Please Help Support Free Speech

[Jim]

Originally Posted by spacemanspiff

I signed up, although I don't really see what Dom Imus' or O&A's employers did as censorship. They were just business decisions. Kind of sucks, but that's the way it is.

I agree 100%. These people could have said anything they wanted if they owned the broadcasting source. But since they didn't, the "owners" decided they didn't want what these people were saying going out on their equipment. We are protected from the government against violations of free speech. Free speech doesn't force broadcasters to broadcast things they don't want to.

Now that opie and anthony gave the fcc enough ammunition to start regulating satellite radio, it will most likely become a free speech issue. Right now it's just an employer saying, "Fuck you...we don't like what you did with our equipment, get out". And so far, the government hasn't had a damn thing to do with it.

[Maj. Stress]

Originally Posted by Jim

I agree 100%. These people could have said anything they wanted if they owned the broadcasting source. But since they didn't, the "owners" decided they didn't want what these people were saying going out on their equipment. We are protected from the government against violations of free speech. Free speech doesn't force broadcasters to broadcast things they don't want to.

Now that opie and anthony gave the fcc enough ammunition to start regulating satellite radio, it will most likely become a free speech issue. Right now it's just an employer saying, "Fuck you...we don't like what you did with our equipment, get out". And so far, the government hasn't had a damn thing to do with it.

So far the government isn't involved and I don't see anything like that in the near future due to other political issues. But what does bother me about all this is the fact that special interest groups have figured out this is an easy way for free publicity (as Greenie pointed out in his first post). What I see is advertisers and broadcasters cratering to these groups and they are the minority.

While it may be true that these can be classified as business decisions, are they wise ones?

I remember a guy named Steve Dahl from back in the late 70's in Chicago. He has been fired from more than a few radio stations for controversy. (I didn't know this until today but Howard Stern actually replaced him at one of the jobs he was fired from in Detroit.) What I don't remember about Steve Dahl is why he was fired or who his advertisers were at the time. I do know that he is still on the air in Chicago and considered a broadcast legend in that area.

I think CBS, other broadcasting companies and their advertisers could learn something from this. They will be the ones losing listeners and in the long run advertising dollars from many sources.

[SheepGuy]

To my mind self-censorship or pre-emptive censorship is possibly the worst kind. "Well, he said this and it might piss off this group so we'll fire his ass"

To me that kind of thinking just contributes to the banality of media. Why shouldn't we hear opinions or jokes that piss us off and give others a laugh? Howard Stern came to Toronto and immediately pissed me off, I didn't stop listening because of anything he said though, I left mostly because my morning station wasn't playing music anymore. The guy's opinions didn't mean jack shit to me, the stations ratings went up, they did lose some sponsors, and I'm sure picked up new ones.
I just don't like being told who or what I can listen to, whether it's by the government, business or special interest groups.

[SykkBoy]

Originally Posted by Maj. Stress

What I see is advertisers and broadcasters cratering to these groups and they are the minority.

The problem is those groups write letters and take action. That's why advertisers listen. If the fans of the shows would take the same approach and write in their own letters, they might get listened to a little more often.

[docholly]

well it looks like XM has buckled in their quest for more $$ .. they suspended O&A for 30 days immediately. Even tho they aren't regulated for content..they still need the approval of the FCC (our gov't) before merging with Sirius.

Un-fucking-believable!! ok i guess really it's not..

[MrMaryLou]

Originally Posted by docholly

well it looks like XM has buckled in their quest for more $$ .. they suspended O&A for 30 days immediately. Even tho they aren't regulated for content..they still need the approval of the FCC (our gov't) before merging with Sirius.

Un-fucking-believable!! ok i guess really it's not..

It is Un-fucking-beliebable