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FCC Allows the F* word, rumor or truth?

post #1 of 55
11/18/03 at 6:38am
Thread Starter 
Is this rumor or true?

Just talked to someone and he says that the FCC has allowed the use of F*** for anytime on TV or radio, as long as its not used when relating to sex.

Hard to believe as I can't find any other information other than this e-mail he showed me.

personally I'd rather see complete nudity allowed, than this. In fact I figured that would have been the next thing allowed.
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post #2 of 55
11/18/03 at 7:03am
Where do these things get started?

While I don’t know for sure, I am reasonably certain that if this were the case there would be a considerable mention of the policy change in the press—and a predictable outcry.

Why would your friend think that the FCC changed their criteria?
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post #3 of 55
11/18/03 at 7:11am
Quote:
Just talked to someone and he says that the FCC has allowed the use of F*** for anytime on TV or radio, as long as its not used when relating to sex.


Not exactly. What the FCC did was decline to fine a network or cable channel (I forget which) that ran an awards show without the usual 7-second tape delay. One of the recipients said something like, "This is f***ing awsome." I forget who the guy was, and what awards show it was (something to do with music, I believe), but the incident was reported at the time, although it didn't get a huge amount of press.

When it received complaints and investigated the incident the Commission decided not to impose a fine in this particular case, noting the way the word was used and the spontaneous nature of the outburst. At worst the ruling means that the Commission may decide certain things on a case-by-case basis for live events. It does not represent a blanket change of FCC policy, and does not apply to scripted shows and other debilberate use of the word and its variants. So the cops on NYPD Blue are not going to start referring to "f***ing skel" next season.

Regards,

Joe
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post #4 of 55
11/18/03 at 7:16am
By the way, you probably could get away with using the word in a paid political ad for radio or TV, provided the candidate's voice is also heard in the commercial. Years ago when sh*t and its variants were still banned there was a radio ad for Barry Commoner (IIRC) that started with the word "Bullsh*t!" Turns out that FCC broadcast standards rules do not apply to purely political speech in the form of campaign ads that meet the criteria. You can say anything you want in those, and the FCC won't intervene. So presumably you could have an ad today that says, "F*** [insert name of politician you most hate here]" and nobody could lay a glove on you. Of course, it is an open question whether you'd turn off as many voters with your vulgarity as you attracted with your directness.

Regards,

Joe
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post #5 of 55
11/18/03 at 7:22am
Bono said "fucking brilliant" on the Golden Globe Awards when he accepted his award for the band U2. You can read the FCC's report about it here:

http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_publi...-03-3045A1.pdf

Just because it's okay to do it doesn't mean that the networks will dare to do it on a taped show.
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post #6 of 55
11/18/03 at 9:24am
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Especially given the current administration.


Explain.
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post #7 of 55
11/18/03 at 9:44am
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Explain.

Please don't. The poltical reference was an unfortunate lapse, given the HTF rules. Let's not go there.

M.
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post #8 of 55
11/18/03 at 11:36am
Reading that report, it does sound as if a non-sexual use of fuck is allowed. It's on page three, and I won't retype what it says, but as long as it isn't about sex or "excretory" functions, it isn't within "the scope of the Commision."

So, you could say "fuck" I think. I mentioned this to a friend, and he told me that he was listening to the (OTA) radio, and he heard them broadcast a couple of songs completely unedited with F-bombs in them. I asked him if the F word was used in a sexual context, and he said no. So, I'm going to assume that that's the law now.

That said, I don't care. It's time that TV caught up with what movies have been doing since 1968.
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post #9 of 55
11/18/03 at 11:40am
If I understand this correctly, use of the "f" word will not be punished if used as an adjective or adverb ("F**king brilliant"), but using it as a verb ("I f**ked Heather - twice, but with no love, and never again") is strictly forbidden.
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post #10 of 55
11/18/03 at 1:29pm
SteveA, that's correct.
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post #11 of 55
11/18/03 at 1:34pm
Thread Starter 
http://capwiz.com/afanet/alert4124576.html

this is the link that he got in his e-mail. I'm not sure about the valididty of this sight or anything. The article soudn kind of childish in nature.

"Hollywood is rejoicing" thats kind of a silly statement.
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post #12 of 55
11/18/03 at 1:41pm
So, I'm going to assume that that's the law now.

