TVSquad

In response to concerns about profanity from some affiliates, CBS will simulcast the Naudet brothers' September 11th documentary on its website. About 10 percent of CBS affiliates will not air the documentary because they fear steep fines from the FCC for the use of the F-word by firefighters as the real-life drama unfolds. I can't find a list of the affiliates that won't air the documentary, and I'm not sure if your listings are updated so if you're TiVoing it, you may want to be there at 8 pm Sunday night just to make sure it's actually being recorded.

At the TCA press tour yesterday (or what was left of it; many critics had already left), PBS president Paula Kerger told critics that the new FCC regulations regarding fines might imperil the existence of many of the network stations. Remember, public television stations are always hanging on by the skins of their teeth through federal funding and viewer donations, and the ten-fold increase in fines, from $32,500 to $325,000 per incident, might bankrupt these stations if they aren't careful.

Combine the increased fine amount with the FCC's hazy guidelines, says Kerger, and viewers may find that there will be a lot less worthwhile programming on public television. "This is about filmmakers that have powerful stories that now are not being allowed to tell those s tories on public television or broadcast television," she told the critics.

Here we go again. MarketWatch is reporting that the Federal Communications Commission plans to impose sanctions on FOX, NBC, and CBS for indecent content. The penalties are the first imposed since current FCC Chairman Kevin Martin (pictured) took office in March 2005. In addition to whatever fines the networks will be made to pay, the FCC will also add the word "shit" to its list of words that cannot be said on television (MarketWatch describes the new banned word as "a four-letter word that is a synonym for excrement" and I can only assume they're not banning the word "crap"). The ruling will also reportedly clarify what is considered indecent, which has become muddied and confusing over the years.