The Supreme Court is set to rule during the current session on whether the FCC should retain its power to fine over-the-air TV and radio stations for what it considers indecency during hours when children are likely to be viewing or listening. The hours during which the FCC is currently authorized to regulate broadcast content run from 6:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. daily.
It is my view that the FCC should be allowed to continue regulating over-the-air broadcasts during those hours of the day, but that it should be forced to be more specific about what is allowed and what is not. In addition, I think the fines should be reasonable. It's utterly absurd that any broadcaster should be fined millions of dollars for a single curse word or a brief exposure of a naughty body part. The principle of making the punishment fit the crime should be no exception here.
However, some hysterical alarmists are claiming that, if the court decides to strip the FCC of its authority to regulate broadcast content, indecent content would suddenly begin to run amuck on over-the-air TV. These people couldn't be more wrong. How do can I be so sure? Well, it all boils down to sponsors. Whether it is broadcast, cable, satellite, or Internet TV, it doesn't matter. TV channels that have sponsors will never go the way of HBO or Showtime. Now that's not to say that there won't ever be any pushing of the envelope or sporadic indecency like there was just before the FCC started cracking the whip. I'm just saying indecency will not become a regular occurrence on broadcast TV, no matter what the court decides.
As mentioned above, the FCC does not even regulate broadcast TV 24 hours a day. It is only during specific hours, and does not include late night or the wee hours of the morning. Have you ever been up and turned on a TV during those hours? I have - and guess what - the content is no more indecent that it is during prime time. If broadcasters were so eager to put on indecent programming, wouldn't you think they would take advantage of those times when they are not regulated?
The reason they don't is clear - their sponsors are looking over their shoulders at all times, not just during the 16 hours of the day when the FCC is watching. These sponsors fear the loss of customers, and therefore generally shy away from controversy. The last thing they want to hear about is a group of individuals threatening to stop doing business with them over some TV show they are sponsoring. If they get enough complaints about a particular program, they will either pressure the network to have the producers of that show alter its content, or they will simply pull their ads from it altogether. And without advertising, any program carried by an ad-supported network or station is doomed.
Also note that the FCC cannot regulate basic cable channels such as E!, Comedy Central, TNT, USA Network, or Bravo any more they can regulate premium channels like HBO. However, unlike HBO, you will notice that those channels bleep out most instances of profanity and cover up all nudity, even bare backsides. Why? It's not because they have to fear any fines. Obviously, it's because their programming is mostly paid for by commercials, so they have to answer to their sponsors, just like broadcasters do.
So the bottom line is this: Regulation by the FCC plays only a minor role in the deterrence of TV indecency. The fear of repercussions from their sponsors is the primary concern that prevents ad-sponsored television stations from airing just anything they want to. Over-the-air TV broadcasts will be protected from most forms of indecency, with or without the FCC. Don't let some zealot or fear-monger convince you otherwise.
Terry Mitchell is a software engineer, freelance writer, amateur political analyst, and blogger from Hopewell, VA. On his blog - http://commenterry.blogs.com/ - he posts commentaries on various subjects such as politics, technology, religion, health and well-being, personal finance, and sports. His commentaries offer a unique point of view that is not often found in mainstream media.
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