Flash a Tit, Lose the News
CBS affiliates have warned the FCC that the new crackdown on perceived indecency may cause them to cease broadcasting live news outside of the "safe harbor" of 10 p.m. to 6 a.m.
In its petition, the CBS affiliates warn that the indecency crackdown will "fundamentally alter the manner in which local broadcasters engage in newsgathering." (Already some stations, though not necessarily CBS stations–are buying equipment to delay newscasts. And on Monday, some Phoenix stations reported pulled the plug on news coverage of football player Pat Tillman's memorial service when friends let forth with some locker-room language.)
Link via Jeff Jarvis.
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why are my tax dollars at work flogging a dead horse?
South Park, Bigger, Longer, and Uncut just played in full last Saturday, and it sure sounds like the FCC is playing the role of Shiela Broflovski in that movie.
What what whaaaat?!
Up until now, this issue has been one of principle for me. There isn’t a great deal of harm in having to rent your porn or listen to beeps on the radio, but it’s wrong for the government to stick its nose in.
But seriously, pushing live news off the air during the hours that people are actually around to see it? That’s terrifying.
Kyle’s mom is a big fat bitch, she’s the biggest bitch in the whole wide world…
You mean no more late local news stories about breast cancer screeing during the months of February, May, and November?
“local broadcasters engage in newsgathering” Huh?
In L.A., many of their shots are outside places where something happened hours before. And, most of their coverage is of various crimes: car chases, drive-bys, etc. They might want a tape delay before filming someone who’s going to blow their brains out live on TV, but, other than that, there doesn’t seem to be too many opportunities for TV “reporters” to show bad things (FCC-wise).
This is nothing but a bluff by CBS. News programming at the local level is very, very profitable and there is no chance in hell local broadcasters are going to slaughter a cash cow. Obviously, the FCC is going too far, but the idiots at CBS making this kind of bogus prediction is not helping the situation. Joe Nolan
Let me see if I understand this. People can stand around and watch an event happen as news crews (or handy amateurs) videotape it. But we can’t sit and watch it on the “Eyewitness News.”
Pretty soon TV news is going to be less real than reality TV.
Let me see if I understand this. People can stand around and watch an event happen as news crews (or handy amateurs) videotape it. But we can?t sit and watch it on the ?Eyewitness News.?
I’ve said it once, I’ll say it again. When it comes to the FCC, Baudrillard is my co-pilot.