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This article describes a controversy in Britain over the censoring of popular reality television show "Celebrity Big Brother." Apparently, a contestant's expletive towards fellow contestant, Shilpa Shetty, was assumed to be racial, as Shetty is from India. However, Channel 4 assured people that the word was not racial but merely obscene.

The article reports on the filing of a joint legal indecency brief by the Screen Actors Guild, the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists, Writers Guild of America East and West and the Directors Guild of America in the U.S. The brief states that the Federal Communications Commission's new standards to censor indecency on television, radio and movies are overly vague and unconstitutional.

The article reports on the refusal of President Hugo Chavez to renew the license of Radio Caracas Television CA in Venezuela. He publicized his decision in a speech delivered at a military academy. It was believed that the station was against Chavez's administration. His decision was criticized by the International Press Institute, Reporters Without Borders, the Institute of the Press and Society (IPYS) and the leaders of the Catholic Church. The media sector somehow condemn the decision of the president.

The article reports on the harassment of mass media personnel in Iraq. Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki ordered the closure of two Sunni television channels including Al-Zawraa TV in Baghdad and Saleheddin TV. They were raided by the government agents for noncompliance with the order. The minister's order was attributed to the alleged provocation of television viewers by airing live broadcast of anti-government demonstrations. On other hand, Reporters Without Borders appealed to the government to protect media personnel against the rampant killing of journalists in the country.

The article reports on the harassment of the staff and management of the "Fiji Daily Post," an independent publication, by Fijian military officers. The staff received death threats and bomb threats, which have been kept from being published in the December 5, 2006 issue. According to the IPI, the publication that covered the events directing to a military coup headed by Commodore Frank Bainimara were part of a pattern of military intimidation against the "Fiji Daily Post." Furthermore, the Fijian television station has also been prohibited from airing any statements or stories that cover the ousted government or its leader.

The article presents news briefs on issues related to cable television broadcasting in the U.S. Comcast Corp. is being accused by the Consumerist blog regarding the censorship of a consumer-made video shown in the television program "Nightline." Melanie Martinez, host of "The Good Night Show," was fired due to a video show she has made that declares she will protect her future from getting pregnant. Information on the third season of "Battlestar Galactica" is provided.

Reports on the passage of a bill that would impose broadcast indecency fines against television broadcasters that air lewd, violent or other objectionable programming by the U.S. Senate on May 18, 2006. Maximum indecency fine that the Federal Communications Commission can levy on broadcasters per incident; Other provisions of the measure.

The article reports that China reiterated broadcast censorship guidelines for international news programming on April 11, 2006, a day after regulators unveiled new rules that decentralize the approval process for domestic television drama series. The State Administration of Radio, Film and Television said on its Web site that local broadcasters should air only the international news reports provided by state-run China Central Television and China Radio International and avoid news from foreign satellite broadcasters.

The article reports on the increase in indecency complaints against the content of broadcast programming in the United States in 2005 according to the U.S. Federal Communications Commission. Activists and legislators expressed concerns over the idea of parents leaving their children alone while watching a television program. The Parents Television Council has a large influence in addressing indecency complaints. Indecency complaints from the council increased from 2003 to 2004.

The article reports on the broadcast indecency orders issued by the U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) against singer Janet Jackson and other television programs as of March 2006. The FCC rejected the argument of CBS that the pulling off of a portion of the bustier of Jackson to reveal her breast during the halftime show of the 2004 Super Bowl was not indecent. Some episodes of "Without A Trace" and "The Surreal Life 2" have been found as impermissible under the standards of FCC.

The article presents its author's commentary on setting first line of defense against televised outrages for children. Parents are the first line of defense against televised outrages. One can limit the time his kids spend with the television. He can learn to use the V-chip. He can block individual cable channels. He can also fire the cable company. Broadcast programming is pretty innocuous. If they only see broadcast programming, there's really nothing out there that's that bad. If it gets too bad, it can be V-chipped.

The article focuses on the oppositional moves of the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (AFTRA) and the Screen Actors Guild to the U.S. Senate and House versions of the Broadcast Decency Enforcement Act of 2005. AFTRA General Counsel/Director of Legislative Affairs Tom Carpenter argues against the fines and penalties in the House bill. Joe Pantoliano, co-president of the Creative Coalition, insists on the role of the government in educating parents on how to choose appropriate programming for their children.

The article focuses on the proposal of the U.S. cable industry that they would agree to indecency standards on condition that any federal legislation governing its content for profanity or sexual behavior would not take effect until after the courts had ruled on the law's constitutionality. The proposal was endorsed by the National Cable & Telecommunications Association leadership. The enforcement of indecency rules can be costly for cable networks. The Senate Commerce Committee will host an open forum on how to deal with indecency in cable and broadcasting in November 2005.

The article reports on the decision of the U.S. cable-television industry to comply with federal indecency standards on foul language and overt sexual activity. The Senate Commerce Committee is planning to hold hearings on media and telecommunications policies in the first quarter of 2006. The committee is also considering drafting a legislation that could extend rules on indecency to include cable programming.

Focuses on the censorship of the animated television program "South Park" by distributor Mort Marcus which will go into syndication on September 19, 2005. Factors considered in editing the animated show; Scenes omitted in the second season of the show; Downsides of the edited version of the fifth season of "South Park."

Presents a letter to the editor of "The Economist" regarding the reasons why the motion picture "Saving Private Ryan" was banned from some television stations. Response to the article "Scrubbing the airwaves," found in the July 23, 2005 issue of the journal.

Focuses on LIN Television Chairman Gary Chapman's remarks on the issue of indecency on television and radio in the U.S., during a National Association of Broadcasters convention panel in Las Vegas, Nevada on April 18, 2005. Efforts by a number of broadcasters to settle their indecency complaints at the Federal Communications Commission with monetary fines and promises of indecency intolerance; Comments on the idea of extending indecency standards to cable television.

