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Home > TV > Broadcast Bulletins > Ofcom Broadcast Bulletins > Issue number 145 09/11/09


Broadcast Bulletin Issue number 145 09/11/09

Standards cases

In Breach

Islam in Focus
Peace TV, 31 July 2009, 16:10

Introduction

Peace TV is an international satellite television channel, which describes itself as providing “Islamic spiritual ‘edutainment’.” Islam in Focus consisted of a public lecture (“the Lecture”) in front of an audience, in English, by a religious speaker, Hamood Ashemaimry. In the Lecture, entitled “How to build a righteous family”, the speaker set out, in his opinion, what the rights are of husbands and wives, in the context of creating a righteous family from an Islamic viewpoint. For example, the speaker said:

“If we have righteous families, we gonna have a righteous society; especially you my brother and sister, who living in non-Islamic country.”

A complaint objected to part of the Lecture which, it considered, suggested that it would be permissible for husbands to beat their wives. During the Lecture, the speaker said the following
 
“[A husband] should not beat [his wife] first. He should not beat her face or beat her violently. Many people misunderstand this, you know, three solution for, you know, evil women or a evil wife, or wife who is not listen to her husband. You advise her first; you disregard her in bed; you bring a mediator from her family – somebody between you to sort the problem. And then if she doesn’t – then you beat her. But beat her – it doesn’t mean to break her ribs. Beat her, tap her on her shoulder. Just let her feel you’re angry. You know the worst thing – even they listen to me, the sisters – the worst thing for a lady, just disregard her in bed, for one week, or two. This is a good solution for a quarrel wife. Don’t go to beating first of all. Try this, it works.”

Ofcom asked Peace TV for its comments under the following Rules of the Code:

Response

Peace TV said that the speaker in this programme was setting out how to build a “ Righteous Family”, which according to the speaker would lead to a “Good Society” and by extension a “Peaceful World.” In doing so, according to the broadcaster, the speaker outlined “the relationship between husband and wife and in particular the rights of one upon the other using Islamic teachings, and the consequence of divorce of not knowing each other’s rights.” In particular, the speaker had said:

In relation to Rule 2.3, Peace TV said that the reference to a husband being able to beat a wife could be justified by the following contextual factors:

In relation to Rule 2.4, Peace TV said it did not believe the Lecture in any way condoned or glamorised violent, dangerous or seriously anti-social behaviour, or encouraged others to copy such behaviour. In addition, the context of the Lecture was based on advice as to how to build a “Righteous Family” and by extension a “Righteous Society” and a “Peaceful World.” The broadcaster said that it would not be possible to give such advice if the Lecture was condoning or glamorising violent, dangerous or seriously anti-social behaviour or encouraging others to copy such behaviour.

In summary, Peace TV said that: “It is a fact that one of the units of society (and still today in Islam) is the family and the speaker attempt[ed] to focus the talk initially on marriage as an integral part of building a righteous family by focussing on the rights a woman has on her husband; he then went on to deal with remedies where there are severe and on-going problems within the relationship in understanding each other’s rights.”

Decision

Ofcom notes that a number of its licensees will broadcast programming that will derive from a particular religious or spiritual viewpoint, and that such programming will include advice to followers of particular faiths as to how to lead their lives. It is therefore unsurprising if at times such advice might cause offence to different sections of the audience. Ofcom therefore recognises that it would be an unacceptable restriction on a broadcaster’s freedom of expression (-1-) to curtail the transmission of certain views, just because they cause offence.

However, in broadcasting such content, broadcasters must be aware of the need to ensure compliance with the Code. In particular, in one segment of the Lecture, the speaker stated that it is permissible to “beat” a wife in certain circumstances. Ofcom considered whether this reference complied with Rules 2.3 and 2.4 of the Code.

With regard to Rule 2.3, Ofcom noted that this programme: was broadcast on a channel aimed at international Islamic viewers; and included the Lecture, in which the speaker gave spiritual advice to husbands and wives as how to behave in the context of building a “Righteous Family”. Ofcom noted that during the Lecture: the speaker laid out a list of prescriptions which a husband should adhere to in treating his wife; and that many of these could be portrayed as encouraging a husband to treat his wife with respect. For example, at different times in his lecture, the speaker said the following, as regards to how a husband should treat a wife:

“He should treat her kindly”;

“He should not mock her or hurt her with his tongue”;

“He should accept her as she is;” and

“He should guide her warmly and lovingly.”

