US TV censorship...

[Geoff]

Is it just me, or has there been a welcome relaxation in the censorship rules for TV programmes over there?

I've always associated US TV dramas with uptight censorship where they're scared even to show a nipple or utter a cuss-word, but recent series, even though usually on HBO or equivalent rather than network, seem to have been pushing the boundaries a lot, regarding sex, violence and swearing.

I'm thinking in particular of Spartacus (both series), and the more recent "Game of Thrones", though earlier ones, such as "True Blood" also went further than usually seen to be allowed.

[rachelbean]

There aren't the same censorship rules on cable television, because it is paid/subscription. Basic cable networks technically (even comedy central for instance) don't have the same restrictions either but they tend to self censor because they still rely on sponsorship dollars. Since HBO has no advertisement, all it's money is tied to subscriptions and merchandise sale so they have much more freedom to cater to their particular audience and no reason to censor sex or violence if it's what that audience expects/wants.

[Bella Fortuna]

I'm still amazed at some of the stuff that plays on regular British TV - would never fly over here!

[Geoff]

There aren't the same censorship rules on cable television, because it is paid/subscription. Basic cable networks technically (even comedy central for instance) don't have the same restrictions either but they tend to self censor because they still rely on sponsorship dollars. Since HBO has no advertisement, all it's money is tied to subscriptions and merchandise sale so they have much more freedom to cater to their particular audience and no reason to censor sex or violence if it's what that audience expects/wants.

That's kinda how I understood it, but it seems to have "improved" in the last couple of years,(at about the same time as rationalia was born )...I wondered if there had been a recent rule change, or just a perceived increase in demand.

And yes, bella, all the above mentioned are screened (without cuts) on mainstream TV over here (though usually subscription TV channels such as SKY get them first, that's just for reasons of cost). Even over here, though, the guidelines seem to have been interpreted with increasing freedom in recent years.

[Gawdzilla Sama]

In the 1970s Italian TV used to have a lady reading the horoscope every morning. She was buck naked and quite well-endowed.

As for the US, I've noticed them bleeping out "goddamn!" so that it is "***damn!"

[SPMaximus]

They have shown Deadwood and awesome shows like that on regular subscriptionless tv here without any censorship

[Gonzo]

That's because cussing, sex, and violence are the things we do best.