Since when were the "Bad" Words..

[ComputerWizKid]

Since when were the "Bad" words allowed to be said un-bleeped on Comedy Central? I know it probably has been awhile but I just noticed Wednesday night on South Park. It is about Fucking time :biggrin: I pay for cable so I should get all of my Swears farts and other shit intact Lol Family Guy (The Fricken FCC on the episode PTV)

 

[Tristicus]

At night they can do it after a certain time I think.

 

[Q]

It's after a certain time every night, I believe. (11PM?)

 

[ComputerWizKid]

I did not know that but the time Probably earlier at 10:00PM as South Park starts at 10PM (Eastern Daylight Time GMT-5)

 

[OUCaptain]

Yup. I remember they played the South Park movie with all the fucks at midnight a while back.

Does it apply to radio too? I wondered about it, being broadcast, but I swear I remember hearing NIN uncensored late one night.

 

[TheVrolok]

I thought it has something to do with Comedy Central, they've been playing stuff uncut after 10 or so for years. I once heard that they just bite the bullet and eat FCC fines or something, I'm not sure there's any truth to that, though.

 

[Poulsonator]

Comedy Central is a cable channel...technically they can do whatever they want. It's just that their sponsors may not like it and decide not to pay to advertise with them.

 

[GregGreen]

Comedy Central is a cable channel...technically they can do whatever they want. It's just that their sponsors may not like it and decide not to pay to advertise with them.

If i remember reading correctly, there have been recent court cases that reiterate the fact they are a cable channel and can do whatever they want.

 

[preslove]

Yeah, they only bleep stuff out to not piss off viewers, sponsors & cable providers.

 

[Perknose]

If i remember reading correctly, there have been recent court cases that reiterate the fact they are a cable channel and can do whatever they want.

That's been the legal interpretation regarding "offensive" (swearing) and "indecent" (nudity/sex/racy) but not obscene (nuns blowing donkeys gratuitously inserted, i.e., isn't an integral part of the story, therefore deemed w/o redeeming artistic value) programming on cable TV and satellite TV and radio vs. broadcast TV and radio for some time now.

Straight from fcc.gov:

It is a violation of federal law to air obscene programming at any time. It is also a violation of federal law to broadcast indecent or profane programming during certain hours.

With respect to cable and satellite services, Congress has charged the Commission with enforcing the statutory prohibition against airing indecent programming "by means of radio communications." The Commission has historically interpreted this restriction to apply to radio and television broadcasters, and has never extended it to cover cable operators. In addition, because cable and satellite services are subscription-based, viewers of these services have greater control over the programming content that comes into their homes, whereas broadcast content traditionally has been available to any member of the public with a radio or television.

The safe harbor period applies only to over the air broadcasts:

Regarding the safe harbor period, Congress and the courts have instructed the Commission only to enforce the indecency standard between the hours of 6 a.m. and 10 p.m., local time. - when children are more likely to be in the audience. As a consequence, the Commission does not take action on indecent material aired between 10 p.m. and 6:00 a.m. In this way, constitutionally-protected free speech rights of adults are balanced with the need to protect children from harmful content.

 

[bobdole369]

It's interesting what is bleeped on OTA stuff. Like I remember the first time I heard a "shit" on NYPD Blue. Damn is perfectly fine, but "god-damn" is only bleeped out, and only the god part.