Activism Parents Television Council

1 activism

1.1 world wrestling federation campaign , lawsuit
1.2 broadcast indecency
1.3 advertising
1.4 in-flight entertainment
1.5 youtube
1.6 ethics controversy
1.7 other

activism
world wrestling federation campaign , lawsuit

in 1999, ptc launched campaign against world wrestling federation (wwf), world wrestling entertainment (wwe), complaining smackdown! program contained levels of sexuality , violence unbecoming prime time programming. in campaign, bozell said 4 children had been killed peers emulating professional wrestling moves learned program. these allegations, bozell , various ptc members began meeting representatives of advertising departments of various companies advertised on smackdown! persuade them withdraw sponsorship. ptc suggested between 30 , 40 advertisers had pulled commercials wwf programming, assertion not true.

on november 9, 2000, wwf filed lawsuit against ptc in u.s. district court southern district of new york, claiming ptc s statements false , constituted defamation. wwf filed copyright infringement lawsuit against ptc using clips wwf programs in promotional videos. ptc filed dismissal of suit, on may 24, 2001, u.s. district court judge denny chin denied ptc s motion on basis wwf s lawsuit had merit. ptc , wwf settled out of court and, part of settlement agreement, ptc paid wwf $3.5 million usd , bozell issued public apology, stating wrong blame world wrestling federation or of programs deaths of children , original statements had been based on later found false information designed people close lionel tate case blame death of tiffany eunick on wwf.

during conflict wwf created right censor (rtc) stable, group of wrestlers parodied ptc portraying them self-righteous moral crusaders.

broadcast indecency

in 2003, ptc unsuccessfully campaigned fcc take action against nbc television network in response use of word fucking bono, lead singer rock band u2, during network s january 2003 telecast of golden globe awards. among audience of 20 million, fcc received 234 complaints, 217 of came ptc. in october 2003, fcc decided not fine nbc because bono s obscenity ruled fleeting , not describing sexual or excretory functions, fcc s standard fining network indecency. after ptc filed application review fcc, in march 2004 fcc decided word indecent law still decided not fine nbc; however, ruling serve warning networks there 0 tolerance policy towards obscene language willfully used during daytime. however, ptc s complaints profanity used presenter nicole richie in december 10, 2003 broadcast of billboard music awards led fcc conclude language violated decency law.

the ptc began attracting more attention after filed around 65,000 complaints federal communications commission (fcc) super bowl xxxviii halftime show controversy, in 1 of performer janet jackson s nipple shielded breasts, exposed 9/16ths of second. fcc chairman michael powell stated number of indecency complaints fcc had risen 350 in years 2000 , 2001, 14,000 in 2002 , 240,000 in 2003. found ptc had generated of indecency complaints received federal communications commission. in july 2008, united states court of appeals third circuit voided fine.

ptc campaigns led great increase in fcc-issued fines , received complaints compared previous years.

after halftime show, ptc launched 5 more fcc complaint drives, starting march 2004 episode of fox s 70s show titled happy jack , revolved around character eric forman being caught masturbating. beginning of 2004–2005 television season sparked 4 new campaigns, first being against nbc s animated series father of pride, stating contained barrage of sexual innuendo , profanity while being promoted creators of shrek , felt potentially attract children watching series. campaign led on 11,000 email complaints fcc. later, shortly after cbs broadcast word fuck during airing of big brother 5, ptc took action again, time claiming cbs ignored warning federal communications commission (fcc) there 0 tolerance toward unbleeped profanity. however, complaints became moot when viacom, then-owners of cbs, settled fcc $3.5 million regarding allegedly indecent programming broadcast in years around 2003 , 2004, including big brother 5 episode in question. in march 2006, fcc ruled father of pride not indecent. following complaints october 2004 episode of abc s short-lived teen drama life know it, ptc felt sexually charged.

the ptc started off 2005 campaign against without trace episode our sons , daughters , leading cbs being fined indecency in march 2006; ptc objected depiction of teenagers participating in orgy in episode. cbs argued episode featured important , socially relevant storyline warning parents exercise greater supervision of teenagers. fcc fined cbs $3.63 million in march 2006 episode, after court settlement, network agreed pay $300,000 in fines. @ end of january 2005, fcc rejected set of complaints ptc filed between october 2001 , february 2004 allegedly indecent programs such nbc s friends, wb s gilmore girls, , fox s simpsons. fcc received complaints ptc in summer on unedited broadcast of lyric fuck you? in s song live 8 concert broadcast july 2, 2005 on abc stations on east coast.

in 2006, ptc requested fcc deny broadcast license renewal salt lake city cbs station kutv because felt broadcast of without trace episode ruled indecent violated community standards , cbs failed take action reduce indecent content following fcc fines. subsequently, cbs agreed pay fcc $300,000 settle kutv license challenge. starting december 2007, organization demanded cbs cancel plan rebroadcast edited version of showtime drama dexter, title character serial killer , police forensics analyst, because felt program glorify murder edits. february 2008, council claimed have collected 17,000 complaints cbs.

