Should Telethons Be Re-run?

TV telethons have become a staple of Christian broadcasting
networks. Nearly all non-commercial networks do them, and they’re a key
way to motivate viewers to support their programming. I’m not against
telethons, and I’m wide open to any good idea what will help finance
better programming. After all, everyone from causes like Muscular
Dystrophy, to Public Broadcasting does them regularly, so whatever you
may think of the concept, it seems to work. The question I have is: Is
it acceptable to re-play or re-run telethons? After all, it’s about
raising money, and in the vast majority of telethons, there are “live”
elements like telling us the amount of money that’s coming in, the
number of callers, and some even have live graphics telling you how many
phones are busy, or clocks counting down to the total. (Remember the
classic thermometer?)

Of course all of these techniques are designed to increase the
urgency and drive people to the phones to give. However, when the show
is re-run, all those numbers, amounts, and requests aren’t true
anymore. Essentially, are they raising money on false pretenses?

Plus – it opens the door to a lot of confusion on other issues. For
instance, recently, Trinity Broadcasting Network announced that Paul
Crouch Jr. was leaving the network. But by replaying an apparently old
telethon this past week, we see Paul Jr. prominently on the stage
throughout the broadcast. That leaves a lot of questions in people’s
minds. What’s the truth here?

I’d love to hear your opinion. I’m not even getting into the
questionable theology that you hear on some networks, stretching
scripture to encourage people to give. Maybe we’ll talk about that some
other time. And as I mentioned, it’s not the concept of telethons that’s
being questioned here. I’m cool with that. It’s just the idea of
re-running something that’s already happened for purposes of raising
money.

Am I making a big deal out of nothing? Or should television networks –
especially Christian television networks – have more integrity and give
us the real scoop on how they raise money?