Two women’s groups and a media watchdog organization on Tuesday asked CBS not to air the Victoria’s Secret fashion show, calling it a “soft-core porn infomercial.”
CBS said it was moving ahead with the broadcast of supermodels in lingerie on Wednesday night.
Concerned Women for America, the National Organization for Women and the Parents Television Council were among several groups protesting the televised fashion show.
ABC aired it last November, prompting an investigation by the Federal Communications Commission, which ruled it did not violate decency standards.
Along with the airing of near-nudity, the groups said the show degrades women.
Point
No purpose: “What purpose does the special serve except to overly sexualize women and use this to bolster the networks’ demographics for young men?” asked Concerned Women for America, the National Organization for Women and the Parents Television Council in a joint letter to CBS President Leslie Moonves.
Protest momentum? Melissa Cardwell, research director for the Parents Television Council, said she had hoped that the hundreds of protests about last year’s special would have dissuaded broadcasters from showing it again.
Idaho says ‘No’: A “small number” of CBS affiliates aren’t airing the show in prime-time, but CBS spokesman Chris Ender wouldn’t name them. Two are in Idaho: KBCI-TV of Boise and KIDK-TV of Idaho Falls, both owned by Fisher Broadcasting Inc. “I don’t believe it meets the standards of our communities in the time period offered,” said Jeffrey Anderson, Fisher Broadcasting’s general manager. “It’s a family viewing hour.”
Counterpoint
Viewers know the show: “Despite what the PTC says, this is not pornography,” CBS’ Chris Ender said. “It’s a one-hour fashion show mixed with musical performances and comedy segments,” he said. “Does it push the envelope? Sure.”
The rating: CBS gave the show a TV-14 rating, an indication it may be unsuitable for children 14 and under.
Safe time slot? The show has bounced around the CBS schedule. It was originally scheduled to air at 9 p.m. CST but, worried about competing against ABC’s two-hour finale of “The Bachelor,” CBS moved it to 7 p.m. Then, it was moved again–to 8 p.m. CBS decided it wasn’t best to air the show at 7 p.m. in what used to be considered the family viewing hour.
Prudish underwear? ABC occasionally blurred the picture last year when sheer lingerie was featured. CBS said this year’s underwear is not as revealing.
