Observers doubt FCC action against KDND-FM

Yes, this isn’t related directly to the Wii, but it’s news related to gamer culture in some odd manner (the need to get consoles and contests that reward people with hot, in-demand consoles) so we’re posting this anyway. Tagging this under off-topic.

Wired News reports that the FCC‘s lax oversight of the terrestrial radio industry may have contributed to the tragic and infamous “Hold your wee” incident. Donna Halper, a radio consultant and Emerson College journalism instructor, expounds:

There was a time when radio stations had to be more responsible … and understood they had a public-interest obligation, that they’re supposed to operate their stations in the public interest

…I understand regulation is a dirty word, and a lot of people feel like having the FCC all over us was so oppressive. But it prevented stuff like this from happening.

Lawyers representing Jennifer Strange – the contestant who died after entering the “Hold your Wee for a Wii” contest at the Sacramento radio station KDND-FM – is calling on the FCC to pull the license of KDND–FM.  However, observers note that FCC action is unlikely.

Jennifer Strange’s death due to water intoxication is the latest in a string of radio contest mishaps stretching back to the early 90s that went without FCC punishment.

Halper notes:

The only time the FCC rouses itself is to enforce obscenity laws…

…I’ll bet (a listener’s death) would have caused the FCC to get involved immediately. It might have caused the station to get fined or at least scrutinized. Let’s face it, somebody died. You would have had a lot of ‘splainin’ to do.

It’s just sad when disc jockey joke that someone might die, and they do.

Via Wired News

Yes, this isn’t related directly to the Wii, but it’s news related to gamer culture in some odd manner (the need to get consoles and contests that reward people with hot, in-demand consoles) so we’re posting this anyway. Tagging this under off-topic.

Wired News reports that the FCC‘s lax oversight of the terrestrial radio industry may have contributed to the tragic and infamous “Hold your wee” incident. Donna Halper, a radio consultant and Emerson College journalism instructor, expounds:

There was a time when radio stations had to be more responsible … and understood they had a public-interest obligation, that they’re supposed to operate their stations in the public interest

…I understand regulation is a dirty word, and a lot of people feel like having the FCC all over us was so oppressive. But it prevented stuff like this from happening.

Lawyers representing Jennifer Strange – the contestant who died after entering the “Hold your Wee for a Wii” contest at the Sacramento radio station KDND-FM – is calling on the FCC to pull the license of KDND–FM.  However, observers note that FCC action is unlikely.

Jennifer Strange’s death due to water intoxication is the latest in a string of radio contest mishaps stretching back to the early 90s that went without FCC punishment.

Halper notes:

The only time the FCC rouses itself is to enforce obscenity laws…

…I’ll bet (a listener’s death) would have caused the FCC to get involved immediately. It might have caused the station to get fined or at least scrutinized. Let’s face it, somebody died. You would have had a lot of ‘splainin’ to do.

It’s just sad when disc jockey joke that someone might die, and they do.

Via Wired News