The Parents Television Council (PTC) has filed two separate indecency complaints with the FCC.
One alleges ABC Network’s pre-recorded airing of “Live 8: A Worldwide Concert Event” contained unedited profanity. The other alleges Fox Network’s television program, “The Inside,” aired an episode with themes of forced sodomy and sadomasochistic fetishes to prime time viewing audiences. The complaint about ABC alleges that the network aired a line in the chorus of The Who’s performance of “Who Are You” using the f-word during family viewing time between 8 p.m. and 9 p.m. Eastern Time.
“The program was aired on a tape delay, which should have given ABC ample time to edit all obscenities from the concert prior to broadcast,” said Tim Winter, executive director of the advocacy group.
In the filing regarding the Fox Network, the group alleges that an episode of “The Inside” airing at 9 p.m. Eastern and Pacific Time and at 8 p.m. in the Midwest included graphic discussions about the characters’ sexual practices, scenes of a man and woman engaged in sadomasochistic role playing, images of dismembered and mutilated bodies and implied male rape.
According to the group, Nielsen Media Research said at least 500,000 children viewed the episode.
Since the Janet Jackson wardrobe malfunction aired on CBS during half-time entertainment at the Super Bowl in 2004, Congress and the FCC have stiffened penalties for broadcast indecency.
For more information, visit www.parentstv.org.
