Scripps Howard owns ABC affiliates in Cincinnati, Cleveland, Detroit, Phoenix and Tampa. It pulled the movie from them and made clear it was doing so because of fears it might be fined. ?Recent federal regulatory decisions on profanity appear to make it clear the Federal Communications Commission prohibits the broadcast of the type of profanity used in the movie. Clear, unequivocal warnings to viewers . . . do not appear to mitigate a TV station?s obligation to prohibit the broadcast of profane language prior to 10 p.m.,? the company explained.
The media landscape was different just two years ago. Back then, the FCC denied a complaint about the movie, noting the film attempted to be historically accurate in its violence and its language.
But since then, the FCC has slapped a record-setting fine on CBS for showing Janet Jackson?s nipple during the Super Bowl. The regulatory agency also criticized NBC for allowing rock singer Bono to use the F-word during an awards ceremony in 2003. That reversed an earlier decision in the Bono case. So, in light of the FCC?s recent activism, it?s logical that many station managers decided they?d rather be safe than sorry.
?This is not about whether the movie is worth airing in prime time. It is extremely worthwhile programming,? said Greg Stone, the general manager of WSB in Atlanta. But that station didn?t show Private Ryan, because it decided the movie wasn?t worth risking its broadcast license over.
Instead of government regulation, we ought to let the free market operate. ABC clearly thought that the movie would bring in good ratings -- certainly better than ?Return to Mayberry,? the movie that stations in Des Moines, Sioux City, Iowa, and Lincoln, Neb., replaced it with.
As for those who would have been offended by the violence or language, they could always have switched to another station or turned the TV off.
Because of the fear of an overzealous federal regulatory agency, millions of Americans were recently denied a chance to see a powerful and important film. We ought to rein in the regulators and let the free market rule -- before our network television descends to the level of the government-run BBC.