“I believe television is going to be the test of the modern world, and that in this new opportunity to see beyond the range of our vision, we shall discover a new and unbearable disturbance of the modern peace, or a saving radiance in the sky. We shall stand or fall by television - of that I am quite sure.” ~E.B. White
Television is an effective and influential medium for value formation of an individual. As aptly exclaimed by Homer Simpson, television is a “teacher, mother and even a secret lover”. Recognizing such indispensable role of television in moral recovery and nation-building, our government (through Board of Review for Motion Pictures and Television (BRMPT)) began regulating and reviewing television programming on November 13, 1981 through the passage of Executive Order No. 745. At present, the MTRCB vigilantly monitors the “boob-tube” particularly the local television networks- or is it practically solely the local television networks?
Although the current government regulatory agency was formed in 1985, its 2004 Implementing Rules and Regulations defines television broadcast as to encompass cable television and other limited audience distribution. Likewise, RA 9382[1] enjoins the cable network franchisee/grantee to provide sound and balanced programming at all times- particularly not use its stations for the transmission of obscene and indecent language, speech, act or scene, or for the dissemination of deliberately false information or willful misrepresentation, to the detriment of the public interest, or to incite, encourage or assist in subversive or treasonable acts.
HOWEVER, reality would present that cable television is satiated with violence and obscenity. In fact, our local networks are aware that they are incessantly losing viewers to cable channels, which offer a smorgasbord of profanity and nudity. As Chairman Laguardia warily guards personalities such as Willie Revillame and Joey de Leon in their respective shows, the Griffin[2] and Smith[3] families remain at large. As the local television networks remain quite adamant in providing “conservative” television programs (perhaps due to strict government regulations), cable networks’ “liberal” programming showcases profane acts, languages and themes in music videos, movies, talk shows and in adult cartoons which are mostly left uncensored. Thus, the “Parental Guidance” advisory at the bottom of the screen has become a mere lip service.
Indeed, censorship in television industry is marred by a double standard regulation. Considering that subscription to cable television is still a “privilege” to most Filipinos (due to their financial conditions), is the government (as well as the society) putting premium on money over outright censorship? Is freedom of expression vis-à-vis morality directly related to one’s financial status?
With the apparent glitch in government regulation, our local television networks are now confronted with the ultimate undertaking of slowing the viewers' shift to cable without driving away mainstream advertisers or tarnishing what remains of the networks' luster.
No comments:
Post a Comment