Are networks washing hands of controversial 'Passion'?

Despite being the year's biggest box-office blockbuster so far,"The Passion of the Christ" seems unlikely to find a home on the fourbiggest broadcast networks.

Mel Gibson's Icon Productions has been shopping the movie to TV.Only ABC has confirmed turning it down, but executives speaking oncondition of anonymity said it was doubtful for CBS, NBC and Fox,too.

The movie's graphic scenes of Jesus Christ's crucifixion were saidto make broadcasters skittish, particularly in the post-Janet Jacksonera when government officials are closely watching what goes ontelevision.

"There might be a lot of baggage because of the violence," saidBrad Adgate, an analyst for the ad buying firm Horizon Media. "Thatcan put some pressure on advertisers not to buy this."

Fox is awaiting the evaluation of its broadcast standardsdepartment before making a decision on whether to pursue airing it,the network's entertainment chief, Gail Berman, said.

The Hollywood agent who's offering a licensing deal to networks onbehalf of Icon, Jeff Berg, would not comment on any negotiations.

"The Passion of the Christ" has earned $360.9 million domesticallysince its Feb. 25 opening.

In an era when networks and studios have tie-in deals that governwhere many theatrical releases will first be seen on television,Gibson's movie is a rare free agent. Movie licensing fees are usuallytied to box-office success, which would seemingly put "The Passion"in position for a lucrative payday.

There's a chance that some of the initial network coolness towardproposals by "Passion" producers could simply be a negotiatingtactic.

NBC and CBS executives confirmed they had been pitched the moviebut declined to comment further. "We're not doing it," ABCentertainment spokesman Kevin Brockman said. He would not say why thenetwork turned down "The Passion."

Besides the film's violent content, a television network that airs"The Passion" would also inherit controversy about it. Some Jewishorganizations objected to the movie for fear it would cause bad bloodbetween Christians and Jews.

NBC aired the Holocaust tale "Schindler's List" uncut and withoutcommercial interruption in February 1997, a broadcast sponsored byFord. NBC estimated 65 million people saw all or part of the film.

Content issues aside, broadcast networks have been de-emphasizingtheatrical movies in recent years, figuring many viewers preferseeing them in theaters, on DVD or on commercial-free cable.

The movie has also reportedly been shopped to pay cable networks,where content would not be much of an issue. HBO would not comment,but executives there have privately said the network has a full plateof movie premieres already scheduled for the next year.

Showtime has passed on the movie, a network spokesman said.

The Starz pay cable network hasn't made a decision. The networkmay be hindered by money troubles; it announced last year it wascutting 100 jobs and closing four regional offices.

Whether or not to air "The Passion" will be a programmingdecision, not a financial one, spokesman Tom Southwick said.

Brent Bozell, the founder of the conservative media watchdog groupthe Parents Television Council, said if broadcast networks turneddown "The Passion" because of disturbing scenes, "then there isrampant hypocrisy in the halls of Hollywood.

"There doesn't seem to be a problem with other violent content,"he said.

The council has called on TV networks to stop airing graphicallyviolent material. But it sent an alert to all of its members earlierthis year, urging them to go to the theater to see "The Passion."