Part 2
Anyway, that's the insane argument that CBS and Fox (as well as all the other broadcasters) are trying to make these days. Unfortunately, all of their bitching only serves to shine a light on the REAL problem -- namely that viewership for TV is in the tank these days. And truth be told, that's why the broadcast companies would love for the FCC to get off their backs and look the other way. It's because they DO want to start showing more nipples in prime time, as a way of hopefully juicing their ratings. So, make no mistake about it, "Nipplegate" isn't about nipples. It's about the most basic thing of all -- money. The bottom line is that the FCC issued a fine and they figured this would be over by now. But CBS and the other stations want to fight this to the bitter end because -- aside from being cheap bastards that don't want to part with a single penny -- they DO want to see standards loosened, since they see that as a way of saving their own financial necks.
It's ironic that given this topic that TV used to be called "the boob tube." It earned that infamous nickname because of the couch potato generation. There was a time when TV was an undisputed king because the overwhelming majority of people liked to come home after work and just veg out in front of it.
But with TV viewership down, a major marketing study was commissioned about a year or so ago by the networks and its results scared them shitless. Basically, the study showed that people now had a NEW favorite way to relax after work -- it was to go online. The study showed that for the first time in 40 plus years, TV didn't rank first as a mode of relaxation...hell, it didn't even come in second or third. Instead, computers had taken over and something like 7 out of 10 people said their favorite way to relax after work was to go online. It was to web surf, chat, email, work on a blog, trade photos or music...whatever. But it sure wasn't watching TV.
Which brings us full circle to the broadcasters fighting the FCC, hoping they can make things racier to try and lure people back. Unfortunately, in yet another bad body blow against the broadcast networks, in a recent poll people were asked "What's the one thing you could get rid of easiest and live without?" -- at which point a huge percentage answered their TVs, saying they could get their news or download things all online instead.
So, I don't see this as a battle over free speech or the government trying to seize control of TV or the Internet, and then trying to legislate what you can or cannot do. Hell, technically they do that NOW given all the laws that are ALREADY on the books. Instead, as I said before, I see this as the oldest battle of all -- it's simply over money and who gets to be top dog making and keeping it.
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