The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (often inadvertently referred to as the Mormon Church) is known for its preference for more conservative media. The booklet issued to the youth in The Church of Jesus Christ says, “Do not attend, view, or participate in anything that is vulgar, immoral, violent, or pornographic in any way. Do not participate in anything that presents immorality or violence as acceptable” (For the Strength of Youth, “Entertainment and Media”). KSL, a Utah TV station owned by The Church of Jesus Christ and an NBC affiliate, has adopted these same standards and will often choose not to air shows that are accepted and available on other networks. [1]
KSL Pulls “Hannibal” Show from Lineup
The KSL executives thought that the pilot for “Hannibal,” a prequel series to the 1991 film Silence of the Lambs, was borderline on acceptable violence, but decided to chance it. As the show progressed, however, the episodes became more and more graphic, drawing many complaints from TV viewers. The network decided to pull the program, replacing it with a network-produced news special.
Pulling Inappropriate TV Shows Is Not New for KSL
KSL has always maintained a higher standard for their programming. Back in 2002, the network ceased airing the popular show “Saturday Night Live,” and just last fall decided against scheduling “The New Normal,” a show about a gay couple, into their lineup. These decisions are not universally popular. Other networks defend their choice to air such programs; for instance, because “Hannibal” is aired at night, adults don’t have to worry about their children being exposed to the violent show.
KSL’s decision to reject “The New Normal” wasn’t well received by the rest of the entertainment industry. KSL executives asserted that the show was too crude and explicit to air during family time, but the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation hurled harsh criticism at the network.
Apart from the stated reasons for deciding against “The New Normal,” The Church of Jesus Christ is not shy about its opposition to same-sex marriage. A church-owned TV network is well within its rights to refuse a program that is in direct defiance to their corporate values.
KSL Is a Network Unique in Entertainment
KSL’s decisions to pull shows from its lineup are not well-received by everyone. Many viewers are eager to point out that those who do not like a show are under no obligation to watch it. While that is true, the network shouldn’t be under a commitment to air shows that contradict its values or mission. KSL does not have a monopoly on the TV available in Utah, and those shows not aired on KSL are still available on NBC. KSL is not in the business of censorship but rather places a high value on quality entertainment.
A network that seeks to uphold high standards in today’s degenerate entertainment industry is refreshing. While KSL will probably continue to receive criticism and backlash from its programming choices, the network will continue to provide appropriate and quality entertainment options.
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Charlotte graduated from Brigham Young University with a bachelor's degree in English, with an emphasis in editing. During her education she interned with the Neal A.Maxwell Institute for Religious Scholarship, BYU Publications, and the New Era magazine. Charlotte currently lives in Portland, Oregon, with her husband and son. She's a stay-at-home-mom and has been able to keep up her writing through maintaining a personal blog (smallandtrivial.blogspot.com).
