Evangelische Omroep (), shortened to EO, is a public broadcaster within the Dutch public broadcasting system. Founded in 1967, it positions itself as an evangelical Protestant broadcaster with the objective to promote the Christian gospel by means of radio and television broadcasts.
History The EO was founded in 1967 by members of Evangelical churches, dissatisfied with the course of NCRV and wanting to put more emphasis on evangelism. Johan Roeland, Selfation: Dutch Evangelical Youth Between Subjectivization and Subjection, Amsterdam University Press, Amsterdam, 2009, p. 33 Enne Koops, De EO-volutie: in de wereld én van de wereld, historiek.net, Netherlands, February 23, 2015Michiel Bakker, „Het is knokken om identiteit vijftigjarige EO vorm te geven”, rd.nl, Netherlands, April 18, 2017 By 1970, it reached the threshold of 15,000 members required to enter the public broadcasting system as an aspiring broadcaster. Despite struggeling to gain members, it attained the required 100,000 members by 1972, and was granted recognition as a C-status broadcaster by Minister Piet Engels.
The EO's programmes were not aimed exclusively at the Christian population but were explicitly evangelising in character. In its early years, the broadcaster produced television programmes without professional experience or trained staff. Over time, however, the quality of EO productions improved markedly, particularly in nature documentaries and children's programming, which attracted strong audiences. This development continued into the 1980s, when growing secularisation in Dutch society prompted the EO to emphasise its evangelising mission even more strongly, achieving considerable success. In the 1990s, the organisation evolved further into a modern public broadcaster: it began broadcasting on Sundays, collaborated with Joop van den Ende on its first drama series, and in 1992 launched the current‑affairs programme 2 Vandaag in cooperation with TROS and Veronica.
Controversies Programme edits Documentaries are often edited to reflect EO's creationist convictions. While still being presented as a BBC documentary, The Life of Mammals series was edited to remove material incompatible with young Earth creationism,Creationists rewrite natural history, Telegraph 2007 Oct 8. and profanity is regularly edited out of bought-in drama series. Broadcaster defends editing out evolution, Dutch news 2007 sept.
Creationism The subject of creationism has sparked a number of EO-related controversies. In early 2009, a controversy arose over statements by a leading presenter and former director, Andries Knevel. He considered it possible for a religious person not to believe in the literal interpretation of the biblical creation story. Shortly afterwards Knevel apologised for the way in which he had made his statements and for the fact that his personal viewpoint could have been interpreted as the official viewpoint of the EO.
Arie Boomsma In 2009, Arie Boomsma, an EO television presenter, was suspended for three months after appearing partially undressed in the gay magazine L'Homo. Later that year, EO planned to broadcast a new television show called ('A Man Walks Over the Water...') which Boomsma would present. In the show, non-Christian comedians were to be asked to create short sketches about Jesus Christ. The planned show caused uproar among EO members and was cancelled. Soon afterwards, Boomsma left the EO and joined the Catholic broadcasting association KRO.
Programmes
() () Game Over in Littleton
Presenters (Former) presenters of the EO include: Kefah Allush Tijs van den Brink Renze Klamer Andries Knevel Bert van Leeuwen
References
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