CBS affils worry over "9/11" re-airing

[jellyeggs]

This after the documentary aired twice without "incident" ! Hopefully, when the complaints come, the FCC will use some judgement in regards to "context". In any case, good for CBS for sticking to their guns on this & potentially bringing the broadcast indecency story to a head in the court system (challenging the Janet Jackson fine in an appeals court) . http://apnews.myway.com/article/20060903/D8JTKED81.html

 

[KML0224]

I taped the "9/11" special the night it first aired (March 10, 2002). I've only watched it once since. I didn't have a problem with the language, since they put up the disclaimer ahead of time. WFSB-TV channel 3 of Hartford aired it as-is.

 

[dhett]

This is different than what I'd criticized earlier. This is a documentary; it's real life, warts and all. Movies and TV shows are not documentaries.

I, too, taped it the first time it aired - I wasn't aware that it had aired again. I hope that every affiliate will air this show - IT NEEDS TO BE SEEN.

 

[genius]

I agree, it does need be seen. If they are so worried perhaps it's time to change the rules for certain parts of the country about what can air and what can't. They need to realize it's always the same people complaining. Parents Television Council filed 98% of the FCC complaints back in 2004. I believe these folks seem to think the nanny state is better at controlling what their children watch. Instead of grabbing the remote, they grab the phone. Instead of complaing to the companies who produce the show, they complain to the federal government.

I realize the PTC chairman is stepping down off his horse at the end of the of year after eleven wonderful years of begging for federal censorship and campaigning against late-night cable shows(since when did FX become a broadcast network?) all the while describing even little sex scene and curse word for each show on their website. Mr. Bozell, what color is the sky in your world?

 

[jegrant]

FWIW, I think CBS and its affils should feel free to run this documentary unedited, with appropriate disclaimers and TV ratings applied. It is obviously a program covering a serious news-related subject that is not attempting to merely sensationalize a situation.

Granted, it is apparently funded by the TV industry, but there is an alternative group to the Parents Television Council, for those who *don't* believe big government should choose what programs we're allowed to watch.

TV Watch promotes that *parents* ought to be the prime decision makers for their households.
http://www.televisionwatch.org/

(I am a member of their mailing list, but wasn't paid or otherwise induced to post this.)

 

[Joe_Capitano]

I don't believe the networks have any interest in the Parents TV Council, considering how much those folks drive them nuts.

As to the current issue, here's my opinion, short and sweet.

To Wildmon's Whiners who think a very bold accounting of a very real event is 'obscene', get a grip.
To those CBS affils that are running scared, get a spine.
To the FCC, tell the whiners "Get Lost!"

BTW: I haven't seen any promos for this airing as yet, but if I were CBS I'd make damn sure the ratings bug appears more prominently than usual. It should appear on the "billboard" at the END of the spot, and it should be announced ("Rated TV-whatever") with the Viewer Discretion note. This should be standard practice for all concerned. It's been required for years in all ads for theatrical movies.

This show's airing at 9/8 PM, which by now should be regarded by all as the time when the most edgy fare will (should) run. Responsible parents know what they should do. Those that aren't should know better.

 

[azumanga]

This show's airing at 9/8 PM, which by now should be regarded by all as the time when the most edgy fare will (should) run.

8PM CT / MT is very crucial, as the PTC tend to use the middle time zones in their complaints to the FCC. It seems that their ultimate mission is no safe haven at all for "obscene" material.

 

[KML0224]

Tell the PTC to shove it! Where's the First Ammendment when you need it?

 

[Joe_Capitano]

Tonight I checked the CBS website and to my surprise the network has decided to do something really chancey. 9|11 is now scheduled to air an hour earlier than originally announced - at 8/7 PM, right after 60 Minutes (assuming U.S. Open Tennis doesn't run super long in the East).

I still think CBS has every right to run this show unabridged, but I'm not sure I'd want it on this early.

 

[dhett]

Tell the PTC to shove it! Where's the First Ammendment when you need it?

This has nothing to do with the First Amendment. The PTC is not a government agency and has no power over whether or not CBS airs the show, other than to say "we have x number of people that won't patronize your advertisers if you air the show". There's no First Amendment risk in that, even if they launch complaints with the FCC.

As for the FCC, despite all the whining about them, under their supervision, television has more latitude now than they've ever had. Go check out TV shows from the 50s, the 60s and even the 70s. Do you know what they call that kind of repression? Classic TV. The Golden Age of Television.

Think about it.

 

[jellyeggs]

Standards are defintely looser now than they`ve been in the past. Actually, I came to mention that CBS is going to show "9/11" on the internet for the benefit of viewers in the markets where the affiliate`s preempting or delaying it (about 10% of the CBS affiliate base, in mostly smaller markets i`m guessing) http://www.cbc.ca/story/arts/national/2006/09/09/cbs-internet-documentary.html

 

[Irishfl]

As for the FCC, despite all the whining about them, under their supervision, television has more latitude now than they've ever had. Go check out TV shows from the 50s, the 60s and even the 70s. Do you know what they call that kind of repression? Classic TV. The Golden Age of Television.

Think about it.

Good point. Infact you can look up the network fines over the last 10 years. There's barley any. I think Fox got one a few years ago, CBS ofcoarse did for the superbowl, but other than that almost nothing.

 

[bpatrick]

WTVF Nashville, citing "FCC guidelines," is delaying
"9/11" to 10:30 PM (Central). According to www.titantv.com,
the station will show two episodes of "CSI" followed by
"Cold Case" from 7-10 (don't know how accurate that is).
WTVF is providing a forum on its website for those who
wish to respond to the decision to delay "9/11"
(www.newschannel5.com).

 

[ohstuskaterpunk]

i found an article about a few cbs stations that chose to either pre-empt or delay airing of 9/11 doc on cbs, which aired from 9-11 pm ET.

pappas telecasting companies stations kdbc (el paso) and kswt (yuma, ariz-el centro, calif) pre-empted the broadcast. both stations aired their owner's-produced program "9/11: five years later".

from http://www.brandweek.com/mw/news/tvstations/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003118384:
"Roughly a dozen other CBS affiliates have decided to pre-empt the broadcast, according to several reports. Others have decided to delay the broadcast by two hours including WBTV, Lincoln Financial Media’s affiliate in Charlotte, and Sinclair Broadcast Group’s affiliates in Portland, Me. (WGME) and Cedar Rapids, Iowa (KGAN)". the article is dated sept 7, 2006.

kgan aired the program at 10.30 pm CT and WGME at 11.30 pm ET (from http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6368030.html?title=Article&spacedesc=news).

WDBJ (Roanoke, Va) WSBT (South Bend, Ind) aired "9/11" at 12 mid local time (ET for WDBJ and CT for WSBT).

does anyone else know other CBS affiliates that either pre-empted "9/11" or aired the program at a later time?

 

[azumanga]

WDBJ (Roanoke, Va) WSBT (South Bend, Ind) aired "9/11" at 12 mid local time (ET for WDBJ and CT for WSBT).

Isn't the Eastern Time part of Indiana (which South Bend is part of) observing Daylight Savings Time starting this year?

 

[PTBoardOp94]

Yes, South Bend is following Daylight Savings Time.