HBO Agrees To Air ‘Taxi To The Dark Side’ After Discovery Drops It For Being Too ‘Controversial’
HBO Agrees To Air ‘Taxi To The Dark Side’ After Discovery Drops It For Being Too ‘Controversial’
Taxi to the Dark Side, a documentary about an innocent Afghan taxi driver tortured to death by U.S. officials at Bagram Air Base, has received wide critical acclaim since its debut in April at the Tribeca Film Festival. The New York Times’s A.O. Scott said, “If recent American history is ever going to be discussed with the necessary clarity and ethical rigor, this film will be essential.”
Earlier this month, ThinkProgress reported that the Discovery Channel broke its contract to broadcast Taxi prior to the 2008 elections. With plans to take the company public, executives were afraid the “film’s controversial content might damage Discovery’s public offering.”
In a press release on Thursday, HBO announced that it has bought the rights to Taxi and will show the film in September 2008. TP reader Tim received a similar response from “Viewer Relations” at Discovery Communications, who said that they may also show the film on cable in 2009:
In its first, pay tv window, HBO will debut the film in September, 2008. We are proud that Taxi to the Dark Side will make its basic cable debut in 2009 on Investigation Discovery, the network dedicated to providing in-depth programs that challenge viewers’ perceptions on important issues shaping our culture and defining our world.
ThinkProgress spoke with an HBO spokeswoman who explained why the network picked up Taxi: “It’s a great film and HBO always goes after high quality docs.”
A source told ThinkProgress that Discovery agreed to the deal with HBO after intense public criticism — including from the netroots. Discovery executives were also reportedly anxious that if Gibney received the Oscar for best documentary feature, he would make a speech denouncing the network.
How convenient for Discovery that it is now willing to show the film on its own channel in 2009…after President Bush is out of office.
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February 22nd, 2008 at 4:32 pmBush’s whole pResidency has been lies, cover-ups, corruption, incompetence and cronyism; why should this be any different?
February 22nd, 2008 at 4:34 pmTaxi to the dark side
February 22nd, 2008 at 4:35 pmI personally would trade three airings of this film in prime-time for one gloves off investigation of this by congress… I think that the filmakers would agree.
February 22nd, 2008 at 4:39 pmsetting my Tivo!
February 22nd, 2008 at 4:41 pmDiscovery is demonstrating a cowardice that is shameful.
I’m glad that HBO has picked up the documentary so that, at least, it can be seen by some. However, it is not quite the same. HBO is a pay network, so only subscribers will be able to see the program. Whereas Discovery is a basic cable network where any cable viewer could have seen it. And Discovery’s concession to airing it next year is nothing more than insurance that they do not miss out on a potentially lucrative deal in the event the doc wins an Oscar.
Click here to see the REAL Best Picture Oscar nominees for 2008
February 22nd, 2008 at 4:47 pmAt least HBO has courage, even if Discovery doesn’t. One good thing about this whole flap — perhaps this has attracted the attention of more people who will make a point to watch it.
February 22nd, 2008 at 4:48 pmDiscovery Channel has NO discovery to SPEAK TRUTH TO POWER.
February 22nd, 2008 at 4:49 pmfarenheit 911 has never been showed on Commercial TV in America just shows how powerful Bush really is
Also after Bush leaves office and these films are shown to the American public it will be self realization time
February 22nd, 2008 at 4:53 pmHBO is great. We should move the debates to HBO because maybe they wouldn’t provide ridiculously biased coverage as is the case with CNN… then again, HBO suits would probably try to manipulate political discourse to suit it’s interests the same way human nature suggests that anyone would.
February 22nd, 2008 at 4:57 pm…after President Bush is out of office.
My thoughts exactly. But in the meantime, everyone is so intent on remaining afraid of this administration. I’ve never seen the likes of this before.
February 22nd, 2008 at 4:58 pmIf any right sider tells you the MSM is unbiased and ‘fair’, point them to the Discovery Channel decision not to air a documentary which highlights one of the most damaging parts of bush’s criminal enterprise. HBO does what it is supposed to do - Discovery Channel waits until the chimpster is in Paraguay.
Why does Discovery think we don’t deserve to know what is going on in our name?
February 22nd, 2008 at 4:58 pmI think the public will have their eyes opened about a lot of things in the post-Bush era.
February 22nd, 2008 at 4:59 pmIt’s a sad, sad commentary that Bush&Co have so much dictatorial power to squelch anything and everything that would reflect poorly on them, and demonstrate how manipulative, deceptive and secretive they have run this government.
good flick…makes u angry though.
February 22nd, 2008 at 4:59 pmAjuna Laguana: That’s a GREAT point. Why wouldn’t any mainstream media outlet air a very popular movie? Probably because they are all corrupt… Conglomerated media has far too much power and cannot be trusted, as absolute power corrupts absolutely.