This article discusses the efforts of television producer Wang Lifen in transforming Chinese television broadcasting. Wang Lifen is a star producer for China's national state-run television station, CCTV, but her biggest lesson in broadcasting came during a recent visit to CNN's headquarters in Atlanta, Georgia. Wang, who's currently on leave studying the American media, took one look at the elaborate studio, with its stacks of monitors and cameras with links to far-flung bureaus, and realized that censorship and bureaucracy were not the only impediments to quality television in China. The lack of resources was just as limiting. With Beijing loosening the reins on the country's provincial stations, viewers are now getting a taste of Western-style programming. Wang started as an investigative journalist at CCTV, exposing corrupt officials not deemed untouchable by the censors, then distinguished herself when she joined a new talk show in 2000 called "Dialogue" ("Dui Hua").

The article states that Paris, France-based satellite operator Eutelsat threatened to shut down transmission of the only uncensored news in Mandarin to reach the Chinese mainland. Eutelsat scheduled to terminate the French-transmitted program, New Tang Dynasty TV (NTDTV), on April 15, 2005 but NTDTV is still transmitting temporarily due to an international outcry against the censorship. Members of the European Parliament, members of the U.S. Congress, international NGOs and thousands of Chinese viewers among others opposed shutting the program down. Eutelsat was responding to demands from Chinese authorities asking that they cease the transmissions. In December 2004, Eutelsat signed a partnership agreement with state-owned China Satellite Communication Corp. and soon after informed NTDTV their contract would not be renewed.

The article focuses on President Hugo Chávez's response to media bias in Venezuela. Chávez, Venezuela's leftist president, has long complained of a "media conspiracy" against him. Most of the country's privately owned television channels and newspapers enthusiastically joined a three-year campaign to unseat him. They backed an abortive coup in 2002, failing to cover a military-civilian counter-coup that restored Chávez until it could no longer be ignored. Chávez now exercises personal control over all of the country's main institutions including the armed forces, the state oil monopoly--and the state radio and television stations. Radio and television are now subject to a "social responsibility" law, purportedly aimed at protecting children from inappropriate programs. It allows the government to impose heavy fines and/or revoke broadcasting licenses for such offenses as information "contrary to national security".

Reports on the decision of the publishing company Little, Brown Books for Young Readers to publish a book based on the television program "Postcards From Buster" in the U.S., as of March 2005. Reasons behind the refusal of the Public Broadcasting Service to allow the distribution of an episode of the television program to its member stations; Views of Marc Brown, executive director of the television program, on the censorship issue; Potential effect of the controversy on public television.

Focuses on the state-owned television networks in Russia under the control of President Vladimir Putin. Decline of freedom of speech in Russia; Launch of the state-owned network, Star, which will provide propaganda for Russia's armed forces; Use of television programs such as "Russian Guys" to recruit young males for the Russian military.

Focuses on a bleeping device employed by television (TV) censors to mask inappropriate language for comic effect on TV programs like Fox's "Arrested Development."

Focuses on television program cancellations that point to increasing censorship in Russia. Television programs included in the list of finalists for the TEFI awards that have been cancelled; Reasons for the cancellations.

Reports that two-thirds of Russia's adult citizens are in favor of introducing government censorship of television. Results of a survey conducted by the All-Russia Center for the Study of Public Opinion; Differences in attitudes between age groups; Need to crack down on sex and violence in television.

Comments on an interview with radio show host Al Franken regarding the censorship on radio and television programs in the U.S. Allegations of Franken against U.S. President George W. Bush; Plan of the U.S. Federal Communications Commission to participate in the daily programming of radio and television; Views on democracy.

Reports that the cable television network MTV decided to broadcast music videos it has deemed as too sexy during late-night programming. Background on the decision of the network which covered the video “Toxic,” featuring singer Britney Spears; Assertion by parent company Viacom Inc. that it had nothing to do with the MTV self-censorship initiative.

As the federal government in the U.S. works to make producers, TV networks and radio conglomerates pay for every perceived transgression of verbiage, nudity and hostility, the following headline caught the author's attention over the weekend: "DVD Player Can Excise Sex, Violence, Language." The author is of the view that it isn't that parents shouldn't be allowed to possess every available device in the quest to keep the hearts and minds of their children pure. But to leave the job of content gate-keeping to a third party—whether it be the federal agents or new technology—is in itself both lazy and irresponsible.

Features several devices for television censorship. Capabilities of Weemote 2; Details of TV Allowance; Price of TV-Guardian.

Comments on the failure of network sports to censor the language of announcers and commentators. Athletes yelling obscenities; Implication of more access and more microphones for the utterance of obscene words; Reaction of networks to the proposed delay button.

The article focuses on the challenges face by the television (TV) industry in Turkey and mentions topics including the indirect censorship, economy, and political crisis in the country.

Focuses on TV-Guardian, a home censorship for television. Description of the device; Functions; Evaluation of the performance of TV-Guardian in censoring various videos.

Discusses the controversy of the v-chip, the technology that helps parents limit their children's exposure to violent, profane, and sexually inappropriate programming. How after January 2000, all new televisions are required to be equipped with a v-chip; What the v-chip is and how it will work.

Reports on the tightening of television censorship rules in Malaysia. Information Minister Mohamad Rahmat's closure of the `Teleskop' talk show after film director Nasir Jani uttered a four-letter word in the middle of a heated debate; Focus on eradicating violence, horror and sex on television; Reasons behind the crackdown on television.

Presents the `v-chip' which is currently under design and will allow viewers to screen out violent or sexually explicit programs. Installation and expected cost.