News Broadcasting
FCC comes down on Golden Globes for profane word
MUMBAI: Looks like US broadcasters will have to be on constant standby to watch out for offensive language during live events.
A few days ago the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) issued an Order concluding that the live broadcast of the phrase “f***ing brilliant,” spoken by Bono of U2 during the 2003 Golden Globe Awards violated the statutory prohibitions on indecency and profanity.
The Commission granted an application for review filed by the Parents Television Council (PTC) of an earlier Enforcement Bureau decision concerning the Golden Globes Award broadcast by NBC. That decision made in October 2003 had ruled that the broadcast had not violated the indecency prohibition because Bono’s use of the “F-word” had been fleeting and in a non-sexual context.
However the Commission overruled the Bureau decision . The Commission further concluded that use of the “F-Word” in the context of the Golden Globe Awards was profane under 18 U.S.C. Section 1464.
What this means is that the Commission has sent out a clear message that similar broadcasts in the future could lead to forfeitures and potential license revocation. As FCC chairman Michael Powell put it, ” For the first time, the Commission has applied the profanity section of the statute for the broadcast of this highly offensive word, an application I fully support. The Commission has an important obligation to punish those who violate our law. In administering our authority, the Commission must afford parties fair warning and due process and not let our zeal trample these fundamental protections.
“Given that this decision clearly departs from past precedent in important ways, I could not support a fine retroactively against the parties. Prospectively, parties are on notice that they could now face significant penalties for similar violations.”
News Broadcasting
News18 India to air Sabse Bada Dangal on 4 May counting day
Channel promises fastest results, live trends and analysis across five states.
MUMBAI: Ballots will do the talking and screens will do the shouting. As counting day approaches for high-stakes Assembly elections across West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Assam and Puducherry, News18 India is gearing up for an all-day broadcast of its flagship election show, Sabse Bada Dangal, on 4 May from 6 am onwards. The Hindi news channel plans to deliver continuous, real-time updates as votes are tallied, combining live counting data with on-ground reporting and studio analysis. With political fortunes set to shift through the day, the coverage will track every swing, surge and surprise as trends turn into results.
The broadcast will feature a mix of senior political leaders, analysts and experts, offering instant reactions and decoding the evolving electoral picture. Expect heated debates, quick takes and detailed breakdowns as the numbers settle across all five states.
For News18 India, counting day has long been a high-visibility moment. The network is banking on its reporting reach, editorial bandwidth and technology-driven coverage to stay ahead in what is often a fiercely competitive news cycle.
With multiple battlegrounds and shifting narratives, the day promises both drama and data in equal measure. And if all goes to plan, Sabse Bada Dangal will once again turn the counting of votes into prime-time spectacle.
