A number of ABC TV affiliates in the States are refusing to show Saving Private Ryan because they’re worried about getting slapped with massive fines from the all powerful FCC.
When Janet Jackson bared a breast during the Superbowl, various individuals and pressure groups managed to organise over half a million complaint letters. That seemed to result in station fines of $550,000 (very nearly a dollar a complaint as it turned out) to each of the Viacom owned CBS affiliates that aired the show. The reason being that the halftime show was produced by MTV, who’s parent is Viacom.
So now, everyone’s running scared of doing anything to upset the FCC, and in this instance, even though ABC says it would pick up any fines that are generated, and even though the stations have previously shown the film, fines do go on record and are taken into account when it comes to licence renewal.
For anyone who’s really confused by all this, this is a handy guide to nudity on US Network TV.