PBS To Revisit Stricter Profanity Policy

PBS TO REVISIT STRICTER PROFANITY POLICY
[SOURCE: Broadcasting&Cable, AUTHOR: Jim Benson]
New PBS President-CEO Paula Kerger, grilled about the indecency issue during most of her first session Wednesday at the Television Critics Assn. press tour, said that she and Senior Programming VP John Wilson will revisit their recently announced new programmer guidelines for editing out profanity. On May 31, PBS informed public stations that rather than just bleeping offensive words in shows airing prior to 10 p.m., producers would now be required to digitally obscure foul language when it is clear to viewers what the person is saying. In addition, they would also have to bleep compound phrases containing certain words in their entirety rather than just the offending word, as in the past. The FCC has said that bleeping is not necessarily a defense from indecency fines if the lips can be read and the word is obvious. But Kerger and Wilson, referring to the FCC's assertion that it is still taking context into account, are now indicating that they may seek to revise the strict guidelines that producers have roundly criticized. Kerger complained that she had come away from recent meetings with four of the five FCC commissioners with “no clear guidance” on how to proceed, a sentiment shared by many broadcasters, commercial and noncommercial alike.
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6356639.html?display=Breaking...

* New PBS Chief Concerned About FCC Fines
http://www.tvweek.com/news.cms?newsId=10433
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* PBS's Lip-Reading Effort
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/07/26/AR200607...

See also --
* PBS' Kerger Wary of Showtime, Smithsonian Deal
[SOURCE: Broadcasting&Cable, AUTHOR: Jim Benson]
New PBS President-CEO Paula Kerger expressed concern Wednesday over a joint venture between Showtime Networks and the Smithsonian Institute to form Smithsonian Networks, which will develop museum-based TV series for multiple platforms. Kerger says the Smithsonian “is an archive for the American public” and she wants to ensure the material remains available to everyone, “not just Showtime.”
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6356513.html?display=Breaking...