What are the copyright legalities where there is a TV in the church for an event?

A church asked that question, about the copyright ramifications where a TV (free-to-air) is being used in a church setting, such as for a social event. The Australian Copyright Council has some helpful advice on this:

If you are watching television, rather than screening a DVD or video, you do not need permission from the TV station, the owners of copyright in the movie or film footage that is broadcast, nor in relation to underlying sound recordings included in the broadcast. This is because of special exceptions in the Copyright Act.

You will, however, need to check that the venue or your organisation has a licence from APRA for playing any music and song lyrics included in the broadcast.

You may also need permission for the public performance of any literary or dramatic works included in the broadcast. However, there is no collecting society which licenses such uses.

The Australian Copyright Council has a very helpful web site, with myriads of information sheets available. The above quote was taken from an information sheet there, "Videos, DVDs & films: screening in public".