Even though the broadcaster stated that the speaker said that a husband should only “tap” his wife on the shoulder and not “beat her face or beat her violently…or break her ribs”, Ofcom considers that the speaker was clear that some form of beating was acceptable – as a last resort after other tactics had been used to resolve a dispute with a wife. The passage was clear that a husband could use physical violence.

Ofcom rejected Peace TV’s representations that just because some of the advice given by the speaker advocated a husband treating his wife with respect, that it would follow that “he would not be advocating actions to cause a wife any physical harm.” The speaker used the verb “beat” three times and “beating” once in the context of a husband chastising his wife. It considered that the speaker was clear in his advice, namely, that he was encouraging what could be portrayed as domestic violence in certain circumstances.

Ofcom considers that the advice given to viewers that it was permissible for a husband to beat his wife, even if according to the broadcaster it was to be only in certain circumstances, and undertaken with restraint, would be offensive to many in the audience. Further Ofcom considered that this offensive material could not be justified by the context. This was because of for example: the lack of any mediating or counteracting views, within the programme, to the speaker’s advocacy of beating; and that, in general, the high likelihood that many in a UK audience would find any advocacy and support at all of domestic violence – which is of course potentially criminal under UK law – to be highly offensive. The programme was therefore in breach of Rule 2.3.

With regard to Rule 2.4, the relevant test is that content must not: firstly, taking into account the context, condone or otherwise glamorise violent, dangerous or seriously antisocial behaviour; and secondly, be likely to encourage others to copy such behaviour. Ofcom considered these two issues in turn.

Ofcom noted Peace TV’s comments that it would not have been possible for the Lecture to have shown how to build a “ Righteous Family” (and by extension a “ Righteous Society” and a “ Peaceful World”) if it had included material that condoned or glamorised violent, dangerous or seriously antisocial behaviour. However, Ofcom considered that the stated subject matter and aim of the Lecture did not obviate the fact that in this case the speaker was unambiguously advocating a form of violent behaviour i.e. domestic violence. This and the fact that the Lecture was a serious, religious lecture aiming to provide spiritual guidance, could not, in Ofcom’s view, give enough contextual justification to suggest the speaker could not be reasonably portrayed as condoning violent behaviour.

In addition, Ofcom considered that the advice on beating wives within the Lecture: was delivered in a serious and measured manner by the speaker; and on a channel specialising in dispensing Islamic spiritual advice. There was therefore a strong likelihood that such advice could be construed as likely to encourage others to copy such behaviour.

Given the above, Ofcom considered that the programme was in breach of Rule 2.4.

Breach of Rules 2.3 and 2.4

Footnotes:

  1.- As enshrined in Article 10 of the European Convention on Human Rights.

In Breach

Babeworld TV
Babeworld TV, 28 May 2009, 23:30

Promotion of the www.babeworld.tv website address
Babeworld TV, prior to 13 August 2009

Introduction

Babeworld TV is a chat and adult-sex chat channel available without mandatory access restrictions in the adult section of the Sky electronic programme guide (“Sky EPG”). It broadcasts programming based on interactive daytime and adult-sex chat services: viewers are invited to contact on-screen presenters via premium rate services (“PRS”). After the 21:00 watershed in particular, the presenters dress and behave in a sexually provocative way.

Babeworld TV
Ofcom received a complaint that at around 23:30 on 28 May 2009 a female presenter, wearing only skimpy underwear including a G-string, showed clear and close-up images of anal and vaginal detail to camera. Ofcom viewed a recording of the programme and noted that the presenter lay on her back with her legs up in the air and apart talking on the telephone. On five occasions she pulled aside the G-string she was wearing to reveal briefly her vagina and anus. This occurred during a time period of just under three minutes.

Promotion of the www.babeworld.tv website address prior to 13 August 2009
In addition, whilst monitoring the material as described above, Ofcom noted that the broadcaster had included in its programmes on-screen promotional references to its website www.babeworld.tv. When accessed by Ofcom, this website featured sexually explicit R18 equivalent material which could be readily viewed without registration to the website. Although this pornographic material was not broadcast on-air, Ofcom was concerned that it appeared on a website being promoted on an Ofcom licensed service (Babeworld TV) from 21.00.

