Television pits decency against ratings; stations worry about fines

[SOURCE: Salt Lake City Tribune, AUTHOR: Brandon Griggs]
Two years after Janet, broadcast television networks are more careful about what kind of content gets out during live shows. But prime time programming is arguably coarser now than it was before the Super Bowl in 2004. In remarks to a U.S. Senate forum last November, Parents Television Council President L. Brent Bozell cited prime-time TV series with recent plotlines about bestiality and a teen orgy. "In the wake of the Janet Jackson incident, all of the broadcast networks trumpeted new policies to prevent the airing of indecent content," Bozell said. "However, it appears little has really changed. Simply put, the networks have no credibility when they talk about their commitment toward keeping the airwaves safe for families." Broadcasters say they take seriously their role as stewards of the airwaves. They claim they err on the side of caution when making content decisions and note that most of the nation's 1,500 TV stations have never been cited by the FCC for airing indecent material. Joining them on this issue are free-speech advocates who equate government crackdowns on entertainment programmers to censorship.
http://www.sltrib.com/utah/ci_3475078