AUGUST 29, 2016: In early 2014 a door was opened for the United Church of God–South Africa to air the Beyond Today television program on Cape Town TV (CTv) at very reasonable rates. In Cape Town, CTv is a non-profit community organization that broadcasts on DSTv channel 263 and open channel 32.

In mid-2014 the UCG-RSA National Council obtained from Cape Town TV their rates for broadcasting on Sunday mornings (the only time the broadcasting of religious programs occurs at economical rates). The standard rate was R5,000 per episode. But we were able to negotiate an excellent R3,500 (US$245) per episode—a 30 percent discount.

The National Council then reviewed the rate offered and considered the long-term cost of going ahead with airing Beyond Today in South Africa. At the time the Church’s finances were stable, although its reserves had decreased somewhat. But, it was agreed that a R330,000 reserve would be maintained and that we would broadcast Beyond Today at our own cost in South Africa without extra subsidy from the U.S. home office. If the reserve fell to R330,000, we would stop broadcasting Beyond Today until finances improved.

100th episode aired

We are happy to report that since October 1, 2014, the United Church of God has been broadcasting Beyond Today continuously on CTv. And, on August 28, 2016, we broadcast the 100th episode of Beyond Today in Southern Africa. As of the end of September 2016 we will have broadcast Beyond Today for a complete two years.

Of note is that the Church's reserve has been blessed and has outgrown the cost of both airing Beyond Today each week and the additional associated operating costs. The reserve has not decreased but increased to around R600,000. Also several members in various locations of South Africa have started attending with UCG in South Africa as a direct and indirect result of airing Beyond Today.

In December 2015 the average viewership recorded by DSTv (i.e. not including free viewers on Channel 32) for Beyond Today was around 22,500 viewers per episode. In January 2016 this figure was around 32,500 viewers per episode. In July 2016 the figure is still relatively high being around 25,250 viewers per episode. The viewer statistics do vary each month and with each topic being broadcast. We recorded a peak viewership of 55,000 viewers on DSTv on Sunday November 1, 2015, for the episode, "Kingdoms at War: Handwriting on the Wall."

The technical challenges

We have had some logistical efforts to sort out over the past two years. The Church's home office in Cincinnati, Ohio, produces each Beyond Today episode—which takes weeks of work for each one. Then, each month the BT programs are sent electronically to Jason Webster in South Africa where he edits in the South African address and contact information. These files are large and take time to transmit to him.

The files are then transferred to CTv which, after editing, are then around 1.3GB each. The  original studio files from the home office can be around 40GB each so they are compressed significantly in order to be able to transfer them to South Africa for our use. The new episodes are edited and uploaded each week to CTv to be broadcast that coming Sunday.

Moving forward in faith

As can be seen from the now almost two-year history, God opened a door in 2014 and in faith the Church took the appropriate steps and God has blessed us accordingly for "being about our Father's business" (Luke 2:49). And, Church income has increased enough to cover all the costs of airing the program.

Your continued prayers for such doors, growth and guidance according to God's will are appreciated in ensuring that we all carry out the commission given to the Church in Matthew 28:19-20: "Therefore go and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things, whatever I commanded you. And, behold, I am with you all the days until the end of the world. Amen."

Jason Webster, Beyond Today Coordinator—UCG South Africa