Ofcom sought comments from the licensee, Babeworld TV Limited (“Babeworld”). These comments were in respect of how the graphic shots of the presenter and the promotion of a website featuring unrestricted R18 equivalent (-1-) material complied with Rules 2.1 (generally accepted standards) and 2.3 (offensive material must be justified by context) of the Code.

Response

Babeworld TV
In its response, the licensee said that the presenter was tugging on her G-string and was unaware part of her bottom was showing for a short period of time. It said the presenter’s behaviour was noted by its onsite compliance officer and that the presenter is seen on screen being told what had occurred. Babeworld said that this was a “ one-off accident” that was not prolonged and it therefore did not consider that it constituted a breach of the Code. It said that “no reasonable adult would find any of our content out of context with what they would expect to find in the Adult area of the EPG listing”. It continued that this programme was clearly an adult programme, in the adult section of the EPG, broadcast from 10pm and that it should therefore be allowed to rely on the context.

Promotion of the www.babeworld.tv website address prior to 13 August 2009
With reference to the promotion of its website, Babeworld said that it was only promoted after the watershed and that the material available on it was only possible to view after a user had confirmed he was over 18 years of age. However, the licensee confirmed that it had removed the content Ofcom had concerns about even though it said it was not aware that Ofcom regulated the content on internet sites. The broadcaster asked Ofcom to provide details of the legislation that gave it the power to regulate internet sites so that it could understand this area more fully.

In summary, the broadcaster disputed that it had breached any part of the Code with regard to the matters Ofcom had raised.

Decision

Babeworld TV
During the programme investigated of 28 May 2009, the female presenter was shown to move her left hand down to her crotch and then pull the string of her G-string to one side to show viewers clear, unambiguous and close-up shots of her vagina and anus. She repeated this action five times in just under three minutes. In Ofcom’s view it is a breach of generally accepted standards and offensive to broadcast such images on a service without mandatory access restrictions unless they are justified by the context. According to Rule 2.3, context is judged by a variety of factors such as the editorial context of the service, the time of broadcast and the effect on viewers of coming across the material unawares.

Ofcom has previously and repeatedly published clear guidance regarding content broadcast by ‘adult-sex chat’ services in the adult section of the Sky EPG, where the material is free-to-view and broadcast without mandatory access restrictions. This guidance stated that material of a sexual nature broadcast after the 21:00 watershed must be appropriately limited and justified by the context to ensure compliance with generally accepted standards (-2-). It has also repeatedly made it clear that the location of a channel in the adult section of the Sky EPG does not in itself provide sufficient protection from the potential to view offensive material or sufficient ‘programme’ context for its broadcast.

As regards context, Ofcom noted that the programme was broadcast well after the 21:00 watershed. It judged however that the repeated and seemingly deliberate actions by the presenter to show her vagina and anus had either no, or a completely insufficient, justification in the context. Ofcom considered that the actions of the presenter were clearly not a “one-off accident” because she needed to act with deliberation to locate the string with her fingers and then move it to the side. Also the action was repeated five times in total. Ofcom questions the speed with which the on-site compliance officer reacted to the presenter’s behaviour, given that the presenter only appeared to be informed of the incident while she was on screen once she had changed position and the G-string was back in place.

In Ofcom’s view the overriding purpose of broadcasting ‘adult-sex’ chat material is to elicit premium rate service telephone calls or texts. The broadcast of such sexually explicit material without mandatory access restrictions requires far stronger justification than was provided by Babeworld in this case. In Ofcom’s view, even though viewers of ‘adult-sex’ channels are used to a great extent to the type of material they show, the degree of offence capable of being caused by the broadcast of the very explicit images shown in this case was likely to be considerable. In Ofcom’s view, this material would have exceeded the likely expectation of the audience, especially for viewers who may have come across it unawares.

For all these reasons, this content was offensive and not justified by context, and so breached generally accepted standards. It was therefore in breach of Rules 2.1 and 2.3 of the Code.

Promotion of the www.babeworld.tv website address prior to 13 August 2009
Ofcom asked Babeworld twice in July 2009 to comment on why it believed it was acceptable to make promotional references to the www.babeworld.tv website on its service when the site contained unprotected R18 equivalent material. The broadcaster finally responded on 13 August 2009, when it confirmed that R18 equivalent material had been removed but queried Ofcom’s power to regulate promotional references made on air to websites.

