KHOG Says No F?in? Way to ‘Saving Private Ryan’ (Outtakes Opinion)

The mere mention of any kind of censorship rankles journalists to no end, but after we thought about it, we figured children shouldn’t be subjected to hearing the “F word” 48 times during prime time, much less view graphic and gory images of battlefield butchery.

So we decided KHBS/KHOG, Channels 40/29, had the right not to air “Saving Private Ryan” during prime time on Veteran’s Day. KHOG was one of several ABC affiliates nationwide that chose not to show the Oscar-winning movie, which includes a violent depiction of the D-Day invasion.

“40/29 does not want to offend viewers or incur fines for airing offensive language,” anchor Craig Cannon told viewers during the 5 p.m. newscast on Nov. 11. ABC had been promoting the movie on all of its stations throughout the day.

KHOG asked ABC if it could air “Saving Private Ryan” after 10 p.m. instead, but the network refused. KHOG showed “Far and Away” during prime time instead of “Saving Private Ryan.”

A story on KHOG’s Web site quoted General Manager Jim Prestwood saying the FCC had become strict since Janet Jackson’s “wardrobe malfunction” during last year’s Super Bowl halftime show and U2 singer Bono’s use of profanity on the 2003 Golden Globe Awards show.

“The movie has been recommended by the motion picture industry for mature audiences only,” Prestwood said. “So my biggest concern is whether ‘Saving Private Ryan’ is appropriate for broadcast prior to 10 p.m.

“There’s just not enough clarity from the FCC for us to make a decision to air a movie that uses the ‘F-word’ 48 times, as well as graphic violence, in a time period that is supposed to be a safe harbor for children to be watching television.”

KHOG is owned by Hearst-Argyle Television Inc.

ABC, which broadcast the film uncut in 2001 and 2002, issued a statement saying it was proud to broadcast it again. The network’s contract with director Steven Spielberg stipulates that the film cannot be edited or the language censored.