CBS drops Hitler series for fear of humanisation

CBS has more than 210 affiliates across the country, but only the two Texas stations have rejected the mini-series, which concludes Tuesday, a network spokesman said. It’s not the first time an affiliate has refused to broadcast network fare.

The management of CBS affiliate in Providence, Rhode Island, WPRI-TV, rejected a recent episode of CSI: Miami in which a nightclub caught fire, saying it would have been insensitive in the wake of a local nightclub fire that killed 100 people.

‘‘The affiliate has the right to decide what to broadcast in their local market,’’ said CBS spokesman Chris Ender.

The Hitler mini-series will be available to viewers in the Corpus Christi via the local affiliate of UPN, another network owned by CBS’s parent, Viacom.

Remy said the controversial film was brought to his attention last year by Jewish leaders who were upset about the possible humanisation of Hitler.

While the Anti-Defamation League initially opposed the mini-series, the group has since publicly supported it. But Remy said he also was contacted by viewers who expressed concern about the programme.

‘‘If it were a documentary or handled in an educational context that would be another story,’’ he said. ‘‘I do think people should learn about it because it’s the only way to prevent it from happening again, but this is entertainment.’’ (LAT-WP)