on january 25, 2008, fcc proposed estimated $1.4 million fine against abc scene of female nudity in nypd blue episode nude awakening aired on february 25, 2003. because episode aired outside indecency safe harbor in central , mountain time zones, fine applied abc stations in zones. ptc praised fcc s action. however, ptc president winter condemned abc s decision appeal fine in federal court. ptc has criticized third circuit court of appeals decision void fcc s fine super bowl xxxviii halftime show. tv series ptc has targeted fcc complaints in 2008 have included nbc s today morning show , cbs primetime programs big brother 10, survivor: gabon, , 2 , half men. profanity main concern today , big brother 10, extremely brief exposure of contestant marcus lehman s penis survivor: gabon, , lap-dance scene 2 , half men. ptc s first complaint in 2009 on sexual content in episode of family guy titled family gay . later in 2009, ptc urged affiliates of cw television network pre-empt gossip girl episode aired november 9; episode reportedly contain threesome scene. in response adam lambert s performance of song entertainment @ end of 2009 american music awards broadcast on abc, ptc urged viewers complain fcc if living in area performance shown before 10 p.m. local time. ptc complained performance contained simulation of oral sex. lambert s performance reportedly broadcast around 11 p.m. eastern , pacific time, outside fcc s usual 6am-10pm time frame prohibiting broadcast of indecent material . abc received 1,500 telephoned complaints.

in january 2010, ptc launched complaint campaign after american dad! episode don t smith horse in mouth aired in january 2010. fcc fined fox $25,000 on june 4, stating failed respond inquiry of 100,000 complaints episode. month later, fox slammed decision, claiming unconstitutional . on may 20, 2010, ptc announced plans target cbs , affiliates after network announced new sitcom $#*! dad says added 2010-2011 fall tv lineup. ptc cites both show s title , thursday 8:30pm timeslot reasons. series based on popular twitter account created justin halpern, serve 1 of co-producers on show. cbs defended decision , says working account s creator , content toned down program before series debuts in september.

in october 2010, ptc targeted episode of fox series glee, stating episode featured outfits scantily clad , guest-star britney spears going shopping in lingerie, calling it, endorsement of narcotics abuse, public masturbation, , school-sanctioned burlesque. criticizing making episode idolizing britney in first place, stating: perhaps troubling deification of troubled popstar symbol of empowerment , self-esteem. on october 20, ptc criticized gq magazine featuring 3 glee stars posing in risque outfits; ptc statement said photoshoot borders on pedophilia.

the ptc called on united states department of justice , judiciary committees of both houses of congress investigate whether mtv violated child pornography laws in casting teenaged actors in skins, remake of british tv series of same name. mtv rated skins tv-ma , meaning show not suitable audiences under 17. los angeles times responded in editorial: ...looking government remedies ineffective , unwise; suspect network s editors smart enough skirt prosecution. federal communications commission doesn t regulate content of cable networks, , if did, crackdown on shows skins bad idea, because adults should able watch whatever on cable , federal attempts protect kids adult programming have never been successful.

advertising

in may 2005 carl s jr. introduced spicy bbq 6 dollar burger in television advertisement featuring celebrity paris hilton in swimsuit, soaping bentley arnage while leaning on it, , eating burger. similar ad hilton hardee s hamburger chain aired in june 2005. parents television council , other media watchdog groups criticized commercial being shown during programs watched children. melissa caldwell, ptc research director, said, commercial soft-core porn. way moves, way puts finger in mouth—it s suggestive , titillating. group mobilized more 1 million members contact restaurant chain , voice concern , claimed [i]f television commercial go unchallenged set new standard acceptable television commercial content. caldwell, then-president bozell, , then-executive director winter appeared on various news programs such morning america, today, show, american morning, , o reilly factor discuss issue. andy puzder, ceo of carl s jr., says group needs life...this isn t janet jackson—there no nipple shield in this, referring super bowl xxxviii halftime-show controversy. continued, there no nudity, there no sex act — s beautiful model in swimsuit washing car. in addition featuring ad on web site, carl s jr. set website playing longer version of commercial.

ptc accused television commercials hardee s biscuit holes food product of suggesting double entendres. commercial featured consumers suggesting a-holes , b-holes nicknames biscuit holes. boddie-noell enterprises, owned 350 hardee s restaurants in 4 states, refused show ads in respective markets. ben mayo boddie, chairman of boddie-noell, wrote letter ptc condemning ads well.

in-flight entertainment

in september 2007, ptc launched campaign airlines in america reduce number of pg-13 , r -rated films shown in-flight entertainment. consequently, heath shuler, democratic representative of north carolina, introduced family friendly flights act of 2007 bill require airlines set aside child-safe viewing areas families sit in planes. bill never became law.

youtube

twice has ptc targeted video-hosting website youtube in campaigns , statements. ptc called nbc reconsider uploading uncensored clip of saturday night live novelty song dick in box on nbc s site , youtube channel. in 2008, ptc released report new tube: content analysis of youtube—the popular online video destination, praised youtube filtering adult content criticized site not filtering profanity , other explicit content comments sections or videos.

ethics controversy

in october 2010, new york times reported former ptc vice president of development patrick w. salazar had accused ptc of mishandling hundreds of thousands of mailings donors , members. based on internal revenue service filings, american institute of philanthropy rated ptc c+ on financial efficiency. salazar disputed ptc s official membership figure of 1.3 million , estimated @ 12,000 people respond annual fundraisers. although salazar stated left ptc in november 2009, ptc said fired salazar , salazar trying extort money organization.

other

the ptc criticized muppets not meeting family viewing guidelines , suggested boycott, based on mockumentary format of series including mentions of plastic surgery, inside business language being used in crude manner, , muppets in bar consuming alcoholic beverages.

the ptc criticized u.s. version of sex box, due being live sex show on basic cable.