ABC affilates pull "Ryan".....are the networks making a statement?

On Veterans Day (11th), ABC was scheduled to air Saving Private Ryan a war film that faithfully depicts the struggle of Veterans during WWII.

However, at the last second several ABC stations across the country (including my local one) decided to not air the movie; their reason being that they "feared a fine" from the FCC (due to the film's graphic violence and strong language).

Now, of course we know that the FCC has been on somehwat of a crackdown on indecent media, ever since the Super Bowl incident. However, I think that these ABC affiliates were making a statement to the FCC.

What was it? get off our backs. Why do I think this? Because the stations have aired the film more than once before, with a minimal or no complaints. The FCC threatened nothing.

I think that ABC deliberately tried withold the Veteran-honoring film to make the FCC look like a belligerent corporation to Americans. What do you think?

 

I think the local affiliates really were concerned.

And that the FCC has repeatedly overstepped its bounds...

 

One way to make a guess is to look at what else ABC is airing these days. Is it quietly playing stuff you've never heard of that's got similar content to "Ryan?" If so, they may be grandstanding. If they really have tamed everything down to the Barney level, then they may be sincere.

 

The FCC does a lot of heavy handed stuff.

Like when they mandated V-Chips in all TV's. If I want to save 20 bucks and buy a TV without one, and a manufactuerer wants to sell me one...how in the Hell is that the government's business?

 

Well, per usual, the network was flooded with complaints after they broadcasted it, so obviously some people find it offensive to be on network televsion.

 

obviously some people find it offensive to be on network televsion.

They loose the remote? Change the channel for cryin' out loud! With all the warnings they can't say they didn't know!!!!

 

These were not merely individual complaints, mind you, but groups: the American Family Association (a conservative Christian group) this time that promised to overwhelm ABC with complaints.

It's simply the politics from both sides; I think the ABC affiliates had a legitimate fear of what the FCC would do, even in the case of Saving Private Ryan.

 

ABC should have written a letter back to those complainers telling them to go **** themselves.

 

I got a question that has bugged me for years;

Why is it that the Conservative groups complain about indecency yet it is the Dems that pass the indecency laws and then blame the Republicans for "legislating morality"?

 

ABC should have written a letter back to those complainers telling them to go **** themselves.

But in this case, it was ABC the affiliates, not ABC the network, which is why I don't believe Citizen Kane's hypothesis.

If ABC actually had wanted to make that type of statement, it would simply have announced it cancelling the airing entirely; then it would be a clear confrontation. Instead, this was a series of broadcasting corporations who own ABC stations who made this decision. All of the network-owned stations aired the movie.

 

That's why before the show it says "PARENTAL DISCRETION IS ADVISED"

Man, parents these days...

 

obviously some people find it offensive to be on network televsion.

They loose the remote? Change the channel for cryin' out loud! With all the warnings they can't say they didn't know!!!!

Would the same hold true for pornography?

-Paul

 

Would the same hold true for pornography?

It already does. HBO has that stripper show once a week.

The only reason why the FCC can regulate it is because the airwaves "are public" or some bs like that.

Really, whats the difference between putting out buying an antenna and buying a cable box or satellite dish?

 

Paul said...Would the same hold true for pornography?

Absolutely. As long as it isn't "snuck" in on us. As I said, we all have V-Chips now whether we like it or not, so if you set it, no porno can be seen on your particular TV.

 

It already does. HBO has that stripper show once a week.

Heh...I remember watching that on a school trip on an overnight stay in a hotel. Some fat girl was saying she was going to strip for her boyfriend, who was taping it. Random obese girls were giving each other oral, there was some clown dude who could shoot his load fifteen feet...

And even so, there are some people who like that kind of stuff. We changed the channel rather quickly, which illustrates the most fundamental axiom of TV -- if you don't like it, you don't have to watch it. The networks and the FCC need to realize this and stop taking their "righteous vengeance" out on fine films like Saving Private Ryan. It isn't pointless violence -- it has heart and a sense of justice about it.

The FCC are morons, true, but the networks also have their share of blame to take for caving to the special interest groups. I would have written the single most vulgar, offensive letter back to that "Christian" group that I could possibly come up with. Given my obvious moral deficiency and my being willing to say exactly what I think about people, that'd make newspapers all over the world.

 

The FCC has gone on similar witch hunts in the past. I think it's a shame they have to swim around like great white sharks scaring the networks. But I can see some of their gripes about programming. I will ALWAYS believe that Janet Jackson planned that little malfunction because her CD was getting ready to be released. Anything to sell her stuff.

I think the first 30 mninutes of Ryan is the most correct historical re-enactment of D-Day that has ever been filmed. And on Vetran's Day - of all days it should be shown in its entirety for the younger generations to see what our grandfathers went through. I had an uncle on that beach D-Day + 1. He said it was horrible. Ryan is a good way to pay tribute to their loss, by showing us what they went through.

 

"righteous vengeance"

Actually it is "lefteous vengeance".

 

It should be noted that the affiliates pulled it after not being assured by the FCC that they wouldn't be fined for showing it.

The FCC's position on this is almost paradoxically sensical that to do so would be censorship.

It may also be worth noting the AMA didn't complain that it be showed on network television just that it was to be shown between 6 pm and 10 pm.

 

It is very, very simple. Make it very clear to viewers what the rating of the film in question is (in this case, MA or R, depending on your country). If you don't want to see a film with graphic violence, then pick up your remote and change the channel!

Why ruin it for those who actually want to see the film?

 

"The FCC's position on this is almost paradoxically sensical that to do so would be censorship."


Could you clarify?

 

The American Family Association does not have a problem with ABC showing the movie. They even came out and said they did not have a problem with it.

 

The irony for me is that academic studies have shown that violence is far more damaging/dangerous for kids to see, and that sex/nudity is almost harmless. Yet, the regulatory agencies and moral opinion leaders seem to believe the opposite.

 

The American Family Association does not have a problem with ABC showing the movie. They even came out and said they did not have a problem with it.

cough*SOURCE*


The FCC has now confirmed that they have received thousands of complaints about the airing of it. LINK

 

Well Rice sock, the FCC's position is that to tell networks not to show something would be censorship while to fine them them after they had shown something in violation FCC regulations is ok.

 

Saving Private Ryan is a bit gruesome for non-pay networks. But actually, ER and things have pretty much caught up to it in terms of gore, so I don't know. But SPR is actually more disturbing because it was directed so well. When I was a kid, I always liked the fact that there was the edited version of movies on TV, and then I could watch the "real" version on HBO or video. However, my local fox station showed "Porky's" unedited at 8 o'clock. It is a night I'll never forget.

The fact that the freakin Brits wouldn't allow that headbutt even in the DVD of Attack of the Clones is a real warning for us in America, and shows us how good we have it.