FCC Is Investigating Super Bowl Show: Entire Halftime Performance Faces Indecency Standards Test

Washington Post ^ | February 3, 2004 | Frank Ahrens and Lisa de Moraes

[new cruelty]

The Federal Communications Commission launched an investigation into Sunday's controversial Super Bowl halftime show yesterday and FCC Chairman Michael K. Powell telephoned Mel Karmazin, president of CBS parent Viacom Inc., to express his outrage, saying the entertainment giant should have known what was going to transpire during the show.

The FCC probe will encompass the entire halftime program -- including the brief exposure of singer Janet Jackson's breast and the sexualized dance routine precipitating it -- to determine if it violates indecency standards set in law and enforced by the FCC.

If indecency violations are found, each of Viacom's 200 owned and affiliate stations could face a penalty of up to $27,500. FCC officials said the agency may also pursue penalties against CBS and the individual performers, Jackson and Justin Timberlake

[Ann Archy]

I think South Park has won over your mind.....just as you say on your Home Page.

[3catsanadog]

Sean Hannity expressed his "outrage" by showing the controversial parts of the video no less than seven times. . . . . . . still of Madonna and Britney Spears kissing. All of this during the family safe viewing hours. In all fairness, Hannity's display was longer and more egregious.

Umm, I doubt there are many youngsters who watch Hannity & Colmes.

[Timesink]

Argh. the administration seems to have forgotten one of the basic lessons of the Reagan Administration. One of the keys to Reagan's success was his intentional removal of the FCC and other branches of government from the practice of neo-puritan witchhunting.

The FCC certainly eliminated a lot of regulations during the Reagan years, but they've never stopped enforcing indecency regs.

If anything, the current FCC has been, until just the last couple months or so, the most lenient. It sure wasn't the Reagan-era or Clinton-era FCC that said, "Sure, you can say 'f*ck' on broadcast TV as long as it's just an expletive and not a direct reference to a sexual act."

[FITZ]

but I doubt it will be big money compared to free publicity they are getting now.

Even this desperate act cannot save these two fading pop celebrities. Their careers are done, this is the highlight of both their careers, what they'll be remembered for --- it won't be for their talent because there is very little of that.

[new cruelty]

CBS had a seven second delay that they could have "cut away" from the Jackson breast revelation if they wanted to.

I didn't think that applied to live television, just live radio.

[3catsanadog]

Kind of makes the liberals' pat answer to us "prudes" - "if you don't like it, change the channel" - a little outdated now.

[RayChuang88]

It may be a pretty big fine against Viacom, to say the least. Remember, they're also investigating the other parts of the halftime show, and we could end up with a fine that will be over US$10,000,000.

[PMCarey]

So what was the first outrageous moment in that halftime show? Was it: 1) the first crotch grab, 2) the first act of simulated sex, or 3)Jackson's exposed breast? And if you were offended by either of the first two, why was your television set still on for the third?

I agree that CBS, MTV, Jackson, et al should be fined up the wazoo, but you also have a responsibility to change the channel. So when you read Jackson's apology, maybe you also owe an apology to your kids for not having the guts or the self control to turn the thing off!!!!

[Dan from Michigan]

12 years from now.

President Granholm's(D-Berkeley/Canada) appointment to the FCC, Former Senator Charles E Schumer(D-NY) commented on the record $1 million dollar indecency fine applied to Spike TV.

'Spike TV's "The A-Team" was fined $1,000,000 for indecency. This board found that the use of dangerous weapons such as guns is harmful to children and deemed indecent.'

Spike TV had no comment.

[new cruelty]

My kids were not watching. But rest assured, if they were, the channel would have changed or the television would have been turned off at the first crotch grab. But thanks for venting. Hope you feel a little better.

[Dan from Michigan]

Joe Outrageous - "What? He showed that?! That's evil!!!! He needs to be fined and even jailed! Now where's that video again?"

[McGavin999]

Go Michael! I hope he files a major suit against CBS/MTV. I'm sick to death of the crudeness. I'm not a prude, I don't really care what they do on TV during the time after Prime-time, but this kind of lowlife stuff being broadcast during the Super Bowl is way over the line.

