Broadcast TV's bid to be even more Risqué

BROADCAST TV'S BID TO BE EVEN MORE RISQUE
[SOURCE: The Christian Science Monitor, AUTHOR: Editorial Staff]
[Commentary] Broadcast TV has had enough and won't take it anymore. It's lost too many viewers to cable shows like "The Sopranos" and appears eager to air more sex, violence, and obscenities. So last week, ABC, CBS, FOX, and NBC sued the Federal Communications Commission over its curbs on indecency. The suit in essence challenges decades of FCC authority over risqué content. Broadcasters say parents have the bulk of responsibility to shield children. Many parents say no. Broadcast TV still dominates the market and government must help shield children, even from the secondhand influence of other children allowed to view offensive shows. And, they add, cable TV, even though it is a purchased service not using the government-owned airwaves, should also be FCC regulated. The FCC does need to work with the networks better, speeding up its process and offering more consistent and timely guidance, but without loosening standards. It could become less of a policing agency and more of a bridge-builder between the industry and various consumers of TV. Families with young children can do much to restrict access to coarse and explicit TV. But an FCC that's more sensitive to the industry's need for specific and quick guidance in a new media age can still be an aiding arm for many families.
http://www.csmonitor.com/2006/0420/p08s02-comv.html