Is cable TV allowed to show boobies?

[fuzzybabybunny]

Watching the Comedy Central stand up thing right now. This guy's singing a song about showing boobies for your country and audience members are actually flashing their breasts to the camera, completely uncensored and all.

I'm confused. I know these things say they're uncut, but I always thought it was just in regards to language.

 

[The Boston Dangler]

are you complaining?

 

[apac]

Maybe cause it's after midnight? They used to show the unedited south park movie after 12am sometimes, so I always thought there were different rules.

 

[CanOWorms]

Yes. FCC rules are not for cable.

 

[bladder23]

i have porn on cable this late at night

 

[fuzzybabybunny]

Originally posted by: apac
Maybe cause it's after midnight? They used to show the unedited south park movie after 12am sometimes, so I always thought there were different rules.

Maybe. I just thought dirty language was fine after midnight but that nudity was strictly forbidden (documentaries of African tribes and stuff are obviously exempt).

 

[EvilYoda]

Yeah, I'm pretty sure it's something to do with it being after midnight...that's when the obscenities and tits start flying.

 

[Kadarin]

The general idea is that the FCC does not have jurisdiction over cable because customers have to voluntarily sign up to receive the service, whereas over-the-air tv is free to be received by all. However, I remember reading something to the effect that the FCC was attempting to acquire the power to censor cable tv as well.

 

[fuzzybabybunny]

Originally posted by: CanOWorms
Yes. FCC rules are not for cable.

Even for channels that are more or less the standard cable channels? I can see something like Playboy not being censored because you have to pay extra for it on top of your standard cable, but Comedy Central comes standard with any kind of cable I think.

 

[elmer92413]

Originally posted by: fuzzybabybunny

Originally posted by: CanOWorms
Yes. FCC rules are not for cable.

Even for channels that are more or less the standard cable channels? I can see something like Playboy not being censored because you have to pay extra for it on top of your standard cable, but Comedy Central comes standard with any kind of cable I think.

Comedy Central isn't a standard channel, at least for Comcast.

 

[fuzzybabybunny]

Originally posted by: elmer92413

Originally posted by: fuzzybabybunny

Originally posted by: CanOWorms
Yes. FCC rules are not for cable.

Even for channels that are more or less the standard cable channels? I can see something like Playboy not being censored because you have to pay extra for it on top of your standard cable, but Comedy Central comes standard with any kind of cable I think.

Comedy Central isn't a standard channel, at least for Comcast.

Ah, ok. I guess with Time Warner I always took Comedy Central for granted and stuff, along with Discovery, History Channel, MTV (shudder), etc.

 

[BucsMAN3K]

FCC rules not for cable, but yet if basic cable channels were showing gratuitous nudity the cable providers would probably get bitched at and they would probably want to make that channel a premium channel.

A boob or two(or three?) late at night isn't going to catch much attention though.

 

[Farang]

Originally posted by: BucsMAN3K
FCC rules not for cable, but yet if basic cable channels were showing gratuitous nudity the cable providers would probably get bitched at and they would probably want to make that channel a premium channel.

A boob or two(or three?) late at night isn't going to catch much attention though.

Yep, cable is self-censored. The cable companies know nudity and profanity during daytime television will lose customers, but at a certain hour they can more or less get away with anything short of hardcore pornography.

 

[CanOWorms]

Originally posted by: fuzzybabybunny

Originally posted by: CanOWorms
Yes. FCC rules are not for cable.

Even for channels that are more or less the standard cable channels? I can see something like Playboy not being censored because you have to pay extra for it on top of your standard cable, but Comedy Central comes standard with any kind of cable I think.

Yes, the rules are not for cable. They can show whatever they want. The reason why it's not done is for business reasons (syndication, foreign markets, advertisers dropping, etc.).

Also, I think that the FCC allows nudity on the broadcast networks. It depends on how it's presented. Nudity on ER or a movie like Schindler's List happens.

 

[imported_Baloo]

the FCC relaxed it rules on such matters some years ago for programming after 10 PM. The FCC already has authority over cable. FCC does not stand for Standard Broadcast TV, it stands for Federal Communications Commission. Since cable merely re-brodacasts over cable signals it receive over the air, there should be no confusion as to whether the FCC has authority.

 

[DangerAardvark]

Don't forget National Geographic boobies. The unspoken rule seems to be that you can only show tits if there's no way in hell they can give you wood.

 

[Jeff7]

It's probably Comedy Central's Secret Stash time block. I think they show uncensored nearly anything, except for religious things. I think I've heard "Jesus Christ" bleeped out already. Just about anything else they'll let go.
I know for sure they beeped out "Christ" on Win Ben Stein's Money - this from the network that allows South Park to say "shit."

