On-Demand Content Apparently No Good For Family Values

from the on-demand-is-evil dept

Fri, Dec 8th 2006 12:14pm — Mike Masnick

Apparently, the small town of South Holland, Illinois has a problem with on-demand video. They've determined that Comcast's On-Demand cable service is not the sort of content its residents should be watching, saying that it does not live up to the community's standards. Of course, not everyone in the community seems to agree, as at least one local resident is complaining about the inability to sign up for the service that provides content (as you would imagine) on demand. The town officials, however, appear to view content on demand as a way of sneaking in content that is bad for "faith, family and future," because apparently in the future, everyone must watch what's on TV now, rather than letting it fit your own schedule. Comcast looks like they don't want to piss off anyone, as they're willing to stop offering the service in the town, though they note that if any individual wants to block adult content, there already are parental filters offered.

Thank you for reading this Techdirt post. With so many things competing for everyone’s attention these days, we really appreciate you giving us your time. We work hard every day to put quality content out there for our community.

Techdirt is one of the few remaining truly independent media outlets. We do not have a giant corporation behind us, and we rely heavily on our community to support us, in an age when advertisers are increasingly uninterested in sponsoring small, independent sites — especially a site like ours that is unwilling to pull punches in its reporting and analysis.

While other websites have resorted to paywalls, registration requirements, and increasingly annoying/intrusive advertising, we have always kept Techdirt open and available to anyone. But in order to continue doing so, we need your support. We offer a variety of ways for our readers to support us, from direct donations to special subscriptions and cool merchandise — and every little bit helps. Thank you.

–The Techdirt Team

26 Comments

If you liked this post, you may also be interested in...

Reader Comments

Subscribe: RSS

View by: Time | Thread

Bumbling old fool, 8 Dec 2006 @ 12:18pm

wow...
I sure am glad I don't live there...
[ link to this | view in thread ]
CoJeff, 8 Dec 2006 @ 12:37pm

Screw IL
Man I'm so glad I left that state over 6 years go.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
AMP, 8 Dec 2006 @ 12:55pm

Re: wow...
Yeah, this sounds like a really fun place. I think we should make Chicago into a state so that people who visit Chicago don't have to actually go into Ill.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
PhysicsGuy, 8 Dec 2006 @ 1:14pm

wait
so let me get this straight... the broadcasting on regular tv is fine and dandy but when you have the luxury of viewing it whenever you want it becomes bad?
[ link to this | view in thread ]
drjones, 8 Dec 2006 @ 1:24pm

@physicsGuy

I think this is specifically talking about the adult content on PPV, wich doesnt get run on your typical cable channel. Its really only available on a PPV basis.

Its stupid, but with the way our obsenity laws are written, theres probably not much anyone can do about it, except try and "lower" the community standards.

Basically the law says something is obscene if it is sexual in nature, and has no artistic value based on the community's standards its obscene.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
bill, 8 Dec 2006 @ 1:26pm

On Demand
They should call it Porn On Demand. They still have DVRs for viewing it whenever you want.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Mike Cline, 8 Dec 2006 @ 1:32pm

On Demand
I don't believe that they are talking about PPV. Comcast in Illinois allows viewers to watch the HBO stuff that they only put on late night (Cathouse, hooker stuff).

I currently live in IL, and I can't believe that I am reading what was just posted. Comcast needs to get the ballz to tell the community that this is our offering and you will not regulate what we put on our service. They have the ballz to cut off your service if you have not paid the bill, so tell the little rednecks to learn how use the parental controls!
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Tyshaun, 8 Dec 2006 @ 1:37pm

hugh...
Mike,
Did you even read the article? You said:

The town officials, however, appear to view content on demand as a way of sneaking in content that is bad for "faith, family and future," because apparently in the future, everyone must watch what's on TV now, rather than letting it fit your own schedule.

The article was clearly about censoring porn and had almost nothing to do with time-shifting possible by using on-demand. The first sentence of the article:

A small Illinois town has blocked Comcast's On-Demand service over concerns that town citizens will use the service to watch adult content

Both the title of your article and most of your summation are pretty unfaithful to the original story.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Anonymous Coward, 8 Dec 2006 @ 1:37pm

What about internet websites that offer content that is sexual in nature which has no artistic value based on the community's standards -- will Comcast have to block this content as well?

And I highly doubt that there are any video rental stores with "adult sections" in/near that city -- or only just possibly only a few Blockbuster Video outlets which contain edited versions of popular movies.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Paul, 8 Dec 2006 @ 1:47pm

It sounds to me like they have a problem with the type of content being offered and not the fact that it's on demand. Sounds like a perfectly legitimate complaint. I have no idea what is actually offered, so I'm just assuming. Wouldn't it be great if more communities were willing to stand up for values like this.

The fact is, not everyone will ever be happy with what the group decides. If a community can get enough people to agree not to allow adult video stores on main street, then great. That's an accomplishment. Some people will be upset by the decision, but that's the comprimise that comes with living in a community. Of course there are limits to this line or reasoning, but this sounds well within those limits.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Paul, 8 Dec 2006 @ 1:48pm

It sounds to me like they have a problem with the type of content being offered and not the fact that it's on demand. Sounds like a perfectly legitimate complaint. I have no idea what is actually offered, so I'm just assuming. Wouldn't it be great if more communities were willing to stand up for values like this.

