Fear of FCC fines making tonight less than memorable for 1/3 of the country.
Because of the fear of large fines, almost 1/3 of the United States will not have the choice to watch a film on network television which is much in keeping with the spirit of this day, instead getting a rerun of an interview with Pvt. Jessica Lynch, the movie Coming to America or episodes or the TV movie "Return to Mayberry", and there is nothing that says Veteran's Day more than an Andy Griffith Show reunion!
ABC aired Saving Private Ryan uncut in 2001 and 2002 -- both times on Veterans' Day, as is this year's showing -- without incurring any FCC action. But after Nipplegate, a growing number of affiliates are now afraid that showing the film would result in heavy fines. In previous years, there have been precedents set for showing films like SPR uncut on network TV, like the ruling that the showing of Schindler's List uncut was not an indecent, despite what U.S. Senator felt at the time.
Raymond H. Cole, the president of WOI-TVin Des Moines(along with stations in Sioux City and Lincoln, Nebraska) said this about the issue. "The inconsistent manner in which the FCC is choosing to apply [indecency] rules puts TV stations like ours in a most difficult position. As this relates to 'Saving Private Ryan,' our concern centers on whether the FCC would consider the context in which the intense adult language and graphic battleground violence is presented in the movie. ... With the current FCC, we just don't know." And I can sort of see where he is coming from, because yes, the fines the FCC has given out as of late have been very, very heavy. The FCC will not tell broadcasters who query them if in fact they are risking a fine either, so these programmers are being put in a difficult situation, so the basic message is... you are putting your station's livelihood in your hands if you show this movie and we get finable complaints(this despite the two previous showings resulting in no action)... while groups who traditionally file such complaints, such as the Parents Television Council, are voicing support for the uncut movie being shown...
When it was released, Saving Private Ryan was praised by many groups of WWII Veterans for showing a very realistic version of the D-Day landing and giving added depth to the nature of war in that theatre. Is it a tough movie to watch? At times yes... but in remembrance of those who gave their lives to liberate Western Europe from tyranny, and to keep the sacrifices of those who are currently fighting in mind, is it really indecent to show this movie on primetime television? And if you aren't going to show this movie, shouldn't they at least show another movie that has the same theme to it that might be safer for them... like the Longest Day?
The markets that will not be showing this movie tonight at the moment I am writing this.... more may soon follow:
Detroit (WXYZ)
Phoenix (KNXV)
Cleveland (WEWS)
Cincinnati (WCPO)
Tampa-St. Petersburg, Fla. (WFTS)
Dallas/Fort Worth (WFAA)
Hampton/Norfolk, Va. (WVEC)
Louisville, Ky. (WHAS)
Austin, Texas (KVUE)
Des Moines, Iowa (WOI)
Sioux City, Iowa (KCAU)
Lincoln, Neb. (KLKN and KHGI)
Atlanta (WSOC)
Orlando (WFTV)
Manchester, N.H. (WMUR)
Milwaukee (WISN)
New Orleans (WGNO)
Richmond VA (WRIC)