Network Chiefs Leery of FCC Indecency Push

[Khephra]

snip..........

At a Friday morning gathering hosted by the International Radio & Television Society Foundation, Fox's Gail Berman questioned the FCC's decision-making process in proposing a record $1.2 million fine against 169 affiliates for an episode of "Married by America." She said there were only three original complaints about the show; she noted that any network programing was likely to offend at least three people in the country. Fox is challenging the proposed fine.

Berman said she didn't know if the FCC's direction was the way to regulate the public airwaves.

"No one's clear about what their guidelines are," Berman said. "You can show 'Saving Private Ryan' several years ago, but you can't show 'Saving Private Ryan' now? Why not?"

ABC's Stephen McPherson said each network uses a standards and practices office and each had to make their own decisions on what they thought was right.

"The last time I checked, I was in the entertainment business. I'm not in politics," McPherson said.

http://reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=televisionNews&storyID=6881573

[meegbear]

1. Fox being fined?

Cry me a river.

[nadinbrzezinski]

2. Free clue, you people wanted the fascists in power

guess what? YOU GOT THEM... enjoy

And while you get fined, I don't watch.... so THERE!

[htuttle]

3. Wake up time for Network Ninnies

MORALITY DOES NOT GENERATE REVENUE!

(Unless you're a fundy preacher, and they've already saturated that market)

[maxsolomon]

4. disingenuous tears

they don't give a fuck about these fines. its chump change.

the corporations that purvey these crass spectacles are the same ones that put bush & his minions in power. twice.

[Lorien]

5. Can we get three or more people

to complain about EVERY Fox TV show?

[Monte Carlo]

6. So me and two friends can get "Everybody Loves Raymond" cancelled? Yay!

It's used up valuable bandwith for far too long.

[3days]

7. I think they are getting fined because the show sucked

Or maybe they had a gay wedding
:nopity:

[Khephra]

8. Despite the fact that this is Fox being fined

(although you really have to take their entertainment and news divisions somewhat separately)

...I find it tremendously distrubing that all it takes is three offended people to bring the FCC down on you.

I dislike the show that was fined and I hate Faux in general, but in this case I'm on their side. It's too late in the game to stand aside when anyone gets screwed with by the moral censors these days--even Faux.

[flyingfysh]

9. maybe we can get 3 people to complain about Falwell or 700 club?

[nadinbrzezinski]

11. It's cable

The rules change once you move to cable.

[PROGRESSIVE1]

10. Gee, now they see the problem with Bush and how Bush really....

does not help big media, or any media for that matter.

Democrats the party of free speech!!!

[NYC Liberal]

12. This isn't about Fox.

It's about what the FCC is doing. Who knows who they'll go after next?