MOSCOW, RUSSIA (August 21, 2006) – The government clampdown on Christian organizations actually has opened an opportunity for New Life Satellite Radio to expand its broadcast, says director Dan Johnson.
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\nThe station is preparing to sign a contract that will enable New Life to broadcast over the HOTBIRD satellite, which Johnson says is Europe\u2019s main broadcast satellite and the second most popular in Russia. The satellite has roughly 44 million users in 74 countries.<\/p>\n
The New Life station lost its signal August 1 when the Russian Federal Space Communication agency took control of the right to uplink to the European-owned Eutestat W4 satellite used by New Life.\u00a0 The agency then forced all non-government radio stations on the satellite to cease transmission.<\/p>\n
That action followed the decision by the Ministry of Culture and Mass Media to not renew the broadcast license for New Life Radio in Magadan. Currently the station is able to continue its audio feed to KICY Radio in Nome, which broadcasts the programming for two hours.<\/p>\n
Johnson and project missionary Leonid Reghetta say the Russian government has been moving to limit the work of Christians operating outside the Orthodox Church. The action against New Life and other Christian ministries is a need requiring \u201curgent intercessory prayer,\u201d Regheta says.<\/p>\n
Johnson says that although he was disheartened when the satellite station was forced to stop transmitting, he remains optimistic. \u201cThe Russian government has made powerful moves against freedom of the press and freedom of religion, but New Life Radio is surviving in its mission to guarantee the availability of Christian programming across the country.\u201d<\/p>\n
He hopes that New Life\u2019s continued survival will enable the station to stretch its satellite signal across the country and even to Russian-speaking communities in the United States. That will cost $1,700 a month to use the Telstar 5 satellite, which is free to end users. The cost to New Life for equipment and staff averages $950 a month, Johnson notes.<\/p>\n
\u201cOut of the ashes, we will re-establish our signal on an even more popular satellite, creating a global Internet audience and expanding our satellite coverage to the United States,\u201d Johnson says.<\/p>\n
Johnson says New Life hasn\u2019t decided whether to file an appeal of the government\u2019s decision. A legal team in St. Petersburg is providing free legal services to New Life.<\/p>\n
Copyright \u00a9 2011 The Evangelical Covenant Church.<\/p>\n