CABLE AND SATELLITE MIGHT BE NEXT ON INDECENCY RADAR
Incoming House Commerce Committee Chmn Barton (R-Tex.) said Thurs. cable and satellite broadcasters’ decency standards should be investigated. “Something that I am troubled by is that in terms of public standards on the public airwaves we still have the issue of cable and satellite. There are clear differences between over-the-air issues and cable and satellite issues. But to the average individual, if they don’t purchase premium channels, they don’t see that there is a difference and there is a difference, that is something we need to investigate further. Perhaps not in this legislation,” Barton said during a hearing on broadcast indecency. He commended some cable executives for starting to consider voluntary decency standards.
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Members commended broadcasters for cleaning up the airwaves. Clear Channel Radio CEO John Hogan was singled out for suspending indefinitely the broadcast of Howard Stern’s radio show, issuing a pink slip to shock jock Bubba the Love Sponge, and undertaking “zero tolerance” initiatives (CD Feb 26 p11). “I think that sets a good a standard,” said Barton. Clear Channel’s announcement came shortly after the Parents TV Council filed a complaint with the FCC. “We applaud Clear Channel for taking such swift action, and we now call on the Infinity radio station group [Stern’s contractor] to follow the lead,” said PTC Exec. Dir. Tim Winter.
Clear Channel has until March to decide whether to pay the $775,000 fine the FCC proposed against the company for indecent content on the Bubba the Love Sponge program. “We have not decided what we will do about that fine,” Hogan told members.
Subcommittee Chmn. Upton (R-Mich.) questioned the timing of actions by Clear Channel and others. “Although I do not question the merits of the actions by broadcasters to clean up their act, will they still be as vigilant without the eyes of Congress staring down on them?” Upton asked.
Rep Dingell (D-Mich.) proposed an amendment that would require the FCC every year to provide the Committee a full account of actions to enforce decent broadcasting. “Perhaps this reporting requirement will encourage the Commission’s Chairman to maintain his acute sense of virtue in this matter,” Dingell said.
A long-time advocate of V-chip education, Rep. Markey (D-Mass.) received unanimous promises from network officials that they would step up efforts to educate parents on using V-chips, and rating systems, and provide public service announcements. ABC TV Network Pres. Alex Wallau said ABC intended to adopt Markey’s suggestion to place the rating icon on the screen after every commercial break. “When appropriate, we will repeat the full-screen ‘Viewers Discretion’ advisory at later points in a broadcast,” Wallau said. This week, Fox launched a print ad campaign in The Washington Post, USA Today and Newsweek on V-Chip and rating information, Gail Berman, Fox Bcstg. Pres. of entertainment, told the members.
Markey also urged networks to include an audio warning, so if when parents are out of the room they can hear whether children have flipped to an adult channel. The networks said there was no technical hurdle, and they would consider the warning.
Members and the panel discussed affiliates’ lack of time to screen programming before it airs, and not being protected by networks. “Today, local affiliates have been virtually stripped of any right to receive network programming in advance and to evaluate its content,” said Harry Pappas, chmn. of Pappas Telecasting. Pappas applauded an earlier proposed amendment by Rep. Green (D-Tex.) that would protect affiliates from all but 10% of an indecency fine if the content originated from network programming.
ABC’s Wallau claimed affiliates have the right to reject network programs contrary to their local public interest. “ABC affiliates in Biloxi and Meridian, Miss., have chosen to preempt the series NYPD Blue entirely ever since it premiered in 1993. They remain valued affiliates of our network,” Wallau said.
Members reiterated several proposed amendments to HR- 3717 including fining licensees based on percentage of revenue, rather than a flat fee; requiring the FCC to initiate license revocation for a broadcaster that accumulates 3 indecency violations; and more directly targeting the on-air personality who commits the indecent act.