From: nobody (Anonymous) Newsgroups: alt.censorship,can.general,rec.arts.tv,comp.org.eff.talk,can.infohighway,alt.comp.acad-freedom.talk Subject: Canada censors children's show Date: 1 Nov 1994 20:27:38 -0600 Organization: J. P. and Associates Lines: 36 Sender: remailer@jpunix.com Message-ID: <396teq$svl@jpunix.com> Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Comments: This message did not originate from the above address. It was automatically remailed by an anonymous mail service. Please report inappropriate use to NOTE: Mail to nobody is sent to /dev/null Finger remailer@jpunix.com for remailer help. Finger kserver@jpunix.com for PGP keyserver help. CBC TV News reports today (01nov94) that Canadian TV networks, YTV and Global, will ban broadcast of the children's show "Mighty Morphin' Power Rangers". The cartoon-like show depicts the costumed heroes kicking and punching various villains. The CBC newsreader wondered, jokingly, whether professional wrestling would be banned next. In Canada, TV broadcasting companies fended off government regulation (i.e., censorship) by forming the CBSA (Canadian Broadcaster's Standards Association) which establishes voluntary guidelines for content of TV shows. Early in this year, the CBSA refined their guidelines regarding sex and violence. After reviewing 10 episodes of ".. Power Rangers", the CBSA found it violated the guidelines. If members fail to ban the show (or convince its producer to change its content [fat chance]), then they get kicked out of the Association. Many parents applaud the move, although cynics comment that such parents rely upon regulation too heavily and don't pay enough attention to their children's TV selections. It should be noted that Canadian children will *not* be shielded from the evils of ".. Power Rangers" since the show is carried on the American FOX network, which is unaffected by CBSA guidelines. There is something spooky about an industry imposing self-censorship in order to avoid government censorship. It is perhaps a uniquely Canadian notion that one should not push too hard at the limits of one's freedom of expression because the government may soon tell you where those limits are. Sadly, staying well clear of those limits even further infringes upon that vital freedom.