Channel 12 bows to FCC pressure

[oz]

I read that Channel 12 is not going to show Saving Private Ryan tonight, even though nearly every other ABC station in the country is showing it. They are afraid of broadcasting the "F-word," even though ABC showed the film uncut in 2001 and 2002.

ABC's contract with Steven Spielberg says the movie cannot be edited.

Instead, Channel 12 is showing Far and Away, starring Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman, and not in HD, no doubt.


If you think this is a good thing, send a thank-you note to Mr. Bush.

[borghe]

I just sent an email to WISN programming.

This decision is ridiculous. It even says in the Cuprisin article that the FCC has twice previously okayed the airing AND that watchdog groups had promised the FCC not to file complaints.

Thanks for nothing WISN. You just screwed your community out of seeing one of the most important movies made in the last ten years.

[oz]

I also read somewhere that ABC agreed to pay any possible fines for the affiliates. I agree that Saving Private Ryan is one of the most important war movies ever made.  Then again, Far and Away is too:  "They needed a country that was big enough for both of their dreams..."

[Hophead]

Hey oz the FCC is run by a democrat name Michael Powell so why exactly is this Bush's fault???

[oz]

The FCC basically said they wouldn't fine anyone for this. In my opinion, it's the whole "Family Values" kick that started with Janet Jackson's Superbowl incident.

"Under strict interpretation of the rules, we can't run that programming before 10 p.m.," said Ray Cole, president of Citadel, which owns WOI-TV in Des Moines, KCAU-TV in Sioux City and KLKN-TV in Lincoln, Neb.

Cole cited recent FCC actions and last week's re-election of President Bush as reasons for replacing "Saving Private Ryan" on Thursday with a music program and the TV movie "Return to Mayberry."

"We're just coming off an election where moral issues were cited as a reason by people voting one way or another and, in my opinion, the commissioners are fearful of the new Congress," Cole said.

[borghe]

lest we forget and start "blaming" the FCC, Janet DID show her breast, nipple and all, on national primetime TV during the annually most watched television event.

So while the FCC crackdown is a little annoying, the catalyst for all of it was without question obscene and indecent (according to longstanding guidelines).

[Hophead]

You Bush haters really make me laugh...If memory serves me correctly Bush's comments after "nipple-gate" was that he missed the entire thing because he was asleep and he left it at that.

It was the FCC that got it's panties all tied in a wad, and once again the FCC is led by Michael Powell a democrat.  It was the FCC that investigated, it was the FCC that has levied fines, it is the FCC that trys to censor the Howard Sterns of this country.  It is the FCC that is run by a democrat!

How many rapes, murders and simulated sex scenes does the average american see a week on TV, yet one nipple makes an appearance and Micheal Powells kids will never be the same.  It was the FCC that blew this incident out of proportion, and if they were reacting to pressure from viewers then that is the market deciding, which is how it should work in a free-market society.

oz you also say it is the whole "family-values" thing, yet the people I talk to when asked about moral values in this years election, cited the liberation of over 50 million people and the attempt to bring democracy to an area of the world that has only know brutal dictatorships as the number 1 moral value that they focused on this year.  You also mention family-values like that is a bad thing. This country could use some more family values and it appears almost 60 million American agree.  I believe in personal responsibility and responsible parenting, I will decide what is suitable for my kids to watch.  I wish WISN was showing Private Ryan tonight it is one of the best movies made in the last 20 years, I guess I will have to watch it on my DVD instead, with my kids of course.

By the way I voted for Michael Badnarik the Libertarian candidate this year and Harry Brown in 2000.

[Doug Mohr]

I don't think WISN is "bowing to the FCC Pressure". I think they are using the FCC media attention as an excuse to show something that they think will attract more of the viewing audience they strive for.

I'm sending my complaint to WISN now.

Doug

BTW: This has nothing to do with Bush.

[Joseph S]

Maybe this will be enough to swing it back to reality. The FCC and the so-called watchdogs that continue complain over the indecency of a nipple even when shown in medical dramas deserve to be put in their place. There is no obscenity in a nipple or a breast.

There is however obscenity in Saving Private Ryan and much of it. I'm not sure why CBS or NBC cannot show a nipple but ABC can show amputations and killings along with countless utterances of FUBAR, ****, etc. It's not as if ER is any less of a drama than SPR. Maybe all the "watchdogs" and their kind will learn that they actually have the ability to push the channel power buttton on the remote.

[Hophead]

Thank you Joseph you are exactly right, my remote has a channel button as well as a power button, and I am quite capable of determining what is and is not appropriate viewing in my house, I do not need the government making those decisions for me, or a local TV station's fear of government repremand, play the movie and let me decide if it gets viewed in my home.

[John L]

Oh Geez!  When our founding fathers of this nation wrote the Bill of Rights and the "Freedom of the Press" and "Freedom of Speech" their intentions did not include bad language meaning swear words and it also did not include pornography either.  However when whats his name "Larry ?" went to court to legalize the publishing of Pornography they used the "Freedom of teh Press" and "Freedom of Speech" issue as an excuse to legalize porn.

Look what the bad language and pornography has done to our families in the Nation of ours.  Kids go around using bad language because they have heard it from others, espcially adults even thou they were taught not to use that kind of language.  Pornography has increased adultery meaning guys chasing other women around rather then staying home with the wife.  If a person gets carried away with sexual thoughts eventually it can lead him to rape a woman or cause some sexual assault on any person male or female depending on his or her choice. Even children too, we hear about how they are being molested.

Yes I agree with what President Bush is doing and I do hope that the FCC cracks down on swearing and hopefully remove skin scenes on the TV screen as well as couples in bed.

Think about what you are saying!

-John L.

[tazman]

Not to Poo Poo a good moan and groan session.  I would agree, if the FCC approved it then show it, and PARENTS beware of the little ones.  But in reality how many people who would want to see the movie, don't already have it on DVD.  It's been out quite some time.

[borghe]

wow, this thread degenerated quickly.. :/

my thoughts (to weigh in) are that sex AND violence on TV is wrong at times when the kiddies have access. The people who play the "it's the parents responsibility" card NEVER have kids. In reality, it is impossible as a parent (and yes I am one) to monitor what your child is doing 24/7. Whether they are at school, a friend's house, or you just step out to take the dog outside or go to the bathroom. The fact is that we have enough to worry about without having to worry about monitoring even MORE things. I mean look at parents 100 years ago.. They had to worry about bars and magazines. Hell, even 25 years ago video games and TV were relatively harmless.. Now parents have video games, Internet, TV, hell, even the mail isn't always safe anymore. Things that while it would be nice to have 100% complete control over, it just isn't possible, no matter HOW MUCH we would like to.

That being said, I of course do think there are always exceptions. Let's face it, not everything that is important in the world is kid friendly. Whether it is a book, a movie, or even an idea. In this case, I think if ABC gave enough warning that it was going to be on, and certainly rated it an actual R rating (so VChips could pick it up), there is nothing wrong with showing it as this movie is certainly important enough to warrant a free network airing.

but please stop with the bush/bible/parent bashing. 99% of the time the people doing this don't realise how hard of a time we parents already have. We don't need even more potential outlets making our job yet even more difficult.

[stvnce]

Nicely put taz. I was thinking the same thing. You could buy the DVD for $10 at any Gamestop.

[borghe]

true, but the point here was that it was HD and OAR.