Many TV stations cancel 'Saving Private Ryan' over fear of FCC sanctions

AP ^ | 11/10/4 | LEON DROUIN KEITH

[SmithL]

NEW YORK -- More than 20 ABC affiliates around the country have announced that they won't take part in the network's Veterans Day airing of "Saving Private Ryan," saying the acclaimed film's violence and language could draw sanctions from the Federal Communications Commission.

The decisions mark a twist in the conflict over the aggressive stand the FCC has taken against obscenity and profanity since Janet Jackson flashed the world during the last Super Bowl halftime show.

Steven Spielberg's Oscar-winning movie aired on ABC with relatively little controversy in 2001 and 2002, but station owners -- including several in large markets -- are unnerved that airing it Thursday could bring federal punishment. The film includes a violent depiction of the D-Day invasion and profanity.

"It would clearly have been our preference to run the movie. We think it's a patriotic, artistic tribute to our fighting forces," Ray Cole, president of Citadel Communications, told AP Radio. The company owns three ABC affiliates in the Midwest.

Other stations choosing to replace the movie with other programming are located in Atlanta, Dallas, Honolulu, New Orleans, Milwaukee, Phoenix, Orlando, Fla., and Charlotte, N.C. They are owned by a variety of companies, including Cox Television, Tribune Broadcasting Corp., Hearst-Argyle Television Inc., Belo Corp. and Sinclair Broadcast Group.

[quantim]

Chicken Little alert.

[ladyinred]

Is this really the reason? I mean, they used to just bleep out the language that might offend. In fact, the sitcoms say much the same thing these days. Not sure I buy this reason.

[Lockbar]

Thats ok, only the first 30 minutes are worth watching anyway.

[Pastnowfuturealpha]

A bit stupid in thinking - Don't they have the beep tech.?

Honestly - the excuses they use these days -



Must be something in the water - it's so wide spread around the nation these days - And it seems to have a bigger impact on the Left - ()

[flashbunny]

IIRC abc played it uncut a couple years ago without incident.


Sounds like some stations are trying to make a statement.

[TBP]

Many TV stations cancel 'Saving Private Ryan' over fear of FCC sanctions

Or over the fear of making the American military look good.

[mld0806]

Wow...keep the liberal stance against anything glorifying warfare AND take a shot at the Federal Government and try and raise 1st ammendment issues in one shot...impressive...

[freepatriot32]

Yeah this movie cant be shown and the unconstitutional fcc wipes thier collective **ses with the 1st amendment on a daily basis but by god janet jacksons pasty covereed breast will never see the light of day again an d thats the important thing here!What ever sacrafices have to be made including treating adults like children that cant handle anything stronger then sesame street is worth it /extreme srcasm off

[elizabetty]

They are afraid they are going to insult the Democrats with all those scenes of American Bravery and Heroism.

[Smokin' Joe]

God forbid they do anything which even begins to give people an understanding of how deep the doo-doo was on that beach.

God forbid they do anything to present the military in a good, just, and honorable light.

Fifty plus senseless murders a night on my TV, and they are worried about violence?

I'll grant the opening scenes are brutal, but that is closer to reality than "beeyoww" (richochet sound) and the bloodless collapse of the victim.

SHow it late, with ample warning of graphic violence.

If 'Queer Eye for the Straight Guy' can be on, then why not Saving Private Ryan?

[Vicki]

Why doesn't the FCC go after CBS for false reporting? In fact, they should investigate all the media for biased reporting, and airing unconfirmed news.

[SAJ]

The devil take this film. Show it or not, who cares.

''Patton'' !

''May G-d have mercy on our enemy, because I surely won't.'' -- General George S. Patton, Jr., August 1944

[Snidely Whiplash]

Just thought I'd point out these same stations had no problem airing SPR uncensoredbefore the Super Bowl fiasco. Pretty dispositive. And I am compelled to pointr out that while national news figures and networks may have a liberal bias, local affiliates (especially in places like Nebraska and Iowa, where at least a few of the stations not airing SPR are) are rather more conservatively bent.

In other words, settle down, get a grip and if you want to do something, bitch to the FCC. They refused to give the affiliates a waiver on the language, so the stations aren't airing it. Simple as that.

SW

[Fedora]

I'm sure they'd be happy to show "Platoon" or some such, though.

[Leonard210]

It's simply a rebellion against the FCC. They're trying to agitate the public into believing that the FCC wouldn't allow them to show this award winning film. Gather the pitchforks men, the FCC monster is loose...and it's all W's fault!

[claudiustg]

Full Metal Jacket!

[Darkwolf377]

Let's be honest, the FCC has been coming down on stations lately, so it's perfectly logical for some of the more jittery members of the media to get all uptight and scared.

Great direction, great visuals, AWFUL movie after the opening. William Goldman's review of it nails it perfectly.

[kingu]

FCC going after them for graphic violence? Fat chance of that.. The show of violence in a setting of war has never been a problem for the FCC, it's showing violence as part of Care Bears Hugs Everyone that gets them riled up.

Language? Oh, sure, now they're worried about language that appears in most of the sitcoms these days..

I think another poster hit it on the nailhead -- they don't want to show it because it might make people actually honor veterans.

[Zeroisanumber]

The FCC has been getting out of control recently. If this is a silent protest from the networks, then it wouldn't be the worst way to do it.