The 1998 Steven Spielberg film 'Saving Private Ryan' opens with some of the bloodiest battle scenes ever shown in a recreation of highly costly American landing on Omaha beach on D-Day. The movie, starring Tom Hanks, Tom Sizemore and Matt Damon, won five Oscars when it was released.
ABC stations raised concerns about the use of language and graphic nature of the violence in the long beach scene at the beginning of the movie.
However, the ban, which is due to the stricter rules being introduced by the FCC and the $500,000 fine imposed on CBS for Jackson's breast exposure, comes despite the movie having been shown twice before by ABC in its uncut form to commemorate Veterans Day in 2001 and 2002.
The Federal Communications Commission also defended the screening of the movie and its use of language two years ago to right-wing pressure group the American Family Association. In 2002 the FCC deemed the movie not to be profane or indecent.
The ABC affiliate stations not airing the movie included those owned by Cox Television, Citadel Communications, Belo Corporation, Hearst-Argyle and Scripps Howard Broadcasting.
The stations have said they are concerned that in light of the $500,000 fine levied on CBS, they too could find themselves caught out under the FCC's new, more austere anti-indecency standards.
ABC, which is owned by Disney, has said it has no problems with airing the movie on its network, which will begin showing at 8pm. ABC has also said it would pay any fine the FCC might impose, but stations are concerned that they might find themselves in trouble come licence renewal.
Ray Cole, president of Citadel Communications, said: "The Federal Communications Commission has changed its standards for certain content related to programming broadcast before 10pm."
To further cloud issues, Cole said that attempts to get an advance waiver from the FCC had failed. The watchdog refused to help, leaving stations in a quandary.
Similarly, Scripps Howard has dropped the film from its five ABC affiliates.
"Recent federal regulatory decisions on profanity appear to make it clear the FCC prohibits the broadcast of the type of profanity used in the movie," it said in a statement.
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