The backlash from the Super Bowl debacle in February continues. Two major decisions were just announced and both are directly related to broadcast indecency.
First, Clear Channel, a global leader in the media and entertainment industry, announced that their stations would no longer carry radio shock-jock personality Howard Stern. In light of their newly adopted zero-tolerance policy, Stern's continued mocking of the law put Clear Channel in a compromising position -- but, instead of compromising, Clear Channel decided to stand their ground and eliminate the offender. Clear Channel was recently slapped with the two largest FCC fines for indecent material (one stemming from a Howard Stern program) -- the two fines totaled over $1.2 million.
In addition, the so-called "fashion show" of Victoria's Secret aired on broadcast television during primetime for the past few years will no longer air -- thanks to the decision of the parent company Limited Brands--not the networks! "CBS, which has aired the show for the past two years, declined comment, but was obviously upstaged by a lingerie company demonstrating a greater sense of decency," noted Dan Panetti, the National Coalition's vice president for legal and public policy.
"Although the time is way overdue for corporations to re-think their product branding, I see the Victoria's Secret decision to drop their fall television product promotion as the beginning of a new trend in advertising," remarked Jack Samad, senior vice president for Strategic Partnerships and Internet Safety. "Corporate giants like General Electric, parent company of NBC, Hilton Hotels and Comcast have to be concerned with delivering programming viewed by younger audiences that openly promotes a lifestyle or ideology that glamorizes risky sexual behaviors.
The National Coalition applauds this recent decision by Limited Brands to drop their broadcast of the intimate apparel fashion show. The reality is that dropping ratings combined with the fear of being slapped with a healthy fine from the FCC are the reasons behind this decision.
However, whatever the reasons, the National Coalition affirms the recent involvement of the FCC in exercising the authority to fine and penalize broadcasters and programmers for airing programming which violates decency standards.
