The Broadcasting Act 1990 (Section 7) requires the Commission “to draw up, and from time to time review a code giving guidance as to the rules to be observed with respect to the showing of violence, or the inclusion of sounds suggestive of violence, in programmes included in licensed services, particularly when large numbers of children and young persons may be expected to be watching programmes”.
ITC Code
Portrayal of violence. The ITC programme code (section 1.7 and Appendix 2) contains detailed guidance for compliance, as a licence condition, by terrestrial, cable and satellite licensees. The code balances the need to reflect the violence of the real world with legitimate public concerns about its portrayal on television. Attention is drawn to the context, scheduling, channel and audience expectations. Specific guidance is given about any violent portrayal which may be easily imitated and about possible effects on the young and vulnerable. Graphic representation of sexual violence is very rarely justifiable.
Scheduling. Section 1.2 on scheduling and the ‘watershed’ is based on the principle of gradualism. 9pm is normally the point at which programmes may begin to move away from the family viewing time requirement that they may not be unsuitable for children. The watershed policy does not assume that all children are in bed by 9pm but signifies that from 9pm parents may reasonably be expected to share responsibility for their children’s viewing. The ITC’s latest annual survey The Public’s View 2002 showed that 97% of parents were aware of the Family Viewing Policy and 83% of all viewers correctly identified the 9pm watershed.
Film scheduling. A dual watershed system operates for films. No film rated ‘15’ by the British Board of Film Classification (BBFC) may normally be shown before 9pm and no ‘18’ rated film before 10pm. An exception is made for films shown on channels for which viewers take out a specific subscription. In recognition of this element of deliberate choice, some flexibility is given enabling some ‘15’ rated films to be shown at 8pm. All these rules are minimum requirements. No film rated ‘R18’, or material denied classification by the BBFC may be shown at any time.
Pay-per-view services. ‘Normal ‘watershed’ restrictions may be relaxed if a pin number system or equivalent is in place (section 1.4(ii)). As with other services, no ‘R18’ material or any work refused a BBFC certificate may be shown, but age-restricted films may be shown at any time subject to certain conditions.
Complaints
The number of complaints received about violence in 2002 totalled 77, similar to the 86 of the year before and much reduced from levels of a few years ago. Only four of these were adjudged to represent breaches of the Code but B4U, a channel showing films from India’s Bollywood, was fined £10,000 for including inappropriate violence in three films before the watershed (ITC news release 74/02).
ITC Research
The public’s view: The main instrument of ITC audience research, now produced with the Broadcasting Standards Commission, is a long established annual survey which has tracked attitudes since 1970 on a series of core questions, including the portrayal of violence. Viewers were asked about the amount of violence on television and 58% considered that there was too much (though only 44% of those aged 16 to 44). 30% of all respondents thought that there was too much and were offended by this. These figures show a rise in concern since 2000.
Violence on television in Britain. The first of a two part analysis of how the nature and content of violence affects viewers’ perceptions of their acceptability on television. The research carried out by the ITC, BSC and a group of broadcasters, looks at the sort of violence which concerns viewers, and why.
Television on trial. Citizens’ juries on taste and decency showed that the ITC’s approach to regulation is keeping pace with the opinions of the viewing public.
Violence and the Viewer. A joint working party of the ITC, BBC and BSC drew up a statement of common principles on the portrayal of violence on television, and made a number of recommendations.
Defining Violence: the search for understanding. Research commissioned by the ITC, BSC, BBC, Channel 4, Channel 5, ITV Association and BSkyB, looked at how and why viewers define screen violence as acceptable or disturbing.
Other Bodies
The Broadcasting Standards Commission (BSC) is a statutory body which monitors the portrayal of violence, of sex, and matters of taste and decency in television or radio programmes, including the BBC, or broadcast advertisements as well as looking at fairness and invasions of privacy. It may uphold complaints and require a broadcaster to publish a summary of its findings but, unlike the ITC, has no additional sanctions.
The British Board of Film Classification (BBFC) is an independent body which classifies films on behalf of local authorities, and videos under the Video Recordings Act 1984.
Further References
IBA/ITC Publications
* ITC Library bibliography: Violence on television
ITC programme code. 2001.
News releases 47/97, 53/97, 105/97, 11/98, Joint release with BBC and BSC, 20 July 1998.
Programme complaints and findings report. Monthly
Television: the Public’s View 1999. ITC, 2000
Violence on television in the UK, a content analysis. BBC/ITC. 1995
Violence on television in Britain, a content analysis. BBC/BSkyB/BSC/C4/ITVA/ITC. 1996
External Publications
Men Viewing Violence. BSC. 1998
CUMBERBATCH, Guy, Video Violence – villain or victim? London. Video Standards Council. 2001.
GAUNTLETT, David, Moving experiences: understanding television’s influences and effects. London: John Libbey, 1995
GUNTER, Barrie, Dimensions of television violence. Aldershot: Gower, 1985
GUNTER, Barrie, Television and the fear of crime. IBA. London: John Libbey, 1987
GUNTER, Barrie, Violence on television: what the viewers think. IBA. London: John Libbey, 1988
MORRISON, David. Defining Violence: the search for understanding. University of Luton Press, 1999.
June 2003
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