S & M For Kids

Last night, while channel surfing (always a mistake), I had the misfortune of coming upon a rerun of Fear Factor on FX. The segment featured an attractive woman, strapped in a torture chamber, screaming in terror while a hooded figure methodically pierced her flesh with about a dozen syringe needles.

Welcome to basic cable.

According to the Parents Television Council website, Fear Factor is the third-most-watched show among children 14 and under. My first question is "Where are the parents?" My second is "Why do I have to pay for this sickening trash?"

But the news is not all bad. The PTC is fighting back, and has setup a Capwiz alert you can use to fight for a la carte cable:

URGENT ACTION ALERT

FCC's Report Helps Cable Companies But Ignores Public Outrage Over Indecency

Contact Congress and Support "A La Carte" Cable Option

Yesterday, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) delivered a report to congress slamming the per-channel sale of cable programming, or "a la carte" cable subscriptions. An "a la carte" system would give parents the ability to choose which channels they want, and to pay only for those channels, rather than forcing parents to continue to subsidize extremely graphic sexual, profane and violent cable programming on channels they never watch.

But the Commission's report didn't even address indecency on cable - even though the gratuitous, graphic and sordid material so prevalent on cable is the primary reason so many parents are demanding "a la carte."

Earlier this week, the PTC released a Special Report that demonstrates exactly why parents need the "a la carte" option: Cable television is rife with the most licentious, decadent and perverse content imaginable. The PTC's report shows that obscene language, horrific violence and graphic sexual content are readily available on advertiser-supported basic cable during all hours of the day,"

We must warn you, the examples provided in the PTC's report are extremely graphic. Most adults will be shocked and disgusted by these content examples. Do not let any children see this report. But you need to read it to see what you -- and millions of other parents -- are forced to pay for in order to access the wholesome, family-friendly programming your family wants to see. You can also view a number of video clips from the actual cable broadcasts referenced in the report. But again - these examples are absolutely shocking. We cannot emphasize enough how graphic these video clips are.

To say that cable television is in the sewer would be an insult to sewage. Parents want and need to have the power to choose their cable networks. The cable industry won't do it, and the FCC won't do it, so we're taking our fight to our elected officials. Contact your representatives in Congress today to demand the FCC create a new report that addresses the issue of indecent content found on cable television programming, and ask your representative to support "a la carte" cable subscriptions.

A copy of your letter will be sent to all 5 FCC Commissioners and to your local media as well.