"The Bedford Diaries," a new series on the WB network is all set for a March 29 debut on TV. However, the pilot episode has been available for the last few days on WB's website. Why? Because what we're going to see on TV in a couple days isn't the untampered original it should be. Thanks to a decision by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to fine networks for "indecent" material, the network has cut certain scenes from the premiere episode. So, what's available on the internet is the uncensored version, a concession to creator Tom Fontana, so that his creative vision isn't totally altered.

The Times article that covers this brings up another issue while downplaying the whole censorship thing (though, they do quote Fontana: "In more than 20 years in the business, this is the most chilling thing I've ever faced."). The other issue is that this sort of thing will encourage young people to ignore broadcast television and search out alternative vehicles to get the same entertainment -- for instance, computers or iPods. As Fontana says, "It's like they're telling people that broadcast television now has much less interesting stuff than you see on the Web or cable."

His point is certainly legitimate. There has been increasingly more concern that the younger generation is turning to the internet for news -- which is causing more than a few white hairs for the news industry. Now, young people are turning to the internet for the same entertainment that they used to access in its more traditional form -- not just movies and music, but television shows as well. The network executives should definitely think about the message they've just sent out by self-censoring the television version of Bedford -- that the "real thing" can only be found online. That's hardly good news for their industry.