The fact is, not everyone will ever be happy with what the group decides. If a community can get enough people to agree not to allow adult video stores on main street, then great. That's an accomplishment. Some people will be upset by the decision, but that's the comprimise that comes with living in a community. Of course there are limits to this line or reasoning, but this sounds well within those limits.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
sokol, 8 Dec 2006 @ 1:49pm

Tyshaun,

Umm did you not read the bottom portion of your quote? It's not about porn, it is about the content they want when they want it, so if some one wanted to watch saving private ryan at 10am, when kids are about, the community may see that as innapropriate. When you put words into peoples mouths assuming porn, you ASSUME. Who knows what material they object to, plain and simple. GROWUP and raise your kids and be responsible for what they watch, and stop trying to control what your neghbor watches. Man he who cats the first stone. Judge not lest yee be judge your self.... Seems people want to control everything now, and not let people make their own choices...

~Sokol
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Anonymous Coward, 8 Dec 2006 @ 1:50pm

this is more evidence that this country is going to the crapper, and the general idea that the past was better because you can't remember it as well
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Anonymous Coward, 8 Dec 2006 @ 1:50pm

this is more evidence that this country is going to the crapper, and the general idea that the past was better because you can't remember it as well
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Anonymous Coward, 8 Dec 2006 @ 1:51pm

Sorry for the typos but people like this make me livid!
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Transfer, 8 Dec 2006 @ 1:51pm

the hbo content comes with a subscription so if they have hbo the kids can still watch the late nite but somewhere in the 900's there is and ondemand porn chan with ppv content they dont even tell anyone about it you just stumble upon it one day
[ link to this | view in thread ]
chris (profile), 8 Dec 2006 @ 1:59pm

Re:
Basically the law says something is obscene if it is sexual in nature, and has no artistic value based on the community's standards

so commercials are outlawed too?
[ link to this | view in thread ]
In Defense, 8 Dec 2006 @ 2:04pm

Re:
Sokol, Seriously? Did you really make yourself look like an ass?

It's not about porn, it is about the content they want when they want it...
Actually, the article referenced clearly states it's about porn.

When you put words into peoples mouths assuming porn, you ASSUME.
And when you don't read before you speak (type), you make yourself look really, really dumb.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Jacob Buck, 8 Dec 2006 @ 2:34pm

what i want to know is....can i still get playboy and the girls gone wild movies mailed to me?
[ link to this | view in thread ]
theMouse, 8 Dec 2006 @ 2:42pm

Censorship is unconstitutional
Regardless censorship of this nature is wrong.
Everyone has the right to do what they want when they want. At least should in there own home.

And hey I have morals too btw. It is easy. Choose not to watch/do something. Christianity is supposed to be about choice. You choose God or you do not.

The town has no place, either legally, constitutionally, or religiously making that choice for you.

theMouse
[ link to this | view in thread ]
twoFro, 8 Dec 2006 @ 3:01pm

Next We Ban the Internet
The real point is censorship, Next you will find they are blocking the ability to download content from the Internet because of "Faith & Family" values that not everyone shares.
Unless I missed it somewhere, we don't have a State sponsored Church, right? So why do allow these people to pass down such mandates to a private corporation.
I'm not about to see this kind of stuff start to run rampant here in the US, this is outrageous. I fought for the freedoms in this country and this is one of them. If they want to pass such laws, they can pack there bags for Iraq cause DELTA's ready when they are!
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Sarojin, 8 Dec 2006 @ 3:40pm

Um...it's the same content w/o ads
At least the Comcast On-Demand I have is.

Why can't right-wing wackos ever just not subscribe, shut up, and live and let live...
[ link to this | view in thread ]
JSmith, 8 Dec 2006 @ 4:12pm

Can't stand it
Unsophisticated folks are frustrated by technology... things like DVRs and Tivo. If they don't understand it, no one needs it. They don't like change. Maybe they want to sneak a peek at some porn, but don't know how to program a DVR. That adds to frustration.

So.... they don't want anyone to use technology or watch what they want when they want. So let's ban it!
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Avatar28, 8 Dec 2006 @ 9:01pm

I don't think Comcast has pr0n On-Demand
We have their digital cable service and I'm pretty sure I've never seen ANY type of porn through On-Demand. Maybe it's there and I missed it, but I don't think so. The worst they seem to have might be some indie films or HBO, etc On-Demand.

I rather doubt they chose to censor it because I'm in Nashville and they have the PPV pr0n channels and there are quite a number of adult stores around that sell the stuff about as hard as you please.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Gerry Lincoln, 10 Dec 2006 @ 11:07pm

On Demand Is Not Really "TV"
I'd be willing to bet those idiots are really objecting to Howard Stern's material.

Seems wherever the King Of All Media turns up, the religious right and family values freaks are soon nipping at his heels.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Brandon, 12 Jan 2007 @ 6:14pm

What??
I'm sorry, but no one is breaking your arm to get the service, no one is putting gun to your head and saying, HEY WATCH ATHF when you want to instead of staying up past 1 am then staggering to work the next morning, how are these bible thumpers(this coming from the son of a preacher) actually upset because you can watch, block, and rewind and fastforward everything you want to, welcome to the remix bitches, and the future!!
[ link to this | view in thread ]