As the government continues to pretend that it cares what anyone thinks about Comcast’s merger with NBC Universal, a coalition of Christian media watchdog groups are asking the cable giant to publicly divulge how much money it makes from porn channels and pay-per-view.
The coalition, which also includes the supposedly non-religious Parents Television Council and the always level-headed Focus on the Family, have asked the FCC to consider Comcast’s xxx-rated income when evaluating whether or not the merger is in the public interest.
Says the president of the PTC, whose kids certainly don’t have anything hidden under their mattresses:
Comcast is one of the most far-reaching distributors of pornography in the communities it serves, raising serious questions about whether the company meets the character and public interest obligations required.
Of course, Consumerist’s parent company Kabletown — which is certainly not Comcast — openly advertises its adults-only programming, including Deadliest Catch: Bikini Model Edition and Foreign Films With Cleverly Translated Porn Titles.
Christian groups seek Comcast’s porn revenues before proposed merger [TheHill.com]
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While I’m against the merger, Comcast’s porn income is none of their business. Besides, some might argue that providing porn is a public interest obligation.
I don’t care how much money they make from porn. As long as the porn features only consenting adults I don’t care. I also appreciate that there are settings I can use to keep my kid from viewing it.
Well, you’ll probably give the kid hell when you find out what that extra on the bill was for and your sweetie swears it wasn’t him.
LOL I’m SURE it will happen when he’s a teen. 3rd grade is a little young to be starting though.
But the kid is already amazingly technically adept. I’m sure he’ll be getting around all my web filters and parental control features by the time his voice cracks. If not at my house, at a friend’s house. I can only delay it for so long.
We saw some Animal Planet show that had lions mating. My kid says “Mom, you don’t think they have videos of PEOPLE mating, do you?” ” Uhhhhh gee, no honey!”
We will stick to the “Where Did I Come From” book for now!
More power to them. It’s no different than any other advocacy group making demands on a corporation.
You’re right, we should evaluate this based solely on the fact that it is an advocacy group making demands to a corporation. We should ignore the merits of their demands, that’s not relevant.
Corporation!
Dear FCC: as a parent I don’t particularly give a rip about their percentage of porn income, as long as it’s properly reported like any other income and subject to disclosures like any other income (i.e., according to existing regulations).
I say Comcast divulge if any senators or members of Focus on the Family or PTC have ordered any porn PPV’s.
I second that motion!
That would be really funny. Of course I’m all for privacy rights so I’m quite torn. But gosh it would be funny!
I am all for privacy rights to, but if somebody wants to restrict my rights to privacy, we should use their right to privacy as a test case.
Of course, they only watch it for ‘research’ on the subject
A per capita red state vs blue state?
I worked for the predecessor of Comcast in one area, and got to see the stats of who ordered what.
Rural areas and urban areas both like them some porn. And wrestling.
How embarrassing! I mean, seriously, wrestling?
Yep. And you have Val Venis, who was the wrestler with a porn star gimmick.
Please, have you seen Comcast’s “porn”? It’s barely hardcore. Pales in comparison to what every 10 year old can find on the Internets.
Not to mention it costs like 30 bux per movie! Usually people are done after 5 minutes.. or thats just me? Lol…
But seriously, porn is kinda rediculously expensive… Except for the internets
5 minutes?? Perhaps you should try some kegel exercices.
I’m not sayin, I’m just sayin.
I’m pretty sure there was a study not that long ago that showed the average length of time that men watch porn is 7 minutes. Personally I’ve never had that problem
I can think of five minutes being both too long and too short. Which is it? Also does that include the actual time after point of no return or just getting there? Why am I contemplating this?
Internets which they get through their high-speed Comcast cable connection. And really, can’t you attribute almost all high-speed Internet connections sales to porn?
Ahhh, I love how christian groups like getting into people’s private lives.
Who cares? If Comcast doesn’t make the money, the local porn video store will. Is it because they wanna help small locals?
Or hey, they’ll go on the internet. Lots of porn there.
That has been one of the objectives of religion for centuries – to make people feel guilty and ashamed about sex, a perfectly natural part of humanity.
