Watershed: Difference between revisions

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In the US, the FCC rules remove some of the content restrictions on broadcast TV and broadcast radio between 10:00 P.M. and 6:00 A.M. This allows "indecent" (R, and even NC-17 rated) programming to be shown uncensored on regular networks. They can play "offensive" material, such as George Carlin's "Seven Words You Can't Say on Television," but "obscene" material (which has a specific legal definition) is still prohibited. Examples of "obscene" material would be child pornography and certain forms of hard-core adult pornography. There are no restrictions on cable or satellite TV stations or satellite radio.

In practice? Thanks to fickle advertisers who don't want to be associated with risqué content, this rule is seldom exploited, at least in the US. A notable exception is [[PBS]], which, thanks to a combination of its funding system and its audience, tends to just let things fly on their post-Safe Harbor programming, particularly with shows imported from Britain.

In practice? Thanks to [[Think of the Advertisers!|fickle advertisers]] who don't want to be associated with risqué content, this rule is seldom exploited, at least in the US. A notable exception is [[PBS]], which, thanks to a combination of its funding system and its audience, tends to just let things fly on their post-Safe Harbor programming, particularly with shows imported from Britain.

Watershed is named for the earthen barriers at the edges of a farm field, which prevent irrigation water from crossing to a neighboring field. This allows two adjacent fields to be on very different watering schedules so that different crops can be planted there. When driving past a farm on the highway, you'll see row after row of (say) asparagus, then a watershed will pass and suddenly you're seeing row after row of rutabagas.