The problem is, we have a lot of people who are so low class they don't see anything wrong with it. I guess when you are swimming in the cesspool, you can't tell it smells.

The worst part is it is so totally juvenile. Like a bunch of kids playing in their own dirty diapers.

[Jerez2]

You know, we've turned off the TV and turned our back for too damn long. People who WANT to shock and offend others have taken over all the areas of life that used to be open and free and fun for everyone. Now it is nasty and dirty and dangerous. If you don't see simulated sex assault as such, you have been totally co-opted by the ugly attitude that is all too prevalent today.

If you want to PAY for porn, fine. But don't put it on the most-watched show of the year in America -- a slap in the face and a poke in the eye -- and expect it to go unremarked and unopposed.

[PMCarey]

My venting was not directed towards you specifically. It was directed to all of us. I apologize if you took it that way.

[SerpentDove]

Go soak your head in some ice water.

[Fenris6]

Why can't we all file a class-action suit against Viacom?

And Janet & Micheal - please quit exposing our kids to your filth.

[kellynla]

January 28, 2004

House Panel Pushes TV, Radio to Clean Up Shows


House lawmakers on Wednesday called on television and radio broadcasters to clean up their act by instituting stricter standards after renewed complaints about the coarseness of some programming.

They expressed disappointment that big broadcasters were not represented at a Congressional hearing delving into the issue of indecency and faulted the Federal Communications Commission for not sufficiently enforcing its rules.

"I believe American families should be able to rely on the fact that -- at times when their children are likely to be tuning in -- broadcast television and radio programming will be free of indecency, obscenity and profanity," said Rep. Fred Upton, chairman of the House subcommittee on communications.

He said networks should review their codes of conduct and, in the case of live broadcasts, their time-delay procedures and redouble efforts to make them work.

Federal law bars the airing of obscene speech and limits the broadcasting of indecent material, containing sexual or excretory references in a patently offensive manner, to late night programming.

Upton and two dozen other House lawmakers are pushing legislation that would boost tenfold the $27,500 maximum per incident fine that can be imposed on broadcasters who violate indecency rules.

Rep. Billy Tauzin, chairman of the full House Energy and Commerce Committee, commended News Corp.'s Fox network for using a five-second delay when broadcasting live events to ensure indecent material is not aired.

READY TO OVERTURN DECISION


Last fall, the FCC staff ruled that NBC television stations did not violate rules when they aired the 2003 Golden Globe Awards during which U2 singer Bono shouted "f---ing brilliant" when accepting an award.

The five FCC commissioners are poised to overturn the staff decision, but it was unclear whether a fine would be imposed. A similar incident occurred during a Fox broadcast.

"I am sorry that this panel does not include witnesses from NBC and Fox because I would have liked to ask them about those broadcasts," said Rep. John Dingell, a Michigan Democrat. "The fact that the FCC did not penalize the NBC network is curious to say the least."

The FCC on Tuesday proposed fining radio broadcaster Clear Channel Communications $755,000 for airing, among other things, purported cartoon characters describing explicit sexual activities at a time when children were likely to be listening.

Parents groups are pushing the FCC and Congress to increase fines and hold hearings to determine whether broadcasters who violate indecency laws should have their licenses revoked or not renewed.

"The $27,000 maximum fine is a joke and everyone knows it," Brent Bozell, president and founder of the Parents Television Council, said in prepared testimony. "The FCC must get serious about revoking station licenses for those who refuse to abide by standards of indecency."

The legislation introduced last week would boost fines the FCC can impose to $275,000 per violation or up to $3 million for continuing violations. Upton said he was pushing to move the measure through Congress quickly.

[KingNo155]

Janet "Just put some ice on it"

[RobbyS]

Good point. Guns are an important political issue to them, sexuality vulgarity is not.

[Dan from Michigan]

Why can't we all file a class-action suit against Viacom?

Sure....I'll just call John Edwards and Geoff Fieger tomorrow....

Is everyone becomimg a sue happy ambulance chaser now?