Replies

I work for one of the ABC affiliates who decided to err on the side of caution. The problem was more than just the FCC, Spielberg wouldn't let anyone bleep out the F-word which is used 47 times, for a grand total of 1250000 in fines. ABC wouldn't let the affiliates air the movie at 10:00 escaping the rule, which really has me pissed with ABC, they seem to enjoy having their affiliates hung out to dry. Of course if we got fined or lost our license it would not hurt them they would just go to another station in town and sign them. The station tried to get the FCC ruling and wasn't able to, so our GM was faced with either showing the movie and risking not only the Fines, but legal fees and the loss of our license. If we lost our license that would be the end of the station and 100 people would be out of a job over a movie and also what I believe was a big pissing contest between ABC/Disney, FCC and Spielberg. The stations caught in the middle of this were stuck. I have heard people say that surely no one would complain about SPR, but the last time we aired it they did, the difference is that the FCC wasn't on the Warpath like it is now.

The FCC told the network/stations that they would have to act on their own "conscience", no waiver would be given. Which is exactly what I mean when I say that there are no clear cut rules about what is allowed and what is not. The definition of actionable only comes AFTER someone else (namely a group of letter writing nanny staters) gets their panties in a twist.

RBD,
Well that all makes alot of sense and I'm glad you weighed in on it.

But RBD, why did "Ryan" have to be replaced by Tony F*cking Danza in my neck of the woods?! Why not something remotely even maybe a little sort of kinda connected to Veteran's Day? I was insulted, frankly.

Not that I think you have answers to that, I'm just saying that not airing it wasn't the bad part so much- it was what they aired instead that really got my dander up.