New Indecency Concerns

VIEWERS ASK FCC TO IMPOSE FINES OVER PRESIDENT'S SWEARING
[SOURCE: MarketWatch, AUTHOR: Siobhan Hughes]
The Federal Communications Commission has been asked by about two dozen people to impose financial penalties in connection with television and radio broadcasts in which President Bush was heard swearing at the G-8 summit in July. President Bush apparently thought a microphone was off last month while he was speaking with Prime Minister Tony Blair. While discussing political tensions between Israel and Hezbollah, Bush used the word s***. His comments came just four months after federal regulators said that the word was one of the most vulgar, graphic and explicit words relating to excretory activity in the English language and would likely trigger fines if broadcast. Many listeners were offended after hearing Bush's remarks on channels such as CNN, a cable network whose programs aren't subject to Federal Communications Commission fines. But at least one person complained that the word was aired on an NBC affiliate - a station that is subject to FCC penalties since its programs air over spectrum licensed from the government. If the FCC pursues an investigation, the Republicans who dominate the agency will be in the awkward position of focusing on improper language used by President Bush, who nominated them. If the FCC declines, it will leave itself open to charges of playing politics and to complaints from broadcasters who will have more reason to claim that the FCC's indecency standards are inconsistent.
http://www.marketwatch.com/News/Story/Story.aspx?dist=newsfinder&siteid=...

SOME STATIONS TO DELAY 9/11 DOCUMENTARY
[SOURCE: Broadcasting&Cable, AUTHOR: John Eggerton]
Some CBS affiliated television stations may delay broadcast of the documentary 9/11 until after 10pm over concerns about profanities uttered in the program. The documentary, which has aired uncut twice before, includes profanities uttered in the heat of the Sept. 11 disaster. CBS has said it expects to have no problems with the FCC, which has been cracking down on profanity, but apparently some stations aren't so sure. Indecent content is protected from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. when children are less likely to be viewing.
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6367905.html

ANGER OVER LANGUAGE AT EMMYS
[SOURCE: Broadcasting&Cable, AUTHOR: John Eggerton]
The Parents Television Council Thursday filed a complaint with the FCC over NBC's Emmy broadcast. In that broadcast, Actress Helen Mirren used a descriptive Britishism for taking a tumble. Calista Flockhart, who came on after Mirren, echoed the phrase in banter with her co-presenter. NBC delays live awards shows, but chose not to bleep the language. "During the 9:30 pm CT/MT hour on August 27, 2006, the phrase “t*ts over a*s” was spoken by both Ms. Mirren and Ms. Flockhart and both times aired unedited during the NBC Network broadcast of the Emmys" said PTC. “It is utterly irresponsible and atrocious for NBC to air this vulgar language during the safe harbor time when millions of children were in the viewing audience," said PTC President Brent Bozell.
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6367890.html?display=Breaking...

* NBC Criticized for Language
http://www.latimes.com/business/printedition/la-fi-nbc1sep01,1,4546426.s...