US TV swearing policy 'correct'
We read:
"The US government's policy of fining broadcasters over the use of even a single swear word on live TV is justified, the Supreme Court has ruled. The "fleeting expletives" policy, introduced in 2004, was on hold after a legal challenge by TV company Fox. The Federal Communications Commission introduced the rule after Bono swore at the 2003 Golden Globes. It previously had a "one free expletive" rule.
Justice Antonin Scalia said the new policy had been "entirely rational".
Fox's legal challenge stemmed from a 2006 FCC ruling that the network had violated decency during its broadcast of the Billboard Music Awards at which celebrities had sworn.
The network, together with ABC, NBC and CBS, legally challenged the FCC policy by arguing that the decency standard was unclear and undermined free speech protections.
Source
I can't see why the network should be punished for something someone else did during a live broadcast. Does this mean the end of live broadcasts?
16 comments:
Why don't they fine the people that swore?
How can networks have live events if they constantly need to worry about profanity from those who share no financial responsibility of the consequences?
Yeah, it's a form of censorship. But it also shows a lack of originality and fore thought of those who utter the profanity.
Kinda like Democrats and Republicans.
The networks are responsible for their content.
The 3 second delay was invented decades ago to stop irresponsible elitists from trying "to push the envelope" and not accept "standards". If the network invites these type to be on their programs, they need to ensure that they meet the standards. It is a cop out for a network to allow profanity in family shows by saying that they cannot control this bunch that pushe their values on other people's kids.
Well said Anon 1:54 AM. This is simply the insatiably greedy networks wanting to profit from the "shock value" of such a live incident, and at the same time, claiming to be innocent victims of the profaner.
yes, it will mean the end of life broadcasts.
Insofar as those haven't yet disappeared to prevent things that wouldn't be "decent" like "nipplegate", which the entire world except Iran thought was utter nonsense for Americans to make such a fuss about.
For a country that claims to stand for freedom there sure are a lot of things you can't do.
This is nothing new, and the Television and Radio Broadcast Stations have been operating under this rule for years. Nothing is "live" now anyway - with the advent of digital TV there's already a multi-second delay! (Watch a program on your Analog signal and then switch over to the digital signal - it's DEJAVU ALL OVER AGAIN!)
The 3 second and 7 second delays have always been a "cost of business," but the broadcasters don't want to bear it anymore.
Unfortunately for them, Congress and the SCOTUS still adhere to the notion of "public" airwaves, and as long as "the public" is licensing them, "the public" can set content restrictions.
If you wanna hear cursing, see sex, and wallow in cultural filth and degradation, pay the $30 a month for cable or the Internet.
Or get a majority of those with your view elected to Congress and kill the FCC.
The FCC should be disbanded. Freedom of speech shouldn't be limited because it is said on the air.
I cannot imagine any circumstance in which any speech, no matter what, should ever be subject to judicial oversite.
Although I am the type of person who believes as long as you are not directly affecting in a negative way someone's life, liberty, or property, there should not be any intrusion by the government.
This canuck still remembers when the NHL, via the state-run CBC network, tried live microphones on the players some 30 or more years ago.
The very first player they tried was Bobby Clarke of the Philadelphia Flyers. It took about one minute before all of Canada heard him call the ref "a f***ing queer."
Trial over.
Hopefully, it'll lead to an end to live broadcasts....since they all suck, anyway.
What ever happened to delaying broadcasts a few seconds so that the networks could bleep out expletives? It seemed to be very reliable.
Of course, then came the push to be the first to report, so you HAD to do things live. Then, having someone swear would draw more attention to your station meaning more viewers and more revenue.
Don't get fooled. It's ALL about money in the end.
Who cares!
"If you wanna hear cursing, see sex, and wallow in cultural filth and degradation, pay the $30 a month for cable or the Internet."OR,
Watch a Brit soap opera on ITV.
Surely this is where freedom of speech collides with standards of decency.
I am all for free speech but I am also for appropriate content for appropriate audiences. I do not think it is acceptable to show nudity/violence/profanity on a children's show at children's viewing hours on a free-to-air network. What they show late at night is another matter...
Easy to do. Put a seven second delay. That's been a standard in radio and much live television for thirty or forty years. Bleep the obscenities. Is that the way you want your 5 year old to speak around your house?
Today, all modern TV's have parental control features which allow parents to monitor what their children watch. If parents can't do their job, they shouldn't be allowed to have kids.
If parents can't do their job, they shouldn't be allowed to have kids. Anonymous 2:17 AM
One of my jobs as a parent is to be a politically savvy citizen and work to get those who's public policies (including FCC regulations) elected.
The "CHIP" doesn't stop Barney from spewing a stream of filth during a live show if the actor in the suit suddenly gets it in his head to destroy the franchise over a labor dispute....
Anon 5:39, it is not a freedom of speech issue. The rules are there and if they don't like it they shouldn't agree to appear on those channels. I'm not a prude and use those words myself but I don't care to hear it there. And if you're not expecting it, you don't have a chance to change the channel. It just shows me how little class some of today's "stars" have.
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