• by Wayne Friedman , Staff Writer, September 12, 2005

Indecency--or freedom of artistic endeavors, to those who produce it--comes in all shapes and sizes.

A study by the Washington, D.C.-based Center for Creative Voices in Media and Fordham University says that media consolidation has been the fertile ground for indecency--that radio shows such as Howard Stern and Bubba The Love Sponge are prone to vulgarity because they are trying to lure advertisers.

The study didn't exactly go into TV too much--but an argument could be made there as well: In an effort to lure viewers--particularly younger viewers--networks such as Comedy Central and others take on riskier programming that contains more foul language.

Except that I don't buy it.

Typically, more independent media companies are the ones that need to take programming risks--to stand out from the established TV and radio shows. Those indie companies that don't have the marketing or distribution muscle can only rely on their creative wits.

The study blames a relaxation of media rules--especially the 1996 Telecommunications Act that deregulated the media and spurred consolidation.

The problem isn't consolidation; the problem is boredom. TV and radio producers consistently ante up creative choices. With the growing plethora of cable channels and other entertainment options, it's the only alternative. And this just may be a creative choice.

Indecency is a loaded word, to be sure. There are more complaints, the study says--but how much of this is organized work from the TV pressure group professional?

Where does it go from here? Swearing on cooking shows? Actual physical fights among sports or news opinion makers? Partially naked swimming events? It's hard to know. But that may not necessarily be bad--or indecent--in the particular context.

You can say that indecency is pushed by advertising sales. If that were the case, those rules would apply even more to the independent producer/cable TV network/programmer looking to stay afloat against the big, bad media giants.