When it comes to indecency charges, LIN Television CEO Gary Chapman isn't leaving anything to chance - not even in his local newscasts. LIN, the 24th-largest station group, paid $200,000 to equip its 24 stations with devices that delay the broadcast of live signals and can replace video carrying indecent words or pictures. "News organizations can't control what is being said on the air all the time," Chapman explained during the National Association of Broadcasters show last week, "and this is just one more step we can take to comply with the current standards of indecency." The LIN purchase highlights how the fear of indecency fines has forced TV stations to at least consider vetting their newscasts with the help of protective devices. LIN is the first station group to install the signal-delay devices specifically-and consistently-for local newscasts. ABC, CBS, and NBC have similar systems but say they are deployed only in special circumstances.
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