REC Statement: Jose Luis Sin Censura
Broadcasted hate speech is still broadcasted hate speech, no matter the language spoken. For many years, non-English broadcasting, especially Spanish language broadcasting has been a hotbed of hate speech and obscenity. Some may say its because no one from the government is listening in their language while others may say its because those in the minority communities may not be aware of the complaint process. Those who defend this speech on radio and TV state that it is a different culture. Regardless of originating culture, the American culture is supposed to be one of tolerance and understanding and not that of hate speech that incites violence.
REC Networks commends the outreach campaign of National Hispanic Media Coalition (NHMC) and the Gay Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) that has resulted in major advertisers and broadcasters pulling support of "Joe Luis Sin Censura", distributed by Lieberman Broadcasting due to the show's "violent and offensive content".
No matter how certain words are spoken, those words can hurt.
NHMC/GLAAD Press Release
For Immediate Release
Contact: Tatiana Arizaga
NHMC
(626) 792-6462
tarizaga@nhmc.org
Rich Ferraro
GLAAD
(646) 871-801
ferraro@glaad.org
AT&T, Time Warner Cable Pull Advertising from 'Jose Luis Sin Censura'
Two Broadcast Stations Also Drop Program as GLAAD and NHMC Urge Others to Follow
June 02, 2011, Pasadena, CA - The National Hispanic Media Coalition (NHMC) and the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) today announced that AT&T and Time Warner Cable have withdrawn advertising from "José Luis Sin Censura." It was also announced that WSVN-TV in Miami, Florida and KCTU-TV in Wichita, Kansas are the first two affiliates to pull the show from airwaves.
GLAAD and NHMC first filed an FCC complaint against "José Luis Sin Censura," distributed by Liberman Broadcasting, earlier this year. Thousands participated in an online action to e-mail the FCC and support the complaint. In April, more than 30 organizations sent a letter to the FCC, urging swift action.
GLAAD and NHMC have since started outreach to advertisers as well broadcast television stations that currently carry the program to inform them of the highly offensive nature of the show.
After viewing videos featuring some of the show's violent and offensive content, Time Warner Cable committed to cease advertising on the program. To view the videos: http://www.nhmc.org/joseluissincensura.
WSVN in Miami elected to pre-empt "José Luis Sin Censura" shortly after receiving a letter from GLAAD and NHMC. KCTU in Wichita informed the organizations that they removed the entire EstrellaTV network from its multicast channel late last year. "Shortly after agreeing to carry EstrellaTV, it became clear that much of its content was so objectionable that, at one point or another, half of its viewership had called us with a complaint. They are going for sensationalism. If an English-language network put out this content, they would be asking for trouble," said Ron Nutt, President and General Manager of KCTU.
Recently, Liberman Broadcasting Inc. reached out to NHMC and GLAAD to start a dialogue about its responsibilities as a broadcaster and content producer. However, "José Luis Sin Censura" continues to air during the daytime in markets throughout the country, unaltered. NHMC and GLAAD are continuing to contact advertisers and affiliates.
"AT&T, Time Warner Cable and these broadcasters have sent a strong message by refusing to support a show that promotes such violence against our community," said GLAAD President Jarrett Barrios. "Though we are encouraged by Liberman's willingness to begin a dialogue, we continue to call on advertisers, broadcasters and the FCC to take a stand against this offensive content."
"The advertisers and broadcasters that we are recognizing today wisely chose to abandon their relationships with this program. Not only does this demonstrate corporate responsibility, but also that being affiliated with "José Luis Sin Censura" is bad for business. I expect that others will follow in the near future, as they realize that obscenity, intolerance and sexism are out of style," said Alex Nogales, President and CEO of NHMC.
The original FCC complaint documented over twenty episodes that aired between June 18 and December 7, 2010. The program contained images and language of the nature that is never displayed or is bleeped out of pre-taped English-language programs of the same nature, including the words "pinche" ("f*cking" in English) and "culero" ("assf*cker"), anti-gay language, including epithets such as ""maricón," "joto" and "puñal" (or "f*ggot"), and anti-Latino slurs, such as "mojado" ("wetback"). The program frequently feature blatant nudity and female guests have been shown in violent fights. Guests and audience members were often incited to engage in verbal and even physical attacks. Many episodes showed the audience standing and shouting anti-gay epithets and profanity at guests.
A number of episodes that have aired since GLAAD and NHMC filed the complaint have contained similar and sometimes even more egregious violations of FCC rules. Liberman Broadcasting, which distributes the program, has self-rated many of these episodes as TV-14, or suitable for fourteen-year-olds, making it impossible for even the most vigilant parents to block the program using the V-chip or similar technologies.
