NationStates Jolt Archive

The SCOTUS will be hearing a major case relating to free speech and broadcast television, regarding the broadcast of "fleeting explatives".

The Supreme Court took the case after a lower court ruled in June 2007 that the FCC, the federal media regulator, had failed to provide a “reasoned explanation” for a change in its policy when it fined News Corp’s Fox Network after it aired obscenities by Cher and Nicole Ritchie in a 2002 broadcast of the Billboard Music Awards.

This case could have major implications for not only live events, but all broadcast television. Given the unregulated nature of cable television and internet, it is questionable how effective the FCC can even be.

Kevin Martin has defended the censorship, stating that "Hollywood will be able to say anything they want, whenever they want". I see nothing wrong with that, and actually view it as a good thing.

Peter Chernin, News Corp’s president, admitted that the indecency case was not what most people would consider an important milestone in the fight for free speech. “If anyone had told me that my company would be before the US Supreme Court defending inane comments by Cher and Nicole Ritchie, I would have said you’re crazy,” he said. “But I would contend that the nature of this speech, and who said it, makes absolutely no difference.

“If the government gets its foot in the censorship door with respect to unpopular entertainment content, it is the beginning of the steep slide toward censoring unpopular political content.”

What do you think? Is the FCC irrelevant now? Should "obscene speech" be banned on network TV? Cable TV? Everything?


http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/8f6bc86a-a9f3-11dd-958b-000077b07658.html?nclick_check=1

Fuck 'em in the goat-ass.
No one's making anybody watch it. People need their own personal responsibilities for their freedoms.

God....am I about to side with Fox...?

Fuck 'em in the goat-ass.
No one's making anybody watch it. People need their own personal responsibilities for their freedoms.

You know, I actually laughed about this quote:
Hollywood will be able to say anything they want, whenever they want
because he says it like it's such a bad thing...

God....am I about to side with Fox...?

Welcome to the Dark side.

Welcome to the Dark side.

You know youre an awful, awful group when Scott sides with Fox against you.

You know youre an awful, awful group when Scott sides with Fox against you.

again enjoy yourself in the darkside. No one escapes. but hey we got cookies They are over there by Rev Falwell's ghost. You have to listen to his ghost speak but the cookies are good and worth it.

You know, I actually laughed about this quote:
Hollywood will be able to say anything they want, whenever they want
because he says it like it's such a bad thing...It's probably him being a coward.
Quite typical these days. :(

What do you think? Is the FCC irrelevant now? Should "obscene speech" be banned on network TV? Cable TV? Everything?


Now? They always have been. We as a country should never have allowed a group to decide what is and is not appropriate to broadcast. What George Carlin once said about radio knobs is just as true of television remote buttons . . .

"The radio has two knobs...one turns it off the other changes the channel!"

Now? They always have been. We as a country should never have allowed a group to decide what is and is not appropriate to broadcast. What George Carlin once said about radio knobs is just as true of television remote buttons . . .

"The radio has two knobs...one turns it off the other changes the channel!"

Maybe ineffective is more what I was going for. I agree with what you said. What I meant was, is there any point to having indecency laws for broadcast TV and radio when we have access to so many other forms of media? Can their standards be considered at all effective?

God....am I about to side with Fox...?

Fox studios is quite different from Fox News.

Fox studios is quite different from Fox News.

Rupert Murdoch is still the devil.

Fox studios is quite different from Fox News.

I will hear none of this. KoL is now a defender of Fox and a SITH lord weather he accepts or not.

God....am I about to side with Fox...?

Come to the dark side, we have cookies. :D

Come to the dark side, we have cookies. :D

And more it seems

http://roflrazzi.files.wordpress.com/2008/10/celebrity-pictures-the-vaders-dark-side.jpg?w=449&h=416

As a DJ, I put up with the FCC's petty shit every day. I can get fined for saying so many things I sometimes wonder why I'm talking. Some of the rules make sense, most don't. If the FCC can get away with controlling what is said and done on radio... an almost 100% live affair they then logically have the same power over TV stations. But I think, they shouldn't have the ability to do either.

And more it seems

http://roflrazzi.files.wordpress.com/2008/10/celebrity-pictures-the-vaders-dark-side.jpg?w=449&h=416

Once you go black you never go back.

And more it seems

http://roflrazzi.files.wordpress.com/2008/10/celebrity-pictures-the-vaders-dark-side.jpg?w=449&h=416

Mmm, that's one Darth Vader I wouldn't mind putting me in a choke hold. :D

As a DJ, I put up with the FCC's petty shit every day. I can get fined for saying so many things I sometimes wonder why I'm talking. Some of the rules make sense, most don't.

Which of their rules on what you can say make sense?

i think it would be nice for indipendent radio stations to be able to play songs or read poetry that have one or two stray explatives without having to bleep/fade them out or risk fines and possible suspension of license.

Which of their rules on what you can say make sense?

the station identification rule since a lot of older stereos it is sometimes hard to tell what channel your on.

Which of their rules on what you can say make sense?

None of them, the ones that make sense are the ones related to signal strengths, broadcast areas, and making sure that signal towers are in proper condition. And the station ID rule, we have to identify our station at the beginning (top) of every hour, and at least 3 times in 2 hours.

In all seriousness, I loathe the FCC and would welcome their removel, or at least a serious toning down of their powers.

I dislike any organization that feels the need to tell me, as an adult, that I cant hear bad words or see titties.

In all seriousness, I loathe the FCC and would welcome their removel, or at least a serious toning down of their powers.

I dislike any organization that feels the need to tell me, as an adult, that I cant hear bad words or see titties.

so i heard you just voted for Mccain. You Fox news lover :P

so i heard you just voted for Mccain. You Fox news lover :P

Jokes on you, I havent voted yet:p

Jokes on you, I havent voted yet:p

so moving to Florida to vote for McCain at the "last minute".