DesNews: PBS lets KBYU keep affiliation and religious programming:

PBS voted Tuesday in Arlington, Va., not to punish stations that air religious shows. As a result, there should be no changes in KBYU programming or content.

“KBYU is pleased with the final recommendations from the PBS Station Services Committee and the vote of the PBS board regarding the local programming autonomy of PBS member stations,” said Derek Marquis, BYU Broadcasting managing director.

Fortunately yesterday’s hand-wringing was for naught. Too bad it was an issue at all.

UPDATE: Turns out PBS just grandfathered KBYU and other stations which broadcasted religious programming, but still seeks to phase out all sectarian braodcasts.

But no new religious shows can be offered, and none of the 350 other stations may air any purely spiritual content, a move some groups say is a quiet means of phasing out religion from their airwaves. . .

Federal law does not bar showing the services on public television, but PBS worries that the broadcasts have the appearance of an official endorsement from the network.

On that last point, isn’t that the inherent problem with anything PBS broadcasts?

MORE: Get Religion asks how will PBS treat Deepak Chopra and similar New Age gurus who regularly air specials during those obnoxious telethons?