) to them.
Others have answered already, but I would like to point out that you were watching this in Canada. Are people in Toronto that into it that it was on at the gym?
You saw a segment on one show among all the other programming they have throughout the week. Did you have the same reaction to the other segments on that show?
GMA3 had a segment about the artist Jelly Roll this week, are we all that big of fans of Jelly Roll? Like during the day? Is that normal?
There’s a variety of stuff in the US. Maybe this is common in some places. It isn’t something I’ve noticed in other places. In some places ppl are very religious and in some places ppl are less religious. I’ve never been to Buffalo NY so can’t say much about that.
Ive never seen something like that. They must have just decided the local audience wants that, but america can be quite religious depending on the area.
Thought maybe they had local cut-ins like in the early morning version of the show and WKBW decided to fit a little religion into one, but no: it’s apparently part of the national feed. It’s a human-interest feel-good thing. Religion is a little unusual to see on a major network, but remember who we voted for in 2016 and what kind of fanbase he ran.
On the local level, it depends on the market: 700 Club is a religious show that’s been on dozens of local stations for decades, and there are several others like it. Some of them really get ratings, too.