It’s time we did away with religion and lived in reality.
I’d rather we just cut religion out of government entirely and let private citizens decide what they want to believe regarding matters theological…
“Ahhh, I love how christian groups like getting into people’s private lives.”
They love Big Government, what can we say?
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/06/28/sudanese-next-top-model-f_n_627769.html
Any kind of fanatics are dangerous : Christian, Muslim, etc.
If the world was perfect we would not have porn, prostitution, drugs, bla, bla, bla…
However, changing the world seems too much work. Why just not forbid everything.
Geez, which one do I hate more: Comcast, or the obnoxious meddlesome Christians?
What about the obnoxious meddlesome christians that work at Comcast?
Christian Family Media Watchdogs.
My blood pressure goes up just reading that. Because you know that’s going to be the most entitled, douchey group of “let the village raise my child! The village of retail workers!” faux-parents people to ever band together.
I don’t hate all religious people or all parents, by any stretch of the imagination, but when the two come together in anyone who likes to call him/herself a “watchdog,” that’s just asking for shit.
What bothers me is that they’re the same people who talk about not wanting government in their lives and rail against perceived “socialism.” They also are only Christians when it comes to gays, abortion, and anything they deem not Christian, and not much else (rich person, camel, eye of needle, least among us, blessed are the peacemakers, etc.)
I wonder if they’re the same Republicans that call for less government involvment. You want government to bother itself with things like this, you need to pay more taxes to pay for the staff and resources.
Yes, they are. Government involvement is good when it’s government doing what they want for their benefit. In all other cases, small government for the winz!
And if they both showed up at your door at the same time trying to sell their products…
Comcast carries religious channels as well as the pRon, so they can just shut it.
“None of your goddamn business” would be my answer.
*high five* That would be my answer.
Bravo! *clap*
+1
I don’t get the vitriol. They haven’t made demands on Comcast sales of porn (yet). All they are asking for is a report on how much of their income is derived from sales thereof. Now the best time to get that information, when the company is in information release overdrive and working to placate any potential consumer complaints (as if the government cares).
Because it’s none of their darned business. If it’s not part of their quarterly financials, (Comcast) may not even KNOW how much money they make directly from those channels (Granted it probably wouldn’t be that difficult to pull that information if requested, which I know they would do if this information was required by the government, but some media watchdog group? I’d tell ‘em to sit and spin.)
Except it is. Part of the fuss about this (as compared to the previous Comcast acquisitions) is that NBC is a broadcaster, holding a government authorized license. Look at it this way – if Media Watchdog X were to ask Comcast to disclose how much of their income is derived from advertising, or how much of their income is derived from downtime (where a customer cannot access paid for services), would we complain? Anything that affects a group, especially one as sizable at this, potentially reaches the point of public interest.
From what I can tell, they haven’t gone beyond asking the FCC to consider this potential data set in evaluating the public interest portion of the merger. No demand has been made on that front.
Do I think the porn issue is relevant? Not really. I suppose you could argue that heavy porn income could lead to loss of resources to NBCU properties as Comcast funnels money to its virtual redlight district, but at that point, the cost of tin foil would be a bigger concern.
The trouble with public interest questions is that “the public interest” will vary from group to group. Every organization will want its concerns addressed. There is nothing special or extravagant about the PTC’s attempt to have its views considered.
…and once they receive that report I’m sure they’re not going to do anything with it. Right?
Oh, I’m sure they will.
The point is, why get all fussy about them asking for some data? Whether or not Comcast provides it, PTC is going to complain about too much smut on Comcast and NBCU, which combined will create a megasmut situation. I don’t have a problem with any group asking for data at a time when Comcast is least likely to say no. Besides, the information they are asking for isn’t user lists, just total income.
I will say this – if we could direct all this anger towards a truly nefarious data seeking entity, like the TSA, we could do a lot of good towards the freeing of America.
Normally I’d say none of anyone’s business, but this merger must die!
Comcast is one of the most far-reaching distributors of pornography in the communities it serves,
Well, now the Dems can’t vote against em.
Its driving me nuts.
Get it?
