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November 10, 2006
CNN Remixes Itself
Posted by Alan Wexelblat
The questions of copyright and "official" versions just keep getting funnier.
This time we have CNN attempting (apparently successfully) to force YouTube to take down as copyright violation the original broadcast version of a show. But they have no problems with YouTube copies of an edited version, which they themselves showed.
Confused? Me too. Here's what I can piece together:
Bill Maher guests on Larry King Live. This show is shown live to parts of the US (East Coast) but rebroadcast from tape for later time zones (West Coast). On the live version, Maher made some remarks suggestiong that RNC Chairman Ken Mehlman is gay. My hipper gay friends tell me this is an open secret. He's closeted and all that, but yeah he's gay. OK, whatever.
Except CNN doesn't seem to like those remarks so when Maher's appearance gets rebroadcast for the later showing those comments are edited out. Of course people notice (duh, CNN really doesn't get it) and people who recorded the original version post it to YouTube. People also post the edited version. CNN sent a copyright violation letter to the person who posted the original, unedited version, and then edited its online transcript of the show to match what was later shown.
Here's the Americablog entry, which contains both the cease-and-desist letter and a link to the Huffington Post blog, which has the entire video and the screaming headline "CENSORED BY CNN".
Way to publicize a controversy and make yourselves look like idiots, guys.
Comments (7)
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1. Justin C on November 13, 2006 5:00 PM writes...
As many people have pointed out in other places: it's just good reporting. You don't air unsubstantiated, potentially inflammatory information like this. Bill Maher might be wrong -- CNN doesn't have information either way. Thus, it should not show the interview.
Permalink to Comment2. Neil D on November 13, 2006 5:05 PM writes...
Larry king is an interveiw show, it stands to reason that thing stated by the interveiwees are their oppinions, not fact.
Permalink to Comment3. Dan on November 13, 2006 5:16 PM writes...
I live on the West Coast (near Seattle) and saw the entire interview, complete with Bill Maher's outing of the Ken Doll.
To Justin C, CNN airs interviews all of the time where people give their opinions and state unsubstantiated facts. Just look at that horrible Nancy Grace show for proof. Besides, this Larry King show wasn't a news report, it was an interview with a comedian.
CNN is trying (and failing) to cover their ass, probably because they got a letter from a republican lawyer. It's hardly censorship when the story about the censoring becomes bigger than what was censored.
BTW, I am a gay man, and have had no problem being open about it for years, but lately I keep it to myself because I don't want anyone to think I'm a republican. Republicans are giving gays a bad name.
Permalink to Comment4. django on November 13, 2006 5:45 PM writes...
I dont see why they cut it out. People say things all the time but it shouldnt be censored like that, it wasnt a cuss word or anything. Oh well, who really cares anyway, we got bigger problems than this, although it kinda shows their mentality on censorship.
Permalink to Comment5. SportsSEO on November 15, 2006 10:27 PM writes...
Is it just me or is CNN having a bad few months in terms of publicity. They need to come up with a new PR plan or many may start to look at the network as a bit of a joke.
Permalink to Comment6. drwex on November 17, 2006 10:00 AM writes...
CNN has been having a bad time of it since Ted Turner let go of the reins. They've been slipping badly in terms of focus and quality across the board.
Permalink to Comment7. Gebäudereinigung on March 22, 2007 7:28 PM writes...
Hi, Larry king is an interveiw show, it stands to reason that thing stated by the interveiwees are their oppinions, not fact.
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