“Pornography sells what millions of people want and want often.” Or that's at least according Melissa Lee, the host of CNBC's July 15 special, “Porn: The Business of Pleasure.”
Pitying the pornography industry is hard to do, but Lee managed it, focusing on the industry's financial woes. Morality, degradation, dissolution? For CNBC, they barely enter into it.
Lee did point out that some people aren't okay with porn, showing footage from a 1979 Women Against Pornography rally. “But porn's critics also include the religious, politically conservative, and family value activists who don't actuate women's growing power in the industry as proof that porn is a legitimate career for women,” Lee said. Silly prudes, standing in the way of women's legitimate careers in porn…
Lee made it sound as though the porn industry is about to tank, “fighting for profits,” during this “toughest time in the industry.” Porn, she said, is losing revenues because of piracy and the Internet. “DVD sales are sinking as much as 50 percent,” she lamented. “And even worse for the business, technology has given birth to free porn.”
The poor porn industry. Someone listening to Lee who didn't know what porn was might think it a wholesome contributor to society and the economy. But the suggestive video and stills that accompanied Lee's report told the real story.
Lee praised the industry's innovations, saying, “Today, thanks to technology, the peep show comes to you.” With the development of the VCR, “porn could be enjoyed at home by couples.” Lee later listed the top five Internet porn sites, in case viewers wanted to check them out.
Lee was hopeful innovation could rescue porn from its current predicament. “There are even next gen sex toys that could help drive the purchase of content,” she said. “The real touch is designed to let men feel what the porn stars feel, mimicking movements, temperature, and even lubrication. But until these new technologies catch on and help drive profits, not all studios will survive.”
Michael Leahy was the programs lone voice against the porn industry. Author of "Porn Nation" [1],he discussed his addiction to porn and how it cost him his wife and relationship with his two children. But even that was overshadowed by interviews with porn stars, including one Jesse Jane.
Jane resides in Oklahoma, prompting Lee to say, Despite its conservative values, Oklahoma is among the top 10 porn watching states in the country. Even though the porn industry is struggling, Jane is not. She has starred in popular porn films and makes a few strip dance appearances a year, making thousands of dollars. But rest assured, her 9-year-old son doesnt know what she does for a living. No big deal right?
And Lee did her best to paint the porn industry as no big deal – just another legitimate business struggling with tough times. But thankfully, porn hasn't reached that status – yet. Morality in the Media President Robert Peters wrote on July 15 [2] before the program aired, “Pornography defenders overlook at least three factors. First, much if not most pornography is consumed by a relatively small percentage of individuals who are addicted to it. Second, just because a person experiments with pornography or succumbs on occasion to the temptation to view it does not mean he is a devotee of it. And third, many visitors to 'adult websites' are minors.”
Maybe CNBC should do a special on how easy it is for minors to access pornography [3] on the Internet. Or one that goes into greater detail about the devastating effects porn had on Leahy's life. Or one with interviews with former porn actresses about what that life was really like. And, unlike this special which aired at 9 pm EST, CNBC could air it late at night, when children can't accidentally see it.