Torchwood on BBC america

[frulad]

Looks like an appeals court shot down the FCC on some indecency fines that the networks were contesting earlier this week.

Jeff Jarvis' Buzzmachine blog has a good breakdown...

[Dr Maturin]

What is your job?

[Laiden]

You just told me what I need to know for my job. Which is what the FCC can make a Cable or satellite provider do, not what the FCC regulates for the Content of a Show or Program.

Again, I've already seen Torchwood, so I guess I'll see what BBC America Airs if it is any different.

[Dr Maturin]

The FCC of course regulates the rules of the communications systems of cable. The content, however, is not touched by them.

Program Content Regulations

Cable television system operators generally make their own selection of channels and programs to be distributed to subscribers in response to consumer demands. The Commission does, however, have rules in some areas that are applicable to programming -- called "origination cablecasting" that is subject to the editorial control of the system operator. The rules generally do not apply to the contents of broadcast signals or access channels over which the system operator has no editorial control.

Cable subscribers may request a "lockbox" from cable operators to prevent viewing of any channel on which objectional programming may appear. Cable operators are required to make lockboxes available for sale or lease to customers who request them. Lockboxes can also be purchased from other commercial distributors.

http://www.fcc.gov/mb/facts/csgen.html

Scary, from just three days ago:

TV violence. The FCC just recommended that Congress consider setting legal limits on what qualifies as excessive violence on TV, and give the agency the power to regulate it if cable and satellite companies don't do it on their own. Sen. Jay Rockefeller (D-W.Va.) has said he is considering introducing such legislation.

http://www.ajc.com/business/content/business/stories/2007/05/29/0529bizfcc.html

It should be noted that back in November, presidential candidate Barack Obama indicated that we should look into stepping up censorship on television. I was watching the show myself when he said it.

[Laiden]

BBC America is distributed on cable and satellite, thus the FCC has no jurisdiction, so I don't quite know what you're talking about.

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is an independent United States government agency, directly responsible to Congress. The FCC was established by the Communications Act of 1934 and is charged with regulating interstate and international communications by radio, television, wire, satellite and cable. The FCC's jurisdiction covers the 50 states, the District of Columbia, and U.S. possessions. [Source: FCC.gov]

We'll see what BBC does when it airs the series.

[Garibaldi's Hair]

I haven't really seen any kind of "gay agenda" in either Doctor Who or Torchwood. In fact, perhaps the most explicit scene in terms of content that I saw on Torchwood was a heterosexual coupling in a nightclub bathroom. I think those who honestly feel that RTD has some sort of nefarious plan to use these shows to promote some "gay agenda" is actually and sadly revealing more about themselves than they realize.

Whilst I would hesitate to call it a "gay agenda" ... because that would need to serve some purpose, and I find it difficult to see what purpose there would be in doing it ... Torchwood's sexuality problem is that just about every single character is shown to have gay or bi-sexual tendencies and/or actual experiences during the show.

[Dr Maturin]

The FCC's original mandate of licensing stations and monitoring broadcasts to ensure that stations don't exceed their frequency and power is still important. However, much of the power they've been granted concerning content regulation needs to be stripped.

Much of the power? ALL of the power, including the machinations of bringing back the "Fairness Doctrine."

[frulad]

The FCC needs to go for reasons other than censorship, as well.

The FCC's original mandate of licensing stations and monitoring broadcasts to ensure that stations don't exceed their frequency and power is still important. However, much of the power they've been granted concerning content regulation needs to be stripped.

[frulad]

Its my impression, from only periodic reading of the boards at Outpost Gallifrey, that some fans feel that anything gay or homosexual in an episode of either Doctor Who or Torchwood is automatically part of the imagined Russell T Davies' "Gay Agenda."

In Who, Captain Jack was from a future time where their were different standards of sexuality. However, some fans freaked out about it. Why? Who knows? To me, it seems logical that given how sexual attitudes have changed over the past 25 to 30 centuries of human existence that they would continue to change as time marches forward.

I haven't really seen any kind of "gay agenda" in either Doctor Who or Torchwood. In fact, perhaps the most explicit scene in terms of content that I saw on Torchwood was a heterosexual coupling in a nightclub bathroom. I think those who honestly feel that RTD has some sort of nefarious plan to use these shows to promote some "gay agenda" is actually and sadly revealing more about themselves than they realize.

[Dr Maturin]

well yes you are correct. but even so the fcc still needs to go (how dare anyone every attempt to regulate what i am allowed to say in any place or outlet i choice, can you tell i'm EXTREMLY anti-censorship)

The FCC needs to go for reasons other than censorship, as well.

i know alot has to do with advertisers, and other areas. in the us homosexuality is still a major issue to get people all excited on "moral" grounds (of course the logic they use when they try to defend this position seems very um illogical) and the extremly overt homosexual "agenda" parts of torchwood i can see setting off a few igno--- people.
it is a show that would be very hard to sell domestically.
doesn't bpther me at all, in fact i thought it was a fun fluffy scifi/horror drama and am looking foward to season 2

I've never seen Torchwood, so until I do I will reserve my judgement on whether or not there is a gay agenda. The best way to handle gay things on TV shows is to not make it part of an agenda. On Babylon 5, Talia Winters and Ivanova apparently liked the same sex (at least part of the time). But that's not what the episode was about. That's the way to do it.

[Lunan]

Not the FCC. Sorry.

well yes you are correct. but even so the fcc still needs to go (how dare anyone every attempt to regulate what i am allowed to say in any place or outlet i choice, can you tell i'm EXTREMLY anti-censorship)

i know alot has to do with advertisers, and other areas. in the us homosexuality is still a major issue to get people all excited on "moral" grounds (of course the logic they use when they try to defend this position seems very um illogical) and the extremly overt homosexual "agenda" parts of torchwood i can see setting off a few igno--- people.
it is a show that would be very hard to sell domestically.
doesn't bpther me at all, in fact i thought it was a fun fluffy scifi/horror drama and am looking foward to season 2

i seem to not be making my point very well at all do i?

well who cares, i hope it nets 5 mill or more an episode

[Dr Maturin]

i see various little things are get edited even on cable outlets in the us
(most notable recently being cutting out the smoking scene on the red car in who framed roger rabbit, on HBO of all fucking places)

Not the FCC. Sorry.

[Lunan]

Well, its not for lack of trying that the FCC don't have any jurisdiction over cable outlets.

i see various little things are get edited even on cable outlets in the us
(most notable recently being cutting out the smoking scene on the red car in who framed roger rabbit, on HBO of all fucking places)

[frulad]

Well, its not for lack of trying that the FCC don't have any jurisdiction over cable outlets.

[Dr Maturin]

BBC America is distributed on cable and satellite, thus the FCC has no jurisdiction, so I don't quite know what you're talking about. And also, the USA has more freedoms on television than any other country. We can say any word or show any kind of sex that we want to on cable. The "problem" is that BBC America is funded by advertising, so if your advertisers don't like something, then you may be inclined to change it or...to tell them to fuck off. I am certain that Torchwood's worst would pale in comparison to some other cable shows.