Watersheds, or lack of them

[on:]

Looking at the BBC America site recently, I noticed that in certain time zones programmes that, in Britain, would be considered unsuitable for broadcast before 9pm, being shown well before that time. For example, So Graham Norton is shown every day at 8pm PT, and The Office at 6pm sometimes - both have swearing and sexual references - and Channel 4's Faking It (swearing) and the usually-violent Jonathan Creek are shown at 7 or 8pm PT too. Even Tipping The Velvet, an historical drama with lesbian scenes (because no one would have watched it otherwise), got shown at 8pm PT.

I assume these aren't censored in any way, so is this normal for American channels? Although BBC America is on cable, there doesn't seem to be any strict watershed for them.
Is this normal for US cable channels? I heard that HBO also broadcast risqu'e stuff and went to their site, but there were too many channels (plus I only know a handful of their shows) so I gave up.
I know networks (and MTV) can be prone to censoring things to death - MTV viewers in Britain complained about the recent MTV Movie Awards (those who were fool enough to watch it anyway) and how everything was bleeped, even after 9pm. Jackass is violent and dangerous, but it's the swearing that gets censored. And f-words get cut from Late Night with Conan O'Brien ... even though it's shown late-night!

I'm confused. What are the rules on watersheds for American TV? Are there any?

In Britain we have the BSC and ITC to complain to if, in the opinion of a viewer, something 'crosses the line' of fairness or standards. Is there anything like that in the US? (Since Murdoch owns the media, I doubt it)

[Reply #1 on:]

You can't swear on American telly! Apart from HBO.

[Reply #2 on:]

Who cares. It's America's problem.

[Reply #3 on:]

Yeah, I'll stick to worrying about America's worst problem (that is, of course, its president). At least censorship can't kill you at the touch of a button because it got you mixed up with France...

[Reply #4 on:]

In Sweden, according to my Swedish guy, they can show anything they want at any time of day, there's no rules as such. It's just their moral code that keeps them from showing "T&A Tubbies" or "The Magic F'n Roundabout" etc...

I think our laws in the UK are fair enough. If you want to see full-on sex, buy a porn movie. If you want to hear endless swearing (including the 'c' word) just go down to the pub/park/chippy etc...

[Reply #5 on:]

They ran South Park: Bigger, Longer and Uncut last weekend on Comedy Central, totally unbleeped. It was at 1AM, but still... that's another barrier down.

Also, I've heard the word "shit" unbleeped on "Gary the Rat".

[Reply #6 on:]

 

Originally posted by Kryten:
They ran South Park: Bigger, Longer and Uncut last weekend on Comedy Central, totally unbleeped. It was at 1AM, but still... that's another barrier down.

Also, I've heard the word "shit" unbleeped on "Gary the Rat".

I thought them showing the Southpark movie was a great show of things to come. Late night TV should be uncensored. I've always thought so. I shouldn't have to buy sattelite to hear the word "fuck."(is it ok to say that?).

[Reply #7 on:]

america totally baffels me (as it does everybody else no doubt) i mean you cant swear for shit on their tv, but u can blow someone's head off and desecrate their corpse any time of the day you choose... on tv

[Reply #8 on:]

"Bloodcurdling violence is okay, as long as you don't use any naughty words." -Sheila Brovlovsky, South Park: Bigger Longer, and Uncut

[Reply #9 on:]

In Australia they have swearing on TV, possibly after 8:30 I think or 9.

But there is a fair deal of it.

[Reply #10 on:]

Hardcore snuff porn on network breakfast shows or nothing!!

[Reply #11 on:]

I thought actions speak louder than words. Imagine if the networks cut on violence but ante up the swearing!

[Reply #12 on:]

 

Originally posted by Hulkbuster:
Hardcore snuff porn on network breakfast shows or nothing!!

Whoa, you cant even get that on cinemax