As will most. They've now set a precedent that will get them sued later on should they try and fine someone for a similar usage.
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post #13 of 55
11/18/03 at 1:41pm
Quote:
I mentioned this to a friend, and he told me that he was listening to the (OTA) radio, and he heard them broadcast a couple of songs completely unedited with F-bombs in them. I asked him if the F word was used in a sexual context, and he said no. So, I'm going to assume that that's the law now.
That's B.S. I can remember hearing Who songs with the F bomb on the radio in the 70s and 80s (and even now on classirc rock stations), the ban on certain words is just not enforced much.
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post #14 of 55
11/18/03 at 2:04pm
I quote from the website that Bill linked to:

Quote:
That means that real soon you will be watching a sit-com on TV, or news, or any drama or movie-ANY PROGRAM-and it is ok!
I say again, just because it's okay to do it doesn't mean that the networks will dare to do it on a taped show. If no one watches the vulgar stuff, the networks will pull it. I quote again:

Quote:
Soon, when you are driving your kids to school you will be listening to a song which makes extensive use of the word.
Not if you're not listening to the radio and have control of the tape or CD player. Or, how about turning it off and talking to your kids?

Quote:
No longer will movies shown on TV have to be edited because of language.
I assume that most movies with foul language contain at least some sexual innuendo and/or violence.

Stop acting like the media controls you. You control the media. If it offends you, turn it off.
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post #15 of 55
11/18/03 at 2:21pm
i must say i have no idea which 'f' word many of you are talking about. in most cases, you cover up the rest of the word with *'s instead of letters, how are we even supposed to know what you are talking about?

anyway, there are plenty of F bombs in radio. and what about the new years eve broadcast of the south park movie on comedy central? if you missed, it, they dropped F bombs just for the sake of dropping them. no censoring of the language whatsoever. the novelty wore off very quickly, as did south park...but how did cc get away with it? did they plan for a surge in viewers and advertising to offset the fines? or did they have no fines against them at all? it was on pretty late, and honestly, they are just words, you hear worse language in middle school. (probably from watching those movies)
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post #16 of 55
11/18/03 at 3:05pm
The FCC has approved the use of the "f-word" on any TV show or radio program? From Snopes


Chris
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post #17 of 55
11/18/03 at 3:41pm
Christ, I asked a question about the "shit" episode of South Park on this very forum and was told that the FCC doesn't regulate Comedy Central because it's a cable channel. I guess the channel can technically say what it wants. Not sure, though. Anyone out there own a TV station?
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post #18 of 55
11/18/03 at 3:46pm
No worries, people.

The FCC knows what's good for us. And we can't handle the f-word.

To paraphrase Cartman, "It will warp our fragile little minds"
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post #19 of 55
11/18/03 at 3:46pm
Quote:
I guess the channel can technically say what it wants. Not sure, though. Anyone out there own a TV station?


I don't own a TV station , but I understand that the rules are different for over the air (picked up by anyone with a tuner) versus cable (subscription required).

Matt
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post #20 of 55
11/18/03 at 3:57pm
Quote:
I guess the channel can technically say what it wants.
As I understand it, the FCC only regulates what is broadcast over the airwaves that anyone can pick up using the most basic equipment because those signal frequencies are deemed to be "owned" by the public. Cable and satellite do not operate on those open frequencies and require special equipment to decode the signal above and beond a TV with an aerial.

Comedy Central is not a TV station that you can receive over the air via UHF or VHF "public" frequencies. They are strictly cable and satellite. This is why cable and satellite channels can effectively show whatever they want whenever they want. Radio and local TV channels, however, are open and under FCC regulation. (I suppose that they're ALL subject to regulation, but open-air stations - not cable or satellite - are subject to content censorship as I understand the regulations.)
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post #21 of 55
11/18/03 at 4:00pm
Quote:
I asked a question about the "shit" episode of South Park on this very forum and was told that the FCC doesn't regulate Comedy Central because it's a cable channel. I guess the channel can technically say what it wants
so why was it such a big deal? i remember hearing about that episode and the new years eve thing, all the hype surrounding it. guess it was just to drum up some publicity. cc made it sound like they were giving the fcc the finger but didnt care. unless...the cc in fcc actually stands for comedy central? nah.

CJ
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post #22 of 55
11/18/03 at 7:01pm
Quote:
so why was it such a big deal?