The content of websites is not broadcast material, and therefore not subject to the requirements of the Code. However, any promotional references to websites made on air are broadcast content. Ofcom therefore has the duty and the power to regulate such references under the Communications Act 2003. The Legislative Background to the Code states: “Although a link included in the service may lead to features outside of that service which are not regulated by Ofcom, the provision of access to those features by, for instance, the inclusion of a link, is within the control of the broadcaster and so within Ofcom’s remit. Ofcom may therefore require such a link or facility to be removed where Ofcom has concerns, in the light of its statutory duties and, in particular, the standards objectives set out in Section 319 of the Act, about the material to which it leads.” Ofcom licensed services should therefore in no circumstances promote ‘Adult’ websites which provide unrestricted R18 material (or material equivalent to it) if such material can be accessed without appropriate restrictions in place. Ofcom is able to request that references to such websites are removed. Ofcom has made its position regarding this matter very clear to date in a recent sanctions decision and two published findings directly relating to the promotion of ‘adult’ websites on Ofcom licensed services. This information was in the
public domain prior to the 13 August 2009 (-3-) and it was the responsibility of Babeworld – as with all licensees - to ensure it was fully aware of these decisions. Ofcom is concerned that Babeworld was not familiar with them.

Code Rules 2.1 and 2.3 apply to promotional references to websites made on air because they are broadcast content. The issue in this case was whether the website was suitable to be promoted on a licensed television service and so complied with these Rules. When accessed – merely by clicking a button to confirm that the user was over 18 – the front page of the Babeworld website contained extremely explicit and graphic sex material (equivalent to BBFC ‘R18’-rated content). This included pictures of intercourse, anal sex, and oral sex and close-up images of sexual organs. Users were also able, without restriction, to view clips of R18 equivalent material. This did not require prior registration to view and its promotion on television was therefore of serious concern to Ofcom. The promotional references to the www.babeworld.tv website on air therefore breached generally accepted standards. They were offensive because of the unprotected and highly explicit sexual material they led to and were not in Ofcom’s opinion justified by the context, such as only being broadcast after 21:00 on a service in the adult section of the Sky EPG. They were therefore in breach of Rules 2.1 and 2.3 of the Code.

In view of the serious and repeated nature of these contraventions of the Code, Ofcom reviewed carefully whether they should be considered for referral to the Content Sanctions Committee. On balance Ofcom decided not to do so on this occasion. However, Ofcom will seriously consider further regulatory action should Babeworld breach the Code in the future.

Babeworld TV: Breach of Rules 2.1 and 2.3
Promotion of the www.babeworld.tv website: Breach of Rules 2.1 and 2.3

In Breach

  1.- The ‘R18’ category is a special and legally restricted classification primarily for explicit works of consenting sex or strong fetish material involving adults. Films may only be shown to adults in specially licensed cinemas, and video works may be supplied to adults only in licensed sex shops. ‘R18’ video works may not be supplied by mail order. Source: BBFC: The Guidelines at http://www.bbfc.co.uk/downloads/pub/Guidelines/BBFC%20Classification%20Guidelines%202009.pdf

  2.-Breach Findings for Sex Station ‘Lucky Star’, and House of Fun Broadcast Bulletin 115 http://www.ofcom.org.uk/tv/obb/prog_cb/obb115/ ;
Breach Finding on SportxxxBabes,Ofcom Broadcast Bulletin 119, dated 13 October 2008; http://www.ofcom.org.uk/tv/obb/prog_cb/obb119/;
Sanctions decision against Satellite Entertainment Limited concerning its channel SportxxxBabes, dated 26 August 2008, paragraphs 4.2, 8.3 and 8.11, http://www.ofcom.org.uk/tv/obb/ocsc_adjud/sportxxxbabes.pdf; Sanctions decision against Square 1 Management Limited concerning its channel Smile TV, dated 10 July 2008, paragraph 1.4, http://www.ofcom.org.uk/tv/obb/ocsc_adjud/SmileTV.pdf;
Sanctions decision against Connection Makers Limited dated 30 November 2007, paragraph 1.4, http://www.ofcom.org.uk/tv/obb/ocsc_adjud/babeworld.pdf;
Note to Daytime and Adult Sex Chat Service Broadcasters, Broadcast Bulletin 137, 6 July 2009 http://www.ofcom.org.uk/tv/obb/prog_cb/obb137/Issue137.pdf

