The following tragedy concerning Mike Hunt has already been included as one of porn's loses [1-6] in the legal arena this year.
Seattle- A late-night porn show, which has survived for more than 300 episodes, will probably disappear this month from Seattle's public-access television channel.
Tonight, the Seattle Community Access Network's board is scheduled to approve a definition of obscenity, months in the making, that targets the program's showcasing of porn-video clips. The new definition forbids showing sex acts that lack "serious literary, artistic, political, or scientific value."
Station management has tried to remove or tone down the show, "Mike Hunt TV," but decided not to revoke producer Mike Aivaz's access to airtime until clear rules could be written. Ann Suter, the station's executive director, says she didn't want to risk a free-speech lawsuit that would take up money and time.
Suter says the station has researched obscenity rules in other cities and believes the new definition can withstand legal challenges.
Also, she said, the board's new rule is part of a broader rewriting of policy covering copyright protection, fair distribution of time slots, and content.
"Our contract with the city says you can't broadcast obscene material," Suter said.
Aivaz said he should be allowed to show sex acts for a number of reasons: The program is unlikely to be seen by children in its 1 a.m. Thursday time slot; the same footage is sold at video stores, so he believes it doesn't violate community standards; and it is less offensive than violent acts the commercial networks show routinely.
Seattle Community Access Network board will meet at 6 o'clock tonight to consider new station policies, including a detailed definition of obscenity. SCAN is at 1125 N. 98th St., Seattle.
In a typical show, he also smokes marijuana and accuses President Bush of repression.
"This is my political speech," he said.
Anthony Riddle, executive director of the national Alliance for Community Media, said many communities argue over obscenity, but Seattle is the only city he's aware of where genital contact routinely appears on a community-access channel.
