‘Blood Dolphins’ Not Expected To Air In Japan

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by Michael dEstries September 7, 2010
Categories: Animals, Film/TV
Tags: .

“We don’t show all the content from Animal Planet in America, and we won’t be showing that program. Our audience is largely made up of women and children, so we tend to focus on programs with cute animals.”

– A staffer at Animal Planet Japan talking to The Hollywood Reporter on the chances of Ric O’Barry’s new series Blood Dolphins ever making it to Japan. Maybe they should animate O’Barry or something.

About Michael dEstries

Michael has been blogging since 2005 on issues such as sustainability, renewable energy, philanthropy, and healthy living. He regularly contributes to a slew of publications, as well as consulting with companies looking to make an impact using the web and social media. He lives in Ithaca, NY with his family on an apple farm.

View all posts by Michael dEstries →
  • Neve

    I believe citing the targeted ‘demographic’ as a reason for not airing this program is misguided. Everyone has the ability to change the channel and not watch a program if they feel it is not for them or their children. By not airing the program at all, it is simply an excuse to block it from those that might have a genuine interest in viewing it. Once again, this is Japan blocking their citizens ability to obtain information in a reasonable and simple manner.

    • David

      It is not Japan doing anything. It is Animal Planet, actually Discovery, a private company making a business decision.

      TV stations stay in business by targeting their demographic. Yes people can just change the channel, which is exactly why they decided not to show it. People change the channel and their ratings go down. Lower ratings means they have to lower their ad rates. That means less income, so less money to develop and/or purchase quality programs. This means lower ratings. The circle continues until they go out of business. Or more likely they people who made the poor decision get fired and their replacements put on shows targeted for their demographic.

      • Jenn

        I understand issues with television stations and ratings…however, you have no idea if it would have low ratings or not unless it’s aired. There should be no reason for not airing this show.

        and the Japanese government carries a lot of weight over the people there..and seem to only let the people there know what the government wants them to know. Perfect examples: the issues in “the cove” and the whaling being passed off as “research.” These types of things are seemingly blocked from the public and what’s actually going on in their country should be something that they are made aware of.
        Seems very one sided there.

        No government is perfect…however,important issues such as animal welfare issues (and i’m sure others) should not be prevented. That way the people can help to decide themselves and what they will or won’t support.

        This is strictly my opinion….but i do agree with the Neve, people do have the choice to watch the show or not. And just because the alleged people watching is mainly women and children, doesn’t mean that they wouldn’t necessarily want to see the show…thats why its aired at night (when younger children are typically in bed) and its listed as “viewer discretion advised.”
        To only be airing things that are so called “cute animals”…is ridiculous and uninformative. There are many animals out there that aren’t strictly under the “cute animal” category, does that mean they should not get a variety or shouldn’t know about them!?

        what’s happening with the dolphins is important. Personally i think that the “head people” in Japan don’t want the whole country knowing what’s actually happening because they know a lot of people aren’t going to support it.

      • Sk1st

        Its a crime that our media has so much power to make decsions for US the people who watch TV. I love animal planet, I love it when they show full scale what is going on in the world today. How else with those who are bogged down with daily life to learn what is really going on and to decide to be a part of the action or to just continue on with their ignorant life doing nothing to help save our world and the animals/plants that will save us in the future. Show me the ugly, the bloody, let me cry and ask God WHY? But then give me a way to support or help. Don’t THINK for ME!!!

  • imforthewhales

    Japan cant handle the truth.

    • David

      No. Discovery won’t do anything to hurt their profits. Discovery and Animal Planet care more for their bottom line than for the dolphins.

  • imforthewhales

    As i said…Japan cant handle the truth.

    • David

      As I said…Discovery doesn’t want to run the risk of losing money, so they won’t even contemplate showing it. Even if they did most Japanese would shrug their shoulders and not care. But Discovery is afraid of a very small very vocal minority.

      Kind of the same reason for the whaling moratorium. The governments were afraid of a small vocal minority, rather than serving the large relatively silent majority. And that fear continues to this day.

  • imforthewhales

    As i said…Japan cant handle the truth.

    • David

      Comment has been removed.

    • David

      As I said…Discovery doesn’t want to run the risk of losing money, so they won’t even contemplate showing it. Even if they did most Japanese would shrug their shoulders and not care. But Discovery is afraid of a very small very vocal minority.

      Kind of the same reason for the whaling moratorium. The governments were afraid of a small vocal minority, rather than serving the large relatively silent majority. And that fear continues to this day.

  • http://facebook.com/ashhumphrey Ashley Humphrey

    Japan should air blood dolphins. All people and all ages should know that real loving dolphins are being killed. Lion king and other disney movies have where a cartoon dies/ no difference. All ages should know evil lives in our world and they can grow to understand to stop cruelity.

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