Posted on 09/01/2006 5:19:17 PM PDT by World_Events
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Dozens of CBS television affiliates are balking at network plans to rebroadcast the acclaimed documentary "9/11" for fear that coarse language by firefighters in the film may incur stiff new fines for indecency.
About 12 CBS affiliates have opted to skip the documentary altogether and run other programming in its place, while a dozen others plan to air the film later at night when fewer children are watching and more mature content is generally allowed, network sources said on Friday.
They said two dozen additional affiliate stations were still undecided about whether to preempt or delay the documentary, set to air on the eve of the fifth anniversary of the September 11 attacks on America by suicide hijackers.
The two-hour film, produced by French filmmakers Gedeon and Jules Naudet and retired firefighter James Hanlon, was aired twice before by CBS in 2002 without regulatory consequences.
But broadcasters have become extra cautious about running afoul of the U.S. Federal Communications Commission amid an ongoing crackdown on profanity and other content the agency deems to be in violation of its decency standards.
Potential fines for indecent broadcasts were recently increased tenfold, from $32,500 to $325,000 per violation for each station carrying the material.
Regulators do not give advance guidance to stations before a specific broadcast is aired. But CBS spokeswoman Shannon Jacobs said network executives were satisfied "9/11" would pass FCC muster again after discussing the issue internally.
Jacobs said all 21 of CBS's network-owned stations, including outlets in New York, Los Angeles and Chicago, will carry the uncut documentary as scheduled
(Excerpt) Read more at news.yahoo.com ...
Bravo Sierra.
Dozens of CBS television affiliates are balking at network plans to rebroadcast the acclaimed documentary "9/11" for fear that reminding voters of Democrat fecklessness this close to an election would be hazardous to the health of The Agenda. ;).
If this is the one I am thinking of, it is a great documentary. I would be interested to see which affiliates (in red or blue states) are balking.
This is a good case to test the new FCC rules. Or in the worst case bleep out the words.
I think americans can take some harsh lanuguage in real life situations. That is different form an episode of deadwood where some writer has inserted the F word every sentence for "artistic" effect.
Exactly. Broadcasters deal with this problem all the time, they know how to mute a specific word when they want to, this is not an unusual problem.
They are looking for a two-fer; they don't really want to show the film, and they want to embarrass the FCC.
Bull. They are afraid of the backlash from social conservatives who cannot bear to hear profanity.
That is why I would like to know where these stations are. If they are in Utah I agree with you. If they are in New York and LA...
Actually, they don't want to show it because it is too close to the election and they want democrats to win. As if they really care about language and decency! We all should know better than that just watching the regular shows on TV.
you can watch the entire 9/11 documentary online here uncut
http://www.jonhs.net/911/911.htm
If it were up to me I would show pictures of the Twin Towers every day.
If it were up to me, I'd play the phone calls of the people on the planes, calling to their loved ones telling them "I love you, hug our kids, we're going to die." and "LET'S ROLL!"
But it's not up to me or us. The media makes me sick.
All I know that on Sept.11 19 MUSLIMS murdered 3000 people like pigs, to that I forgive, but not forget.
But Mr. and Mrs. Muslims, on a daily basis YOU call US , barbaric, uncivilized and materialistic kafirs that have no Idea of G-d.
This is a warning not a threat, that one day, we will drop our Judao-Christian values and war upon you as should be.
If the idea of jihad pleases Muslim lands, and they happen to drop a nuclear bomb on Israel or the USA, do think OUR response will be "proportionate"? You Had better look to history. Great Britain fought like a Gentleman at first in WW2, until the Nazi'z terrorises the Brits with bombs, Britain fire bomed Germany into a hell hole.
We waged war against Imperialistic Japan, then we got fed up : Nagasaki / Hiroshima.
I warn you Muslims, we are a forgiving people, UP TO A POINT.
Please don't make us do something that will be so horrible to you and your children. We don't want to, BUT WE WILL.
Forgive the typos, my computer went crazy. Must be a Zionist plot .(sarc off)
Good for the social conservatives.
I hardly ever watch CBS, anyway.
It's the one Robert Deniro "narrates" It was excellent
This is one area where I think "social conservatives" may be overeacting.
Harsh language in context is not to be so feared. To do so gives the words too much power. This is a teaching moment for mature kids. (not really young kids anyway).
So you sit down with them and tell them there is going to be harsh lanuguage and you watch it together.
If you are more offended by fire menr swearing than the sound of bodies httting the concrete your priorities are seriously messed up.
(please tell me the word that offends you most so I can use it later f or maximum effect. See how much power that gives me.)
Trust me, I'm not offended by the language at all. I'm from New York, and am well-acquainted with profanity. But I am offended by CBS. Your point about over-reacting to profanity is well-taken.
And their need to sanitize reality.
Not at all. It is the desire to conserve polite discourse. Note the term conserve; that is in fact what being a conservative is based on.
I bought this DVD right after 9/11, it was really, really, good.
And I do not remember any bad language, it must just be overwhelmed by the film.
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