Judicial Watch Files FCC Complaint Against NBC

Judicial Watch announced, in a press release, it filed a FCC complaint this weekend against NBC for airing obscene and indecent content from the Olympics Opening Ceremony.

The Judicial Watch FCC complaint, filed by Judicial Watch President Tom Fitton reads, in part:

NBC and its various stations/outlets on TV, cable and Internet carried the Olympics Opening Ceremony on July 26, which included an adult male purposefully exposing (himself) in the presence of a child/children. This content is both obscene and indecent and, to make matters worse, was aired during viewing hours when it was likely seen by millions of children and minors.

The obscene/indecent content occurred during a portion of the ceremonies that mocked Jesus Christ and the Last Supper. The Olympics was forced to issue an apology over the content.

According to the FCC, “federal law prohibits obscene, indecent and profane content from being broadcast on the radio or TV.” The FCC further states:

Obscene content does not have protection by the First Amendment. For content to be ruled obscene, it must meet a three-pronged test established by the Supreme Court: It must appeal to an average person’s prurient interest; depict or describe sexual conduct in a “patently offensive” way; and, taken as a whole, lack serious literary, artistic, political or scientific value.

Indecent content portrays sexual or excretory organs or activities in a way that is patently offensive but does not meet the three-prong test for obscenity.

Profane content includes “grossly offensive” language that is considered a public nuisance.

The FCC notes airing obscene or indecent content is a federal crime:

“The blasphemous Olympics’ Opening Ceremony which included, among other obscene and indecent acts, a man partially exposing himself around children, is patently offensive for any sensible American and requires immediate FCC action against NBC” said Judicial Watch President Tom Fitton. “The Justice Department should also launch an investigation, especially given the use of children in this obscene and indecent NBC broadcast.”