February 22nd, 2008 at 5:00 pmYou know what the saddest thing is? When all of this Bush stuff gets declassified 20 years from now, the GOP will STILL be fooling people into voting them into power at the rate we’re going. We need to change that immediately.
February 22nd, 2008 at 5:01 pmIt’s a sad, sad commentary that Bush&Co have so much dictatorial power to squelch anything and everything that would reflect poorly on them, and demonstrate how manipulative, deceptive and secretive they have run this government.
Comment by Marie
Perfectly stated! The ‘real’ journalists of the past must be rolling in their graves over the MSM handling of the WORST PRESIDENT IN OUR HISTORY.
February 22nd, 2008 at 5:01 pmPlease watch this film if you can, support it & HBO’s choice to air it by your viewing. It’s hard to watch (as the real world can sometimes be), but needs to be seen…
February 22nd, 2008 at 5:03 pmWhy does Discovery think we don’t deserve to know what is going on in our name?
Comment by StratRat — February 22, 2008 @ 4:58 pm
I don’t think they care what we “deserve to know” or not. What they care about is the bottom line. If controversy were profitable, they’d be glad to air it. However, controversy causes friction with sponsors.
Still - it’s nice to see HBO pick up the slack a bit.
February 22nd, 2008 at 5:04 pmHBO will debut the film in September, 2008….SWEET!!! Just before the November Elections, reminding everyone about Republican Torture.
Bury the scum sucking brownshirt lockstep lemming neanderturds even further in the landslide election coming up.
Buck Fush
February 22nd, 2008 at 5:05 pmHBO gets better and better every year. I count on it to run the best series on TV.
February 22nd, 2008 at 5:05 pmGood for them for picking up this movie this fall.
Shouldn’t they be forced to change their name to the NonDiscovery Channel?
February 22nd, 2008 at 5:09 pmBushitco’s torture presidency will now live in infamy.
February 22nd, 2008 at 5:11 pmSince this airing is poised immediately prior to the November elections, I think that it will seal the fate of our “torture candidate” - McTortureCain.
February 22nd, 2008 at 5:11 pmFolks-
February 22nd, 2008 at 5:12 pmLet’s be honest, Network Executives know nothing about television~ let alone politics, why should we expect the same people who decided that “Two and a Half Men” and “The Biggest Loser” deserve to be renewed to have any backbone or intelligence at all?
The bigger question is why is this an issue for the entertainment industry? Why are filmakers on the cutting edge of these investigations? Are there no reporters anymore, no legislators who are willing to investigate? That is what turns this travesty against justice into a tragedy.
Does anyone know who owns the Discovery Channel? I’ve seen them do stuff with ABC, so I bet they are owned by Disney. That’s just a guess though, anyone know for sure? While it’s great that HBO is going to show the film, which is excellent, it won’t get a wide audience. It would be better if it was shown on basic cable, or even better network tv. Of course then Americans might have to confront what’s being done in our names. Better to live in denial, then to face the truth.
February 22nd, 2008 at 5:12 pmComment by Conservativeslayer — February 22, 2008 @ 5:12 pm
Discovery Channel is owned by Discovery Communications…
February 22nd, 2008 at 5:15 pmhttp://www.hbo.com/ apps/ submitinfo/ contactus/ submit.do?title=Documentaries&questiontype=documentaries
Here’s the link to write to thank HBO.
February 22nd, 2008 at 5:16 pmSorry to be off topic but this is a must read - John McCain, Then and Now. The people need to know more about his role in the Keating Five. Here’s the skinny and the official transcript of that meeting between S & L and 5 Senators. http://smirkingchimp.com/thread/13012
February 22nd, 2008 at 5:19 pmI noticed a huge influx of militarism on the Discovery channel and the History channel . Here’s some examples .
Along w/ the Animal Channel , the MILITARY CHANNEL .
Jingoism Galore .
“Weaponry “, show glorifying the greatness of Stealth Bombers or newest explosives .
“Explore America’s Arsenal “ another show about bombs and weapons .
“First Gulf War “ - looks like a Pentagon Production .
“stealth Secrets” - ah ya, the conditioning works well , we need it, it works and we need to be afraid .
“Top Sniper ” .
this just a few of the pro - militarism shows mixed in with the puppy shows and how to shows .
The Discovery channel is more concerned with offending the Pentagon FIRST, and the few complaints they might get from right , when they deviate from the normally PRO MILITARISM, PRO WEAPONS technology and weapons glorification orgies they regularly present. Other words they are full of crap .
February 22nd, 2008 at 5:21 pmComment by satirev — February 22, 2008 @
Thanks for that link.