Originally posted by: DangerAardvark
Don't forget National Geographic boobies. The unspoken rule seems to be that you can only show tits if there's no way in hell they can give you wood.

Some new show on Discovery, I think it was Last Man Standing, showed topless women. But hey, it's ok, because they're aboriginal people, and apparently they don't count as people then as far as we have to be concerned, so it's ok to show them nude, in their "natural habitat." :roll:
It's a stupid double standard. Nutjobs flip out over Janet Jackson showing a little bit on TV, but this show on Discovery showed everything, no funky piercings or anything covering anything up. So when is it ok for boobs to appear on TV? (Besides the hosts of American Idol.)

Don't forget about teenagers - remember South Park, where the 6th graders got a picture of Stan's mom's "awesome rack," which wasn't really what it was supposed to be?
"BEWBS!!!!"
For that age group, anything vaguely resembling something sexual is good enough.

 

[Wreckem]

Originally posted by: Baloo
the FCC relaxed it rules on such matters some years ago for programming after 10 PM. The FCC already has authority over cable. FCC does not stand for Standard Broadcast TV, it stands for Federal Communications Commission. Since cable merely re-brodacasts over cable signals it receive over the air, there should be no confusion as to whether the FCC has authority.

The FCC has authority over regulating cable providers and such, but they DO NOT have authority to regulate content. Cable companies are not subject to the same regulation as network channels.

 

[pontifex]

Originally posted by: fuzzybabybunny

Originally posted by: CanOWorms
Yes. FCC rules are not for cable.

Even for channels that are more or less the standard cable channels? I can see something like Playboy not being censored because you have to pay extra for it on top of your standard cable, but Comedy Central comes standard with any kind of cable I think.

yeah, i don't know what the deal is but regular basic cable channels are censored. stuff like HBO or SHowtime isn't because you have to pay extra for it.

 

[PottedMeat]

Originally posted by: Jeff7
It's probably Comedy Central's Secret Stash time block. I think they show uncensored nearly anything, except for religious things. I think I've heard "Jesus Christ" bleeped out already. Just about anything else they'll let go.
I know for sure they beeped out "Christ" on Win Ben Stein's Money - this from the network that allows South Park to say "shit."

Heh I've heard 'Sweet Zombie Jesus' blanked out of Futurama. Who the hell complains about that shit?

 

[JRich]

You watched that too I came home from the bar and turn to CC and *BAM* boobies!

 

[warmodder]

Originally posted by: pontifex

Originally posted by: fuzzybabybunny

Originally posted by: CanOWorms
Yes. FCC rules are not for cable.

Even for channels that are more or less the standard cable channels? I can see something like Playboy not being censored because you have to pay extra for it on top of your standard cable, but Comedy Central comes standard with any kind of cable I think.

yeah, i don't know what the deal is but regular basic cable channels are censored. stuff like HBO or SHowtime isn't because you have to pay extra for it.

It's just to keep there advertising sponsors. If anyone complains the advertisers will be the first to run.

 

[Demo24]

Originally posted by: CanOWorms

Originally posted by: fuzzybabybunny

Originally posted by: CanOWorms
Yes. FCC rules are not for cable.

Even for channels that are more or less the standard cable channels? I can see something like Playboy not being censored because you have to pay extra for it on top of your standard cable, but Comedy Central comes standard with any kind of cable I think.

Yes, the rules are not for cable. They can show whatever they want. The reason why it's not done is for business reasons (syndication, foreign markets, advertisers dropping, etc.).

Also, I think that the FCC allows nudity on the broadcast networks. It depends on how it's presented. Nudity on ER or a movie like Schindler's List happens.

that actually did happen in one show, which really surprised me considering it's broadcast on NBC. It wasn't a "hid it in the background" moment either, full out in the open and the camera was right on top of her. Was there for a good amount of time as well.


I guess they got complaints as next time a situation like that arose they blurred it out.

 

[JulesMaximus]

I don't understand why women's boobs can't be shown on TV in the first place. Hell, I was watching 'Braveheart' last night and my son was in the room when the boobs were shown. I didn't make any effort to hide them from him. I wouldn't let him watch any of the violence though.

Nudity != bad

 

[shocksyde]

Originally posted by: JulesMaximus
I don't understand why women's boobs can't be shown on TV in the first place. Hell, I was watching 'Braveheart' last night and my son was in the room when the boobs were shown. I didn't make any effort to hide them from him. I wouldn't let him watch any of the violence though.

Nudity != bad

Trying to shield your son from violence is pretty pointless. All that's gonna do is make him seek it out behind your back, then the trust issues start creeping up and blah blah blah.