The income from the porn probably subsidizes the Christian Channels.
+1 soooo true
If you need to know what they make off of porn to dislike Comcast you have not been paying attention.
Silly Christians, trying to be the moral authority of America as usual.
I’m confused, I thought Obama, who is the anti-Christ, anti-Christian and Muslim is trying to control our lives and that it was Freedom loving, Christian nations types that were trying to defend us from his tyranny.
Yes, you are confused. Writing run on sentences will do that to you and people who read your comments. But I’m sure your reply was some sort of way to tell me how offend you are by my comment.
I took it more as a support to yours, saying that these Christian groups get all uppity about porn and want to control what other people watch in the privacy of their homes, but instantly jump on Obama if he tries to remotely suggest anything be controlled. They deem it socialism when Obama does it, but it’s ok when they do it. They’ll be all up in my womb in a heart beat, but Obama better not touch their guns! (I love guns, just saying…)
Sorry about the run-on sentence. I need to add a hypocrisy or snark tag.
At least they (the Christians) are asking. They are not blowing up the TV stations or Comcast HQ to get their idiology across like some other faith based groups.
“ideology” – the self correction bot failed.
No, they save that shit for abortion clinics.
Those states that do consume the most porn tend to be more conservative and religious than states with lower levels of consumption, the study finds.
Residents of 27 states that passed laws banning gay marriages boasted 11% more porn subscribers than states that don’t explicitly restrict gay marriage.
http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn16680-porn-in-the-usa-conservatives-are-biggest-consumers.html
Hahaha… Go UTAH! I understand exactly why, though I am not sure I could explain it sufficiently.
The sad thing is that when I was in Utah (born and raised) I felt like it was a relatively tech savvy state… so I can see most porn consumed, but most PAID for??? I take back what little good I ever thought about that state…
Repression will do that. I found when I went to college that the girls whose parents were super, super strict were the ones more apt to behave badly.
I’m not sure what the sale of porn has to do with “meeting the character and public interest obligations required”. This is a CABLE company. You pay for it. It is not broadcast. If you don’t agree with their programming, don’t buy the service. There are several over-the-air channels available for you to peruse, and best of all, it is free. This is like someone buying a Playboy for the articles, then complaining there is nudity in it. Don’t buy it then.
This is Focus on the Family. They do not make money minding their own business.
i think everybody can agree that there’s a huge demand for porn. if we lived in a society that had no qualms about it (not that i’m advocating such) it would probably be on broadcast tv and ad supported. because everyone wants it kept away from their kids it gets relegated to pay per view. of course they’re going to make money off of it! groups like the ptc drive the supply down so comcast can rake it in.
but anyway, it’s 2010. who still doesn’t know that you can get your porn fix for free on the internet?
That… is not why a Comcast/NBC Universal merger is against the public interest.
None. Comcast makes it’s money from people with internet connections. Porn sites make their money from porn. Are there really people out there who would cancel their internet service if there were no porn available?
The sooner we start treating ISPs’ networks as dumb pipes, like we do with telephones, the better.
Nevermind; this is clearly about ppv cable, not the internet.
My mistake.
No, we’d all be on the last two websites left: Facebook and one called “Bring back the porn”.
I guess if they have a point if they think that the merger would limit competition or the availability of content. But somehow, I don’t think that’s what they’re getting at.
I would like to ask the DCS to investigate why these people are so lax in their supervision of their children that they are at risk of being exposed to porn…because thats the only possibly relevant complaint they can have. I mean porn is legal for adults unless I missed something. Its not Comcast’s problem they can’t stop complaining at get their children to stop watching pay per view porn.
i want to know how much they make from all the shitty Christian channels.
Of the great many things Comcast does wrong…. this topic is not one of them.
But to answer this “christian groups” concerns I would say the answer is “Comcast here is making just about the same money your church does by not having to pay taxes. Also… there’s the door, use it please on your way to your ‘high horse.’”
Of the great many things Comcast does wrong…. this topic is not one of them.
