TV stations canceling 'Ryan' telecast

[Galmin]

FUBAR

[MIKE BURN]

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TV stations canceling 'Ryan' telecast



Worried about FCC sanctions; film must run uncut



Thursday, November 11, 2004 Posted: 8:41 AM EST (1341 GMT)





NEW YORK (AP) -- More than 20 ABC affiliates around the country, including two in Ohio, have announced that they won't take part in the network's Veterans Day airing of "Saving Private Ryan," saying the acclaimed film's violence and language could draw sanctions from the Federal Communications Commission.



The decisions mark a twist in the conflict over the aggressive stand the FCC has taken against obscenity and profanity since Janet Jackson flashed the world during the last Super Bowl halftime show.



Steven Spielberg's Oscar-winning movie aired on ABC with relatively little controversy in 2001 and 2002, but station owners -- including several in large markets -- are unnerved that airing it Thursday could bring federal punishment. The film includes a violent depiction of the D-Day invasion and profanity.



"It would clearly have been our preference to run the movie. We think it's a patriotic, artistic tribute to our fighting forces," Ray Cole, president of Citadel Communications, told AP Radio. The company owns three ABC affiliates in the Midwest.



In Ohio, WCPO-TV of Cincinnati and WSYX-TV of Columbus will not show the movie.



Other stations choosing to replace the movie with other programming are located in Atlanta, Dallas, Honolulu, New Orleans, Milwaukee, Phoenix, Orlando, Florida, and Charlotte, North Carolina. They are owned by a variety of companies, including Cox Television, Tribune Broadcasting Corp., Hearst-Argyle Television Inc., Belo Corp. and Sinclair Broadcast Group.



"We regret that the FCC, given its current timidity in dealing in this area, would not grant an advance waiver, which would have allowed stations like ours to run it without any question or any concern," Cole said.



In a statement on WSB-TV's Web site, the Atlanta station's vice president and general manager, Greg Stone, cited a March ruling in which the FCC said an expletive uttered by rock star Bono during NBC's live airing of the 2003 Golden Globe Awards was both indecent and profane.



The agency made it clear then that virtually any use of the F-word -- which is used repeatedly in "Saving Private Ryan" -- was inappropriate for over-the-air radio and television.



The Bono case "reversed years of prior policy that the context of language matters," Stone said. He added that broadcasters could not get any clarification from the FCC on whether the movie violates the standard.



ABC, which broadcast the film uncut in 2001 and 2002, issued a statement saying it is proud to broadcast it again. The network's contract with director Spielberg stipulates that the film cannot be edited.



"As in the past, this broadcast will contain appropriate and clear advisories and parental guidelines," the statement said.



The network has about 225 affiliates.



Several stations said ABC had rejected their requests to air the movie after 10 p.m.



An FCC spokeswoman said Wednesday that the agency does not monitor television broadcasts, but responds to complaints. The agency received a complaint after the 2001 broadcast of "Saving Private Ryan," but it was denied, she said.



WSOC-TV of Charlotte said it received complaints about language in the movie when it aired in 2001 and 2002.



"Now, after much concern and discussion about family viewing over past months, and with Americans at war across the world, it is the vivid depiction of violence combined with graphic language proposed to begin airing at 8 p.m. that has forced our decision," said Lee Armstrong, the station's vice president and general manager.



ABC has told its affiliates it would cover any fines, but Cole, of Citadel, said the network could not protect its affiliates against other FCC sanctions.



The FCC has stepped up enforcement of its decency standards for certain content following this year's Super Bowl halftime show, in which one of Janet Jackson's breasts was exposed.



Profane speech, which is barred from broadcast radio and television between 6 a.m. and 10 p.m., is defined by the FCC as language that is "so grossly offensive to members of the public who actually hear it as to amount to a nuisance," or epithets that tend "to provoke violent resentment."



The guidelines say the context in which such material appears is of critical importance.



Cole cited recent FCC actions and last week's re-election of President Bush as reasons for replacing "Saving Private Ryan" on Thursday with a music program and the TV movie "Return to Mayberry."



"We're just coming off an election where moral issues were cited as a reason by people voting one way or another and, in my opinion, the commissioners are fearful of the new Congress," Cole said.

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Now I thought the U.S. are remembering their war heroes......

...well, I wonder when all libraries will be closed in the U.S.

[RonOnGuitar]

Couple of funny things here:



"ABC, which broadcast the film uncut in 2001 and 2002, issued a statement saying it is proud to broadcast it again."



