The Salt Lake City, Utah station that doesn’t bring you “New Normal” or “Saturday Night Live” is also opting out of NBC’s frosh serial killer drama “Hannibal.”
KSL-TV cited the level of violence in the show, a TV spin on the “Silence of the Lambs” franchise.
On the NBC affiliate’s Facebook page, KSL TV posted:
PROGRAMMING NOTE: After viewing the past few episodes, as well as receiving numerous complaints from viewers, KSL-TV will cancel the airing of the NBC show “Hannibal” on Thursday evenings. This decision was made due to the extensive graphic nature of this show. The time slot will be replaced with a special edition of KSL 5 News at 9 p.m.
NBC remains a valued partner to KSL-TV. KSL is confident that with the proliferation of digital media, those who wish to view the program can easily do so.
KSL TV, which has ties to the Mormon church, previously declined to air NBC’s “The Playboy Club” and “New Normal.” Station also does not air “Saturday Night Live.” Programming decisions, according to the station, stem from these shows not being “in accordance” with KSL’s “mission” and brand messaging.
One commenter on the “Hannibal” post declared that, while “not Mormon,” she’s “glad KSL has the guts to cancel the show.” Many on the Facebook post responded that viewers who don’t like the grisly show, however, can simply “change the channel” if they don’t like the programming.