But to answer this “christian groups” concerns I would say the answer is “Comcast here is making just about the same money your church does by not having to pay taxes. Also… there’s the door, use it please on your way to your ‘high horse.’”
sorry for the double post. Consumerist is not playing well with my employers proxy server lately.
In a perfect world, Comcast would disclose the porn viewing habits of PTC and FotF members.
Whoa. People actually pay for porn?
If the big cable companies find a way around net neutrality, free porn will be the first on their agenda. As this is the internets biggest cash crop, I am sure they are investing millions to find ways to control access to porn.
6. ???
7. profit
If porn is no longer free, then the terrorists win
I’m trying to figure why this is any of the Religious Right’s business … but it’s not coming to me. I guess their assumed “entitlement to know” must be the product of their sanctimonious outrage.
Because this is a public corporation, and any shareholder is entitled to this kind of information.
If it’s freely-available information, why didn’t they just ask for it? Why make a big splash in the press and demand that government get it for them?
Sorry, but I don’t buy that they have any genuine desire for the information they say they want. What they’re doing is pandering to their own ferociously Puritanical followers. What they really need to do is grow up, and stop forcing the rest of the country to live according to the strictures of their own religion.
Ah, Christians – ruining the fun for everyone else for generations.
(This is not directed at Christians who manage to believe what they believe without imposing their views on everyone else. This is directed at the ones who made me spend my entire childhood hating myself for being gay. Fuck ‘em.)
In other words, born agains.
Actually not all born agains. My folks are born agains and are incredibly tolerant of my sexuality. I’ve never heard them utter a homophobic thing in my life (although they did make me go to church every Sunday, where I learned I was an evil person who was going to hell).
So in other words: They outsourced the job to professionals
While on the subject of cable television and Christians, why are there so many Christian channels polluting basic cable?
Dunno about basic cable, but the religious programs on the terrestrial stations are infomercials.
Notice no ads during them?
WWJD: kneel before porn stars and wash their feet.
There you go, bringing Jesus into that whole Christianity thing again.
And then tell them to repent and follow him? Yeah, that’s an important part everyone forgets.
I read an article once about investing in various “sin” markets.
http://www.bankrate.com/brm/news/investing/20000410j.asp
The idea is putting your money in the stuff that is supposedly morally on the downside will give you a nice return. It is an older article. I am going to look to see how some of these funds performed over the last decade.
i don’t see the problem. i’d like to see them try to prove that peddling porn has anything to do with character or public interest. as far as i know, it’s the public that’s buying the porn.
I’m pretty sure there was a study not that long ago that showed the average length of time that men watch porn is 7 minutes. Personally I’ve never had that problem
A coalition of Christian media watchdog watchdog groups needs to publicize whenever the members of Christian watchdog groups cheat on their wives.
I doubt it’s anywhere near the amount televangelists and conservative media watchdog groups trick people into “donating” each year.
Send us money or you’re going to HELL!
Actually they (Christians) don’t watch porn…… they just masturbate to pictures of jesus
quick edit: Not all Christians do just those crazy midwestern focus on the family types
I think Comcast should give a full accounting of the amount of money made on “porn”, including a detailed list of the movies purchased by members of the Parents Television Council and Focus on the Family.
Awesome! I can only assume this is for business reasons, right? So if the net profit from porn is greater than what ends up in the collection plate, can I start seeing some REALLY hot Sunday services from now on? “Reading from the Book of Jenna, in her letters to the Penthouse Forums, chapter 6: ‘Oh god, oh god…’”
Screw you jesus crew.
They set records for VOD porn sales when the Baptist Ministers conf. was in Alexandria VA.
I hope that “level-headed Focus on the Family” comment was a joke…
well, i’m sure its public interest that makes those channels very lucrative
Hey, keep it in church! I HATE when groups like that try to force their morality on others.
supposedly non-religious? as in they try to hide that? because last time i got a poll call from them, the lady wantedd to talk to me about god when i told her that no, i don’t think tv shows make you more violent, and that if your kid is watching something that objectionable then you are a bad parent.
I would like to see Comcast release this number, along with a graph proving that most of their porn revenue comes from the places, and even households, where the Christian Taliban members live.
… internet…
thank you, that it all