Because most basic cable channels voluntarily adhere to the same rules and conventions as the broadcast networks. Basic channels are just that, the ones you automatically get with your cable/satellite subscription, so they are analogous to over-the-air signals insofar as they are not indvidually and deliberately chosen. (As premium services such as HBO and Showtime are.) Even most of the premium services draw the line at hardcore porn, although the rules would presumably allow it.

Less about what does and does not appear in American television programming (as opposed to American television commercials) is a matter of law than people think. Mostly it is based on informal in-house "rules", and a perception of the audience's tastes and limits. The reason we don't have nudity in broadcast prime time TV or basic cable isn't Big Government sitting on the broadcasters, it is the fact that most Americans would prefer not to have that kind of thing dumped into their homes. Our (collective) attitudes are different than European attitudes - and no necessarily inferior. It comes down to a matter of taste and aesthetics. Sometimes less really is more.

Regards,

Joe
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post #23 of 55
11/18/03 at 7:08pm
It's a big deal because, while cable channels are not regulated by it - and many have allowed it within the sake of interviews, etc. (see: CNN in interviews with dignitaries who've dropped a few language bombs It's generally been considered "bad taste" and wards away advertisers. Thus, it was a big deal.

In the case of the F-word, yes, the way the decree words it, you could use it ala Bend It Like Beckham british style "that's fucking brilliant" etc., but not in the manner as pointed out above "I f**ked both of them, twice" as a punch line (line stolen from Eddie Murphy).

The issue, however, is not that it will "warp our wee little minds" the issue is that due to it being public broadcast, many view it as too easily reachable for smaller children, etc. etc. and so the FCC and others have always enforced those guidelines.. to quote Hillary Clinton, it's somewhat "It takes a village"

Now, as far as that goes, I find it all pointless, and in the era of everything mic'd, if you really wanted to hear a stream of profanity, you can watch any NFL football game on FOX/ABC/CBS where you can always hear the mic'd player and coach yell things like "that f*" and "you f*" and "what the f" or "did you see the F*ing ball?" or "why won't you watch the f*'ing replay!" and, of course, the obvious in case you're watching a Tampa Bay game: "can someone go punch f*'ing Keyshawn?"
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post #24 of 55
11/18/03 at 7:25pm
Well, I know in Canada "The Osbournes" is played sans beeping. The network that broadcasts the show is a freely available national network. For the most part, foul language is no longer censored out of shows broadcast in Canada.

I've seen shows with quite a bit of nudity being played during primetime hours as well.
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post #25 of 55
11/18/03 at 7:34pm
Yet the OTA stations play tampon commercials. Anyone ever try to explain 'them' to a small boy?

Glenn
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post #26 of 55
11/19/03 at 12:12am
Who the fuck cares?

"What? It's not like it hurts anyone... fuck fuckity fuck fuck fuck!"
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post #27 of 55
11/19/03 at 2:06pm
The other thing that makes non-premium cable channels cautious, regardless of the technical rules, is that they're advertiser-supported and ratings-driven. If they put something on that offends more people than it attracts then they lose ratings points, and therefore advertising dollars and pretty soon they don't have a network. That's without even considering things like boycotts (either of shows or advertisers) or sponsors pulling out on their own if they don't like a show. It simply isn't worth the potential hassle to Kraft Foods or the Ford Motor Company to have its products associated with a show that a lot of consumers find offensive. Subscription paid channels like HBO and Showtime had a lot more leeway.

Regards,

Joe
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post #28 of 55
11/19/03 at 2:33pm
my friend told me he heard a commercial-spoof on the radio (howard stern?).

"when you think couches, think sofa king. our prices aren't just low, they're sofa king low!"

there's no way, anytime in the near future, the fcc is gonna let us start using the f word. heck, we just barely got bitch out of the way. my vote for the next word?

shit!
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post #29 of 55
11/19/03 at 3:54pm
The "shit" barrier has already been broken at least twice on broadcast TV. Mark Harmon was the first, on an episode of "Chicago Hope" in its last season. This one got a lot of advance publicity. The other (that I'm aware of) was Anthony Edwards during his final episode of "ER" last spring. I don't recall hearing a peep of publicity about the "ER" utterance.
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post #30 of 55
11/19/03 at 5:37pm
That means that real soon you will be watching a sit-com on TV, or news, or any drama or movie-ANY PROGRAM-and it is ok


Added cursing would only reduce viewership, like my grandparents who get upset when I refer to certain people as "that mother fucking asshole."
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