Although I do tend to disagree with a couple of posts as it was funded by Manchester City Council and by the diocese (I think that's how you spell it) of Manchester - along with a couple of sponsors. The City Council was just fortunate that the BBC wanted to take part in the event and televise it to the nation
AIUI it was a BBC event, devised and organised by the BBC.
My da actually works for the council and it has been in the planning stages for 2 years. It was only in the last 7 months that the BBC has been involved.
I do know that MCC are actually planning to something similar either this Christmas or next Christmas depending on funding.
[quote="Inspector Sands]Mr Sanderson said that if the event were being staged by, and paid for, by the church and the BBC was simply broadcasting it, it would probably not break the guidelines[/quote]
Where do programmes such as Songs Of Praise fit into all this? This is a genuine question by the way, I'm not being facetious!
I would assume that the songs were cleared much in the same way that they would be for X-factor, Stars In Eyes, Fame Academy etc... through the record companies. Any broadcasted cover of a song must result in royalties being paid.
And after seeing the pathetic comedy scenes of people being "baptised" in a plastic pool bought for 2 quid from Early Learning Centre, as well as a bishop hypocritically slating Noel Edmond's Celestial Order beliefs, I am happy being an atheist. If that's what religion is all about, count me out.