Secret Stash

How does Comedy Central get away with airing uncensored movies?

Kinik...

First of all its cable. The FCC doesn't regulate cable content.
Comedy Central only has to worry about advertiser pressure. CC has decided
that explicit language late at night for their audience is appropriate. They
also have decided that nudity still isn't.
Most cable operators do try to stay in line with FCC's mandates in regard to
network television. There is a safe harbor on television between the hours
of 10 pm and 6 am local time. During these late hours the FCC is more
relaxed about television content. Strict indecency guidelines don't pertain
at this time of night when children are less likely to be watching.
The networks could also air unedited R-rated material during this time and
not be subject to indecency fines. They choose not to.
Obscenity is a whole different ballgame. It is never protected by the 1st
amendment with regard to broadcasts. No broadcaster, cable or otherwise, can
air obscenity at any time of day without the fear of fines or worse.

nobody...

Thanks for the reply.

Taylor...

Easy: They don't have the C.R.T.C. breathing down their scrawny,
worthless necks. :-D Cheers!

kilroybass...

not regulated by FCC, for one thing. what times of the day are they
airing uncensored movies? I saw a brief clip of big lebowski on Comedy
C, but i can't recall if they left the
f words in.

Kinik...

They left all of them in. Hundreds. They did blur the very brief nipple
scene though.

nobody...

I think it's 1 o'clock in the morning on Sunday.

bklyntv...

FCC has not authority over any cable channel. They could technically
air anything they want. They generally stick to the same rules (at
least basic channels do) for fear of arousing the beast. If Congress
can make it an issue they'll attempt to censor, er, regulate cable
channels.