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Hurricane Irene Is Behind Us... Now, About Those E/I Requirements...

DToTheJ

DToTheJ

There were probably several TV stations that aired round-the-clock Hurricane Irene coverage starting as early as Saturday morning, and going all the way until Sunday evening. The O&O's in New York City, just to name a few. Most network affiliates like to burn off the FCC-required three hours of educational/instructional programming on Saturday mornings.

My question is how those stations that pre-empted the E/I programming this weekend are going to make up for it... Will they simply show six hours the following weekend? Or due to the stations serving a public service during a time of emergency, will it not be necessary?

(Yes, I know that some of the E/I programming out there is so hysterically bad... But the FCC actually requires television stations to carry it... So there.)
 
If I remember correctly, the regulations are for an average of 3hrs per week over a whole quarter. If they were doing the minimum beforehand, they have a lot of options. Fox and CBS affiliates might try to get it all in this coming weekend before the NFL starts.
 
You could say, that although the "E/I" bug is not on at the time, that the Irene coverage is more E/I than any "Mustard Pancakes."

Seriously, though, wouldn't the FCC waive the E/I for such an emergency? In Miami in 1992, WSVN 7 had 24/7 Hurricane Andrew coverage for 5 days, until FOX's Emmy awards came on. (Sure that was pre-E/I requirements, but wouldn't it still be okay to do that in 2011?)

cd
 
Shouldn't E/I supposed to be like ITV that some PBS stations like KQED used to air in thr 1980's and 1990's where they air 321 contact or any AIT films.
 
cd637299 said:
You could say, that although the "E/I" bug is not on at the time, that the Irene coverage is more E/I than any "Mustard Pancakes."

Seriously, though, wouldn't the FCC waive the E/I for such an emergency?
Click to expand...

I won't be surprised if the stations that offered wall-to-wall coverage on Irene are still on the hook for this week's E/I quota. Each time the Olympics were televised, stations that carried the Olympics had to find time on their schedule for E/I. (According to Wikipedia's article on E/I, the only known exemptions that were granted were to TBN's stations, during their 'Praise-a-thons".) And as newscasts do not count towards E/I, I wouldn't put those "Mustard Pancakes" tapes away.
 
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