More people need to know this.
February 22nd, 2008 at 5:21 pmsorry OT:
But message to any fellow Texans not familiar with the primary process. You must go to your voting location on March 4 and sign the Caucus petition.
Simply voting is NOT ENOUGH.
See for details.
February 22nd, 2008 at 5:27 pm#32 Yes, this is the same man who has been pretending to have changed his evil ways. He’s conned some of the people with his POW war hero stuff and that’s about to be scrutinized now as well. Evidently, he’s not quite the self-proclaimed “war hero” he purports himself to be. Some little thing like the collateral damage to his fellow marines in Nam thanks to his orders….small stuff like that. Like violating the Military Code of Conduct several times at Annapolis and having his Admiral pappy come in and clean up the mess….(sound like anyone else we know? the other one was the draft dodger whose mess is unlikely to be cleaned up for the next 5 decades!).
Yessiree, John McCain is the real deal, all right - the Maverick - what he’s real at is lying in our faces. This isn’t over for a very long time. No doubt this is a Pandora’s box for McCrazy and will drive him over the edge.
February 22nd, 2008 at 5:30 pmIf he thought Bushitco kicked him around the block during the primaries of 2000, this old fool ain’t seen nothin’ yet!
February 22nd, 2008 at 5:31 pmI hope this is the beginning of the end for McCorpse. Do I hear Schmuckabee chuckling in the background?
February 22nd, 2008 at 5:34 pmBack to the thread, though…..even I find myself falling into the trap of “american incredulity” which these neofascists absolutely counted on….everything from 911 through the present…..and any other false flag or diabolical scheme they’re concocting. It’s extremely difficult to conclude that the line of bullshit we’ve been fed about how great we are (that our politicians and president couldn’t possibily be screwing us) often stands in the way of Truth for us. Being open to truth or talking truth to power is not easy - especially when the people whom we’ve trusted most to represent us with honesty and integrity have failed us. This torture flick will be extremely difficult for good people who are truly patriotic (not the faux patriotism/hegemony) to view because it outs a very ugly truth about who we’ve become. I like to believe that George Bush and Dick Cheney are not me; in fact, they do not represent ideals to which I subscribe. However, to outsiders, they are “us” and this I find disgraceful and appalling.
They say “the truth shall set you free” and I’m dearly counting on that fact to assuage the pangs of disgust which course through my veins when I realize how thoroughly hypocritical our government has become. As they say “the enemy is often within” and we’re beginning to realize that this is so.
February 22nd, 2008 at 5:36 pmAnd on that note since I don’t have an anorexic cell in my body, I’ll barf in the nearest receptacle before eating dinner.
February 22nd, 2008 at 5:38 pmWe are proud that Taxi to the Dark Side will make its basic cable debut in 2009 on Investigation Discovery, the network dedicated to providing in-depth programs that challenge viewers’ perceptions on important issues shaping our culture and defining our world as long as it doesn’t offend any of our rich patrons and as long as it isn’t before the election. There, I fixed it for them.
What a bunch of cowards the people at Discovery are. I am very disappointed in them and will be letting them know what I think of their cowardice. Good for HBO for having the balls to show this important film BEFORE the election. It is especially important because McCain supports the things that Bush has done which means that he is quite likely to do the same.
February 22nd, 2008 at 5:45 pmE-mail the people at Discovery and let them know what you think about their cowardice:
http://extweb.discovery.com/viewerrelations
February 22nd, 2008 at 5:51 pmu guys do know this movie is available thru bit torrent right?
February 22nd, 2008 at 5:56 pmYes, this is the same man who has been pretending to have changed his evil ways. He’s conned some of the people with his POW war hero stuff and that’s about to be scrutinized now as well. Evidently, he’s not quite the self-proclaimed “war hero†he purports himself to be.
Here’s the war hero the right is talking about:
http://www.usvetdsp.com/ jan08/ mccain_military_record.htm
February 22nd, 2008 at 6:03 pmI hope this is the beginning of the end for McCorpse. Do I hear Schmuckabee chuckling in the background?
Comment by Exit Stage Left
I’m kind of hoping it’s not the end for him. I want him to be the candidate. If he drops out now, we will probably bet Romney back or end up with Huckabee, even though I think they would both be easy to beat too.
February 22nd, 2008 at 6:05 pmDiscoveries purchase was likley purchased with Texas money - to tie up its broadcast rights for 3 years and keep it off the air.
February 22nd, 2008 at 6:55 pmI’m blocking Discovery Channel, why don’t you?
February 22nd, 2008 at 8:05 pmSeptember is too late. Its got to be shown earlier.
