Posted on 10/15/2004 8:14:26 PM PDT by John Lenin
Michael Moore's probably reaching his boiling point about now.
The nation's leading cable pay-per-view company, iN DEMAND, announced Friday it is nixing plans to air Moore's controversial doc Fahrenheit 9/11 on Nov. 1, the night before the presidential election.
An iN DEMAND spokesperson said in a statement, "We regret that our decision has led Michael Moore to consider legal action against us."
It is not clear exactly what legal action Moore plans to take. But the company's actions have apparently angered Moore, who hastily arranged a press conference after his Tonight Show with Jay Leno taping Friday.
Moore told the Associated Press late Friday he believes iN DEMAND decided not to air the film because of pressure from "top Republican people."
"Apparently people have put pressure on them and they've broken a contract," Moore said. "We've informed them of their legal responsibility and we all informed them that every corporate executive that has attempted to prohibit Americans from seeing this film has failed," the filmaker continued. "There's been one struggle or another over this, but we've always come out on top because you can't tell Americans they can't watch this."
The pay-per-view broadcaster had been planning to air a three-hour election eve special with the filmmaker, which included the first television showing of his incendiary documentary, for $9.95.
No word yet from iN DEMAND on their side of why they are not honoring their commitment to air the doc, but the Time Warner-owned company might indeed be feeling the political heat from conservatives crying foul.
Earlier this week, conservative broadcasting company Sinclair Broadcasting announced it was planning to air Stolen Honor, an anti-Kerry documentary created by the same team behind the discredited "Swift Boat Veterans for Truth" ads. Some Democrats have complained, saying that the airing of the anti-Kerry doc would violate electioneering laws. The FCC (news - web sites) announced Thursday that the agency would stay out of the fray. The Democrats in turn lodged a complaint with the Federal Election Commission (news - web sites) and demanded equal time for Kerry ads from any Sinclair station that airs Stolen Honor.
Moore offered to give Fahrenheit 9/11 to Sinclair for free Friday, but few believe the conservative broadcaster would dare air Moore's film.
Although iN DEMAND is not subject to the FCC's jurisdiction as a privately owned pay-per-view cable channel, Time Warner may have feared some political backlash.
This is not the first time Moore has had trouble with corporate entities seeking to distribute his films.
Earlier this year, Moore went toe-to-toe with Disney for refusing to release Fahrenheit 9/11.
Soon after the Disney dust-up went public, Moore found alternative distribution for the film, which went on to become the most successful doc in history and one of the year's biggest successes. Fahrenheit 9/11 has raked in more than $217 million worldwide and was the ninth-biggest hit of the summer.
Fahrenheit 9/11 moved 1.36 million copies on DVD in its first week in stores last week, generating nearly $5 million in sales and another $5.5 million in rentals, both records for a documentary film.
Michael Moron is just mad that his movie won't be aired. It is the free market at work. What a whiny crybaby! He is in the same league as Bill Maher and Al Gore.
I just watched FarenHYPE 911. Damn good movie. Rented it at Blockbuster and told the manager she should be ashamed for having a whole display of Butt-face's movie in her store. (They had only ordered 2 copies of FarenHYPE.)
There are a lot of folks who are going to drop into a well deserved obscurity come Nov. 3. MM is one of them. (If you're planning to drop into obscurity before then though, be careful he doesn't land on you.)
If we are lucky Moore will be sued penniless over this movie.
This is probably staged to draw viewer interest. All of a sudden there will be a decision to run the film even though "strong pressure from important people" demanded it be stopped.
moore is a filthy waste of human flesh. His democRAT kissing trash snuff films should be burned in downtown SF where the toxic fumes could help clean the stench of this evil town.
> Perhaps they have been discredited by a MSM vote....
Or an edict from on high. Maybe Rather decreed that the Swift Veterans weren't good Democrats, thus have no "credibility."
The mullahs in Iran might like Moore, but there are citizens who take issue with him.
'Iranian Citizens Trash Fahrenheit 9/11'
http://www.frontpagemagazine.com/Articles/ReadArticle.asp?ID=15280
Ping! Only liberals who are already voting for Skerry will watch pay-per-view event. Most of them have already seen it. Its a dud and Moore knows it. His challenge to Sinclair to air his filth is bogus prelude for airing on major network... maybe CBS.
Thanks for the aticle...I missed that one.I like Frontpage too. They also have well written articles.
How much is he suing for? $250 million in Twinkees?
He's not gonna sue at all. This is another manuever.
They'll settle out of court for an undisclosed amt..
If they can outbid Ted Kopel.
Ha! Ha! Ha!...Burger butt left out in the cold!!
I disagree. In the cesspool of leftist politcs, regardless of which way the wind blows, the biggest turds will always rise to the top and float, time and time again...
I can't wait until that fat pig has his inevitable heart attack. The sooner the better.
He'll be found dead in a hotel with a 13 year old hooker, a ten pound can of Crisco and a deep frier full of donutholes. :P
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.