On Saturday, the Arabic-language network Al-Jazeera broadcast video of the hostages with their abductors giving the initial 48-hour deadline for their demands to be met.

CNN: Video shows American hostage beheaded

But the federal government is charged with responding to viewer complaints of "indecent" language and images on broadcast television and radio, which is subject to greater regulation.

CNN: High court rules for broadcasters on TV 'indecency'

Nikki Johnson said her parents were channel surfing Sunday -- looking for a cartoon for their granddaughter to watch -- when they saw video of their Shoshana being broadcast by Spanish-language television station Telemundo, before the family had even learned she was missing.

CNN: Families hoping for POWs' safety, speedy return

The dispute centres around the commercial value of broadcasting rights, and the BBC has been unable broadcast Welsh language music represented by Eos, the new collecting society for Welsh language composers and publishers, since 1 January.

BBC: Faders in studio

Now it's possible to date and measure those shifts in language, thanks to the Web, the online discussion groups, and all the databases of press stories and broadcast transcripts.

NPR: 'Talking Right': Why the Left Is Losing, Linguistically