February 22nd, 2008 at 8:12 pmComment by good_golly — February 22, 2008 @ 11:41 pm
When you’re only shown on 14 screens nationwide it’s kinda hard to post million dollar numbers… considering that this is a documentary and cost a pittance to make I think that they did fairly well…
February 23rd, 2008 at 12:55 amHow much has Hillary- The Movie made? Farenhype 911? what did that one pull down?
Comment by good_golly — February 22, 2008 @ 11:41 pm
Not that it matters, but Citizen Kane also BOMBED in the theater… it is now considered the greatest film of all time…
Box Office equals quality and importance only in the twisted minds of those who believe that “Armageddon” and “Titanic” were among the greatest stories ever shot on celluloid.
They’re admittedly fun but hardly “essential.”
February 23rd, 2008 at 1:04 amThis movie was so “essential†that it BOMBED in the theater.
Gross
$62,559 (USA) (10 February 2008)
$31,958 (USA) (3 February 2008)
$24,071 (USA) (27 January 2008)
$13,656 (USA) (20 January 2008)
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0854678/business
Comment by good_golly — February 22, 2008 @ 11:41 pm
Movies are generally measured on return per screen, not total gross, especially small release films that don’t have the general release of a large corporate outlay. But PLEASE don’t save us from your CONTINUED IGNORANCE!! ROTFL!! POOR LITTLE TARD!
February 23rd, 2008 at 3:32 amFreedom of information. How can people make decisions on things if they don’t have the necessary information? Go HBO for not censoring…
If you’re a drudge fan: drudgetracker.com
February 23rd, 2008 at 3:12 pmI GUESS DISCOVERY’S MILITARY CHANNEL LIKES TO SHOWCASE A CONSTANT DIET OF HARDWARE THAT PROMOTES SANITIZED DEATH AND DESTRUCTION……JUST NOT THE REALITY OF THAT HARDWARE
DISGUSTED? YEAH ME TOO….. that’s why i sent them an email they won’t forget….
comments@discovery.ca, comments@discovery.com, writeus_aunz@discovery.com
February 23rd, 2008 at 6:24 pmSorry, almost all of you guys are clueless. I’ve worked for both Discovery and HBO….
Discovery is an ad-supported cable network. HBO does not have advertising. If you are an advertiser you are for the most part not going to touch anything that is so clearly negative and/or controversial, period. Even in a broad sense, if I were an advertiser I would consider it much more risky to advertise on a cable network that airs programming like this, so I might be inclined to spend my money elsewhere.
The other consideration is that virtually no one watches programs like this. The ratings for most HBO documentaries are generally extremely low, but HBO doesn’t really care (they have so much money that they don’t really pay attention). Similarly documentaries are very cheap to acquire (typically less than $100K), so it just doesn’t make much difference to HBO either way.
February 23rd, 2008 at 7:50 pmOh, jake is back. Yippee. A couple years older and still a troll.
February 24th, 2008 at 1:00 amLet’s have a wager, how soon HBO will announce that it pulls the film because it’s too controversial, or anti-semitic, and they received so many calls expressing concern. I say, in two weeks from now. Quite likely, there will be some apologies forthcoming for offending the feelings of victims of 9/11, or of Holocaust survivors, or something else.
February 24th, 2008 at 1:04 pm> Why does Discovery think we don’t deserve to know what is going on in our name?
Discovery does not think that. As they said, this has nothing to do with the public or journalism, but instead with their stock offering. It’s pure business decision, and most likely it’s right decision, i.e. they would indeed lost money. If public company acts not in the best interest of shareholders, the shareholders can sue it. From the moment media organization becomes public, you can’t expect them to be driven by public interest, or journalistic ethics and so forth.
February 24th, 2008 at 1:17 pm> Why wouldn’t any mainstream media outlet air a very popular movie? Probably because they are all corrupt…
No, it’s simpler. MSM is funded by advertising. If they go for such movie, significant part of advertising will be pulled. Unlike jake1234, I did not work for the media, but it’s obvious even for me.
February 24th, 2008 at 1:32 pmHow convenient for Discovery that it is now willing to show the film on its own channel in 2009…after President Bush is out of office.
When the hell should they screen a film on TV that is currently screening in cinemas, you nimrod ?
When Sicko was released in cinemas, there wasn’t 1 single person here who retarded enough to protest that it also wasn’t on their TV at the same time.
Yet everyone agrees it’s just an outrage in this case. For no other reason than this is what you are told to be outraged about. Not a independent thought among you. And then you laugh about republicans being lost without their talking points. FFS.
February 24th, 2008 at 6:06 pmAnd do you think it would do better or worse if it was also screened on TV at the same time it was in cinemas ?
February 24th, 2008 at 6:12 pmThe fkn stupity here, it’s amazing.