Climate change and censorship

There is a brilliant BBC TV series called Frozen Planet. However the following has been reported:

An episode of the BBC's Frozen Planet documentary series that looks at climate change has been scrapped in the U.S., where many are hostile to the idea of global warming.​

British viewers will see all seven episodes of the multi-million-pound nature series throughout the Autumn.​

But U.S. audiences will not be shown the last episode, which looks at the threat posed by man to the natural world.​

It is feared a show that preaches global warming could upset viewers in the U.S., where around half of people do not believe in climate change.​

I think it is sad that people are not allowed to see this episode and make their own mind up. For me totally wrong decision, but I am totally ignorant of peoples feelings about this issue in America. So do you think this is right decision or is it censorship ?​

 

Well my very first question is "what channel?" I can only think of a few channels that would show documentaries, and this doesn't seem like any of them.

My next question is "if it's controversial, why not show it for the ratings alone?"

This all seems odd to me based on what I know about American media.

 

I'm still looking around the internet for more on this.

Discovery Channel will begin airing the 1st 6 series in the US in early 2012 - it's claimed they opted for only these 1st 6 due to a scheduling problem but have worked with BBC to include "elements" of the global warming episode in the final airing.

I'm confused for a couple of reasons:

1) Discovery Channel has definitely not shied away from the subject in the past - series like "Ways to Save the Planet" and "Global Warming - What you Need to Know" are examples.

2) Those in the US who reject the idea of climate change/global warming are in the minority, maintaining the position for purely political reasons.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/09/16/climate-change-poll-american-global-warming_n_966214.html

3) This minority is unlikely to be a Discovery Channel viewer anyway, as the programming often addresses other ideas they reject, such as evolution.

Discovery Channel viewers may very well push for the 7th episode to be shown, in it's entirety, possibly at a later date, if scheduling is truly the issue.

I suspect some in the British press might be jumping to conclusions.

 

If it's Discovery, I can't imagine them shying away from something like this. They have a substantial amount of global warming programing. My guess, without knowing any more than what's in this thread, is that the air date of the last episode would conflict with one of their big horses, like "Ice Road Truckers" or "Deadliest Catch". That's the most logical reason, anyway. It's not like they really shy away from controversy. Just like most American networks, so long as they're not going to offend their sponsors (and global warming would only offend oil companies, etc), they love controversy. See NYPD:Blue and Roseanne for examples.

 

I agree with the thoughts above.
And just want to add that they better not mess with my Deadliest Catch.

 

Another point.

It appears as if the last episode consists mostly of Sir Attenborough speaking about the global warming issue. As much as we Americans love a British accent (I love the sound of his voice particularly) Discovery might have been concerned that an entire episode devoted to a lecture which basically sings to the choir, would not have made great programming.