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Keep Regulating the Broadcast TV Networks

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This week, the Supreme Court considers the regulation of broadcasting nudity and cursing for broadcast television networks. This case has to do with the broadcasting of cursing between celebrities Nicole Richie and Cher during an awards show aired by FOX. In my opinion, there is a place for the FCC to regulate this content on a property (the airwaves) that are a public good.

There Is An Importance To Keeping Some Programming Decent 

As a viewer, I should have some expectation that the programming that airs on broadcast television is decent. This past week, the four highest rated programs were all of the NFL Wild Card Round playoff games. For anyone that has attended a NFL football game in person, there is an enormous amount of gratuitous profanity and offensive language used by the players and coaches. To say that the broadcaster should let this language flow freely is disrespectful to the audience and the players. There ought to be respect for their privacy to conduct their professional business (the games) without censorship. However, the viewers and listeners of the game know this is going on, mostly because we can read the lips of the players in close-up shots. In addition, you could support the team you are vouching on to win simply by playing some fun sports betting games via https://phxbiker.com.

There Are Vague Instances And Exceptions To the Rule 

In the instance of Cher and Nicole Richie, there had to be contingencies by the broadcasters to prepare for a possibility that cursing would occur. Award shows are largely scripted events, not much different than any sitcom or drama that airs nightly on broadcast television. 

For instance, a live television newscast should not expect that there is cursing or nudity, as they are not able to tell without foresight as much as a scripted program could tell that cursing or nudity could occur. The context of this programming is not to air it as gratuitous or intentionally attempting to offend the audience. 

Make Fewer Rules and Enforce Them Better 

The FCC and the broadcast networks should work more in tandem to set very few ground rules to make the enforcement of the laws more objective. They should be open and clear into the language that is considered offensive, such as the “Filthy Words” that George Carlin was known for using in his act. Also, make sure that there is obvious descriptions of what qualifies as gratuitous nudity. I think most of the broadcasters know where to draw the line if they are given easy-to-follow guidelines.

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