Few commercial radio stations in Britain are carrying programming that applies to matters of faith, according to research conducted by HCJB Global-UK.

On-air spiritual content in the country is at an all-time low with just 18 of the 300-plus commercial radio stations nationwide broadcasting a regular religious show, indicated survey results released by HCJB Global-UK last week. Of the stations still retaining religious programming, many are relegating such content to early Sunday-morning timeslots and disbanding their religious advisory teams.

In the report, compiled by Whistling Frog Productions, the program production arm of Bradford-based HCJB Global-UK, the survey asked Christian producers and presenters nationwide to provide updates on the situation in their own towns and cities.

"The regional breakdown of the 18 stations was by no means an even split across the country," said Director Colin Lowther. "The majority of religious shows are in Scotland-10 out of the 18. Six remain in England and two in Northern Ireland. But each year we see another couple of religious shows disappear from the radar."

"Now must be the time for religious broadcasters to stop making programs for an imaginary Christian audience, and to instead redirect their efforts into producing creative material that is attractive to commercial radio's largely non-believing audience," added Lowther. "We need to stop advertising the local church coffee hour and start speaking the language of the listener."

The picture isn't altogether gloomy, however. Heart 96.3 in Bristol and Heart 103 in Cambridge air a new one-minute, showbiz-style bulletin of fun and serious religious and Christian news that is proving popular. The program is underwritten by sponsors.

In West Yorkshire, HCJB Global-UK's award-winning program, "The Full Breakfast," recently completed its 12th year of broadcasting on Pulse 2. In the Isle of Man, Manx Radio has been "increasing its religious output steadily for a number of years," Lowther said.

Rather than focus on the traditional world of Christian radio, Whistling Frog Productions "has a vision to reach those outside the church who listen to mainstream radio stations with the aim of placing creative radio material with a spiritual flavor onto local commercial stations," he explains. "It's also a resource for Christians who work in the radio industry and offers quality training to aspiring Christian broadcasters."