'Speechless' elicits strong reaction

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) - After pulling a paid program titled "Speechless: Silencing Christians" from the time slot immediately preceding President Obama's Monday night prime time press conference, WOOD TV8 received numerous e-mails and phone calls about the program.

The decision to pull the paid program from the slot was made about an hour before its scheduled air time at 7 p.m.

In a statement Tuesday, Diane Kniowski, the General Manager of WOOD/WOTV/WXSP, said, "The scheduling of the show slipped through our filters."

"We don't pre-judge people's ideas or opinions," she said. "However, we have restrictions on controversial programming and key time periods. We are willing to sell a paid program time period during traditional paid program times. We have offered them Saturday, Feb. 14, 2009 from 2-3 p.m. We have not heard if they have accepted that time period. If the show airs, we will have disclaimers at the beginning and end of the show stating that these are not the opinions or views of this station."