This will be it's third airing on broadcast TV, so the stations are just - as a US slang might put it - "playing it cute".



"broadcasters could not get any clarification from the FCC on whether the movie violates the standard."



Of course not, LOL. The FCC doesn't issue what called "prior restraints". It doesn't have the power or legal authority to say "show this" or "don't show that" - even if it wanted to.



And no media TV or radio stations/networks have ever asked for "permission" or to get an "OK". Doesn't work that way, never has.



So you have to ask, what's behind the station's dumb actions here?



The anwer is in the first few words that Mike cited in bold:



"We're just coming off an election"



Different people own the different stations, it's not as it is in Europe/Germany where the government controls and runs the media. In the US, individuals of diverse political views own the broadcasting.



In this case you just have a few sore losers - individual station owners - who are still angry about their candidate losing. These type of people are more likely to dislike America's military forces: taking "Private Ryan" off the air ( after they've already shown it twice, hahaha!) fits their political ideology.



"Private Ryan" highlights the greatness of America's military - an idea which infuriates the exreme left in the US. It does have the "normal" swearing that's common among the military in the real world. Not a big deal at all, lol. It's a nice tribute to our vets on their special day.



(It's not like a rap song - where the words are all swear words and intended to be offensive and get attention!)



All in all, it's just a silly little political-game that a few station owners are trying to play. Machts nicht.



Now, Mike, what I'd really worry about is if the media were subject to fines/penalties if it dared to print a news story saying that it's nation's leader dyes (colors) his hair!



It is kinda funny that "Herr Schroeder" is prounced in English as "Hair Shroeder".



---------------------------------

(BACKGROUND FOR NON-GERMANS)

DDP news agency quoted an image consultant as saying the 58-year-old chancellor would be more believable if he did not cover up his greying temples, prompting Schroeder’s lawyer Michael Nesselhauf to issue an angry denial and demand a retraction.



Facing a difficult election in September, Schroeder wants the court in Hamburg to order the agency to pay a hefty fine if it repeats the allegations.



(END NOTE: Shroeder had his way in "court"; now you can get in big legal trouble in Germany for publishing a "Hair Shroeder" news story.)

[Galmin]

I think the US is better served watching Goober and Andy in perpetual loop



Private Ryan vs Gomer Pyle

[DreamTone7]

...ever seen the movie, Galmin?

Melody and Instruments for the soul...

[MIKE BURN]

Quote:

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RonOnGuitar



Different people own the different stations, it's not as it is in Europe/Germany where the government controls and runs the media. In the US, individuals of diverse political views own the broadcasting.

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Name ONE TV station or media-conglomerate in Germany which is in "control or run by" the government.



You can't name one and you don't know obviously anything about the media landscape at least in Germany

[Galmin]

Which one? 'Private Ryan' or 'Return to Mayberry'?

Edited by: Galmin  at: 11/13/04 14:47

[DreamTone7]

Galmin - "Saving Private Ryan"

Melody and Instruments for the soul...

[antman37]

"In the US, individuals of diverse political views own the broadcasting"



no no mr rononguitar this is so untrue



america only believes it is a pluralist society that respects individual differences but it is not



mr burn is right large corporations such as murdochs control most of your media



really critical ideas such as communism socialism or anarchism etc are censored and people are fed entertaining mindrot every day



saving private ryan was white american propaganda because it did not show other soldiers ie canadians asians or europeans fighting for the allies and i did not see many black americans in it or russians who lost 20 million and went through much bloodier battles than the americans such as stalingrad



it was a terrible piece of sentimental propaganda that tugged at the heart strings of people whose hearts are a larger than their brains

[DreamTone7]

antman - "it was a terrible piece of sentimental propaganda that tugged at the heart strings of people whose hearts are a larger than their brains"



Now THERE is a true recipe for peace!

Melody and Instruments for the soul...

[antman37]

oh no, mr dreamtone7, the heart can be turned to peace or war



you should know that

[Galmin]

Quote:

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"Saving Private Ryan"

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Sure

[DreamTone7]

Do you have a heart, antman?



OK Galmin...next question...have you ever been in the military in a similar operation as depicted in "Saving Private Ryan"?

Melody and Instruments for the soul...

[antman37]

first would you answer the question why no other nationalities were seen on the allied side?

[Galmin]

Quote:

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OK Galmin...next question...have you ever been in the military in a similar operation as depicted in "Saving Private Ryan"?

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It depends on what you mean.



Omaha Beach? No. Very few living today have.

Have you been in a military operation where the casualties on your side were 2400 in one single day?



Search and Rescue? All the time