FCC Weighs Olympics Indecency Complaints (Is the FCC going too far?)

mediaweek.com ^ | December 10, 2004 | Todd Shields

[crushelits]

The Federal Communications Commission’s enforcement bureau has asked NBC for tapes of the opening ceremony of the Summer Olympics, apparently in response to one or more indecency complaints.

It is unclear who may have complained or what aspect of the broadcast may have prompted a complaint, said the sources who revealed the request but spoke on condition of anonymity. An FCC spokesperson late Friday would not confirm or deny an investigation, but said the agency has recieved at least one complaint about the telecast.

The Olympics opening ceremony on Aug. 14 in Athens included actors and actresses depicting two lovers dancing in the sea, a goddess of fertility and a pregnant woman whose belly glowed, according to an account posted on MSNBC’s Web site.

The FCC investigates allegations of indecent broadcasts when it receives complaints. The procedure has come under increasing scrutiny with the recent disclosure that, aside from those concerning the controversial Super Bowl broadcast, more than 99 percent of recent indecency complaints have come from one group, the Parents Television Council.

The PTC says the FCC is failing to count many thousands of its complaints. It says the source of complaints should make no difference to a process aimed at determining whether networks are breaking the law against indecent broadcasts. Critics of the PTC say it is attempting to impose its views of acceptable broadcasts.

[crushelits]

Is the FCC going too far? The FCC will begin an investigation into NBC's coverage of the Olympic opening ceremony which featured a pregnant woman whose belly glowed. In our opinion, the FCC needs to slow down. They are veering dangerously close to censorship. Janet Jackson was one thing. But the Olympics?

[BigSkyFreeper]

Not so much the FCC, but who in the Sam Hell complained to the FCC about the opening ceremonies?

[Senormechanico]

I dunno. A glowing belly always gets me hot!

(sarcasm)

[nuffsenuff]

Seriously, the FCC is getting out of hand.

It's like they have nothing to do.

[My2Cents]

Check this out: http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/1298933/

[My2Cents]

I mean this: http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1298933/posts

[Drango]

The same FCC that get restrict Janet's tit or punish Rather's memogate, can limit what Rush says. No thank you. I don't want a government nanny controlling the air waves.

These items belong in the court of public opinion, not in the hands of the state.

[pipecorp]

I think more people complained of its gross stupidity than complained of its sexuality.

[Publius6961]

Well, if one nut out of 240 million people can sink the pledge of allegiance...

Anything is possible.

[garbanzo]

They are veering dangerously close to censorship.

If by "veering close to" you mean "smack dab in the middle of", then yeah. Overreach, thy name is FCC.

[BigSkyFreeper]

Good point.

[EternalHope]

Not so much the FCC, but who in the Sam Hell complained to the FCC about the opening ceremonies?

I did not watch the opening ceremonies, but the actual ceremonies supposedly featured "authentic" greek nudity, at least to the extent of a number of topless women in part of the official cast.

Don't know if this was televised, or how it was handled if it was. But my guess is that the complaint is about explicit nudity.

[BigSkyFreeper]

Explicit nudity? Heck, this was nothing more than Greek art in motion.

[Jaysun]

Is the FCC going too far? The FCC will begin an investigation into NBC's coverage of the Olympic opening ceremony which featured a pregnant woman whose belly glowed. In our opinion, the FCC needs to slow down. They are veering dangerously close to censorship. Janet Jackson was one thing. But the Olympics?

I'm glad they're finally doing something. Television stations seem to be in a mad sprint to showcase every foulmouthed word and act of debauchery known.

In this specific case it seems to me that they're getting overzealous. They need to be careful not to try to punish everything that hints at degradation or they'll be seen as fanatical nuts and pushed into irrelevance.

I remember when the Phillip Morris company threatened to yank their advertising dollars if Desi and Lucy were shown laying in the same bed or if Lucy showed off the fact that she was pregnant. That was just 1960. I'm not saying we need to return to that, but the number of shows applauding homosexuality, infidelity, fornication, and other lava soft vagina-friendly feminist crap is absurd.

[crushelits]

Sometimes I wonder where the FCC will go NEXT!, and NEXT, and NEXT and so on!

Don't you?

There's freedom and there's what the government decides what I can see and cannot.

The FCC should stay out.!

[ken21]

i think the fcc has gone too far.

wait until the dems retake the presidency--you'll attempts to reinstate the fairness doctrine, which would be detrimental to talk radio.

[af_vet_rr]

Seriously, the FCC is getting out of hand.

It's like they have nothing to do.

When 99% of the complaints come from one group of people in this country: The FCC investigates allegations of indecent broadcasts when it receives complaints. The procedure has come under increasing scrutiny with the recent disclosure that, aside from those concerning the controversial Super Bowl broadcast, more than 99 percent of recent indecency complaints have come from one group, the Parents Television Council.

Yeah, I would agree. They are getting a bit out of hand. I would hate to think one group of people would dictate what the rest of us see.

[mhx]

What about that beach volleyball?

[Logical me]

Is the FCC kidding? The Olympic opening ceremony was a piece or real art. I enjoyed it very much since it was like looking somewhat at a history lesson of Greek art and a celebration of sensual side of their life. Maybe it is time to look at the roll of the FCC.