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Megachurches look to take sermons to a higher definition

by Darren Murph posted Jul 23rd 2008 at 3:05AM


High-def integration into churches is nothing new, but it's still far from commonplace. HD installers are now keying in on megachurches throughout the US, which typically have congregations in the thousands and could certainly benefit from HD projections. According to Pat Thompson, senior vice president of engineering operations for broadcast and audio visual systems integrator TV Magic, there are around 10,000 megachurches in America today, with only 1,000 or so equipped with HD cameras, displays, etc. He also noted that some of the larger venues would spend between $500,00 and $4 million in order to completely convert to high-def, which would likely have some churchgoers fanning themselves and passing out in the aisles. Still, there's hardly a more suited place for HD than this, but you should probably tell your pastor to invest in some makeup if your church is planning on doing closeups at 1080p.

[Image courtesy of Yucan]

After review, NFL will allow church Super Bowl parties

by Richard Lawler posted Feb 21st 2008 at 3:30PM

Tell your pastor to stop looking over their shoulder, a higher power (Roger Goodell) has decided the NFL will no longer object to live showings -- regardless of screen size -- of the Super Bowl. With the caveat that the event must be free, and held on premises the church uses "on a routine basis", this makes the local ministry and sports bar odd bedfellows enjoying exemption from the NFL's rule against public viewing on screens 55-inches or larger. With more and more churches adding big screens, this could have become a PR nightmare for the NFL, but with HDTVs continuing to grow, we suspect this isn't the last we've heard about this issue.

[Via ESPN; warning, registration required]

Update: Check out the senator's press release concerning the letter received from Commissioner Goodell (Thanks Taylor!).

NFL still clamping down on churches for illegal Super Bowl parties

by Darren Murph posted Feb 3rd 2008 at 12:03PM


Restaurant and bar owners, fret not, you're free to broadcast tonight's matchup between the Giants and Patriots on a screen larger than life, but for churches, movie theaters, casinos and the like, throwing that Super Bowl XLII party is likely a no-no. After a well publicized tilt last year between the league and Fall Creek Baptist Church in Indianapolis, it seems that Goodell and company aren't backing down from the 55-inch image restriction nor the stipulation that the big game cannot be used to "promote a message." According to a recent article at The Wall Street Journal, many venues are renaming the event, scaling it back or simply not having a single large gathering in order to stay within the guidelines. One more reason to just blow it out at your place, we guess.

[Image courtesy of ChristianPost]

Texas churches seeing sermons on HDTV

by Darren Murph posted Jan 30th 2008 at 11:41PM


Around this time last year, we were all caught up in the drama unfolding between the NFL and Fall Creek Baptist Church, but this time, it doesn't seem as if any place of worship is being smitten for showing the big game on a big screen. Rather, a pastor down in Texas is utilizing HD (and IP) technology to beam himself (and his sermons) to satellite churches around the area in real-time. Apparently, the signal from an HD camera and two other cams zoomed in on his face are zipped around to other auditoriums and churches in the area, which prevents individuals that live further away from having to make a lengthy drive, yet still gives them the ability to interact with other congregation members. Unfortunately, we've no idea if the pastor in question is being seen simultaneously in 720p, 1080i or 1080p, but regardless, let's hope he's wearing some form of HD makeup for everyone's sake, eh?

[Image courtesy of KIR]

NFL oks Super Bowl viewing in churches, as long as no one pays

by Conrad Quilty-Harper posted Feb 3rd 2007 at 9:03PM

Whilst many may be aware of the strong reputation that churches hold for repeatedly pulling off successful annual gatherings, a recent letter sent by the NFL to the Fall Creek Baptist Church suggests that this particular organization isn't quite so clued in. The letter, which caused the church in question to cancel a planned "Super Bowl Party" sparked a litany of other cancellations by churches scared of attracting the wrath of the league. The NFL has subsequently attempted to rectify the situation it got itself into -- some would argue the sports equivalent of "cancelling Christmas" -- by stating that their original claim was that churches could display the game, as long as they didn't charge for entry, or display the game on anything other than "a television of the type commonly used at home": in the case of the kitted out Fall Creek Baptist Church, they were hoping to broadcast the game on a TV measuring more than a divine 55-inches diagonally. Unfortunately for the groups that arranged and then subsequently cancelled their parties, it's a little too late to re-advertise. Fortunately, God's omnipresence comes in handy for these sort of screw-ups, so the solution for watching the game at home with the ultimate authority is as simple as leaving a space on the couch. Whether or not he digs your set is an entirely different matter, and one that's entirely down to thickness of your wallet.

[Via Tom's Hardware]

NFL shuts down church's Super Bowl Bash, ratings to blame

by Darren Murph posted Feb 1st 2007 at 4:59PM

C'mon folks, everyone and their grandmother will likely be watching the Super Bowl this coming Sunday (even across the pond), and even if you have no interest in the Colts, Bears, or large men in awkward suits, someone in your family probably feels otherwise. Nevertheless, the NFL showcased its mighty power (and terrible decision making) by condemning Fall Creek Baptist Church's "Super Bowl Bash," saying that advertising a fee-based party that utilized "license-protected words" was against regulations. Furthermore, ditching the door charge and the taboo language wasn't good enough to solve the problem, as "the law" limits Super Bowl (wait, can we say that now?) party TVs to a quantity of one, and that single set must not be over 55-inches. Needless to say, we don't doubt that good few of you fine, law-abiding, tax-paying citizens will be catching the big game with a couple of your friends on your 60-inch plasma (or 100-inch projection screen), but we'd highly recommend building an underground bunker between now and Sunday to make sure your plans are safe. Of course, bars and other eateries are somehow exempt from this bogus rule, and as expected, all the grumbling stems from Nielsen's obvious inability to estimate just how many folks are watching a single tube on this advertisers' dream night, but ratings drops or not, we wouldn't mess with Touchdown Jesus.

Holy high definition?

by Richard Lawler posted Feb 3rd 2006 at 4:27PM

Jesus' scaler is looking a little blurryNow that the football season is coming to a close, we must find a new source of reliable Sunday HDTV content. Well, there is always a higher power to look towards (no, not satellite). We're talking about the new $10 million Hope Community Church in Raleigh.

So why is the church your best option on Sunday and not a den of sin and iniquity like ESPNZone? Besides a cafe that serves Starbucks, there is also a game room with Xbox's and PS2's (I'm guessing that WWJD? doesn't cover those "who scores the flag?" situations in Halo). The three "giant" HDTV screens (no word on exact size or resolution, but we have our own ideas about divine inspiration) should definitely get the spirit moving within you.

We were going to baptize Ben there, but apparently 1080p falls under the definition of a false idol, so it may be best for us to stay away.




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