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Inquirer News Service
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Date Posted: 21:11:01 04/13/05 Wed
Author Host/IP: 203.213.193.146
In reply to:
The Philippine Star 04/12/2005
's message, "Dirty' TV: Who must do the cleaning up?" on 21:08:03 04/13/05 Wed
Viewfinder : Uproar over celebrity sex videos escalates
Posted 08:42pm (Mla time) April 13, 2005
By Nestor Torre / Inquirer News Service
Editor's Note: Published on page A29 of the April 14, 2005 issue of the Philippine Daily Inquirer.
FOR months now, we have been criticizing our leading TV networks for featuring celebrity sex videos on their daytime show biz talk shows.
Even when the images are blurred or masked, viewers are still seduced into maliciously "filling in the blanks," so to speak. As a result, a mangy spirit of collective voyeurism has taken over the viewing nation, and we are the poorer for it.
We have also noted that the "exposes" related to the sex videos have sometimes been punitive, in the sense that the channels love exposing the incriminating footage of stars of rival networks.
Recently, ABS-CBN officially complained to the MTRCB and a talent managers' group about GMA-7's showing of a sex video allegedly involving ABS-CBN talent Piolo Pascual. While the channel was entitled to its fury, some observers criticized it for its subjective anger, and recalled instances when ABS-CBN had also exposed erotic footage involving GMA-7 contract talents.
So, all of our TV channels have to rein in their desire to generate controversy, and consequently high ratings, by featuring stars' sexy videos in daytime shows. Many children and families are watching, and they shouldn't be assaulted by such sleazy footage.
We wonder why parents and educators haven't been more vocal in their opposition to this nefarious industry practice. Do they feel that they are powerless in curtailing the reprehensible practices of the "all-powerful" TV industry?
If so, they are grievously wrong. They should remind themselves that "TV power" is all about numbers and ratings, and it's the viewing public that has those numbers. If enough viewers decide not to watch a show they regard as reprehensible, that's the kiss of death for that program.
So, concerned viewers have to speak and act together in order to be heard, and heeded. For this to happen, however, they should agree that television is an important medium that's worthy of their most serious attention.
All too often, viewers think TV is practically invisible, and therefore harmless, so they don't worry about it, and consequently allow the medium to do its worst.
Viewers should also remind themselves that TV channels use airwaves that are owned by the government. In fact, network owners have to get government franchises to operate, and they secure those franchises only after they promise to provide responsible and balanced programming.
Sex videos on TV are obviously not responsible programming, so guilty networks can be accused of not living up to the terms specified in their franchises, and permission to operate can therefore be revoked by the government.
So, who's powerless now?
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