  3.-Published Finding against RHF Productions, promotion of Red Hot and Television X websites http://www.ofcom.org.uk/tv/obb/prog_cb/obb114/issue114.pdf, RHF sanction published 18 May 2009 http://www.ofcom.org.uk/tv/obb/ocsc_adjud/rhfportland.pdf, Published Finding against Sex Station, promotion of sex station TV website published 20 July 2009 http://www.ofcom.org.uk/tv/obb/prog_cb/obb138/Issue138.pdf

In Breach

Bahran Punjab Diyan and Financial Matters
MATV, 12 March 2009, 19:00 and 20:15

Introduction

MATV provides a news and family entertainment service for the Asian community. A viewer contacted us with concerns about the promotional nature of two phone-in programmes. In the course of the investigation, Ofcom also became concerned about MATV’s inability to respond to Ofcom promptly.

Bahran Punjab Diyan
In Bahran Punjab Diyan the presenter, a studio guest solicitor and callers discussed legal issues. Viewers could contact the studio by calling a number screened at various times in a caption that stated: “Live Call 02089631001.”

A viewer was concerned that the guest’s services were promoted throughout the programme.

During the programme the presenter promoted the guest solicitor and the company he represented, when he said, for example:

The guest solicitor also promoted his services, when he said, for example, “You note down my number and ring me … You can ring me tomorrow morning between 10 and 12 ”, and stated his company’s full postal address.

Financial Matters
In Financial Matters two experts discussed finance with callers. Viewers could contact the studio by calling a number screened at various times in a caption that stated: “Live Call 02089631001.”

A viewer was concerned that the business of one of the experts was promoted throughout the programme.

Four times during the programme (for periods in excess of four, two, one and six minutes respectively) a white banner was screened. It contained the following caption:

“Contact – 02084705454, 07713123456
e-mail – jag@chima.co.uk ”

These were the contact details of Mr Chima, the programme’s presenter (one of the experts).

An advertisement for Mr Chima’s business, London Debt Solutions (London Residentials Ltd), was broadcast during commercial breaks appearing in and around Financial Matters. It featured Mr Chima and promoted the advertiser’s contact telephone number, “02084705454” – the same number promoted in the white banner that was broadcast during the programme.

The white banner broadcast in the programme therefore appeared to promote Mr Chima’s business, London Debt Solutions (London Residentials Ltd).

We therefore sought MATV’s comments with reference to both Bahran Punjab Diyan and Financial Matters, and with regard to the following Code Rules:

The provision of material to Ofcom
In the course of this investigation, MATV failed on a number of occasions to provide Ofcom with requested material in a timely manner, as required under its licence to broadcast. We therefore also sought MATV’s comments on this matter with regard to the following licence conditions:

Response

MATV assured Ofcom that the broadcast of neither programme had been subject to a commercial arrangement with a third party. The broadcaster added that it had no intention to breach Code rules and both programmes had therefore been removed from air pending Ofcom’s decision on the matters raised.

Bahran Punjab Diyan
With regard to Rule 10.3, which prohibits the promotion of products and services in programmes, MATV said that the references to MB Law Solicitors, Mr Sharma, his personal contact details and his offer of free advice, were “just [part of] an advisory service we provide to [a] minority community and there is no commercial arrangement made between any of the participants hence Rule 10.3 does not apply to it.” The broadcaster added: “10.3 says programmes. But it is a live debate show and not a recorded programme.”

With regard to Rule 10.4, which prohibits the undue prominence of products and services in programmes, MATV said the solicitor had only appeared in one programme, which had been broadcast “as a free community service.” It added that the full contact details of MB Law Solicitors were provided only once in the programme. The broadcaster therefore concluded that “there is no question of undue prominence.” MATV added that naming the guest’s credentials (including the company name) on air was editorially justified, as viewers would not otherwise have been aware of his fitness to address the matters raised.

Financial Matters
MATV noted that, like Bahran Punjab Diyan, above, Financial Matters was a live show, run by the broadcaster as a community service. It added: “…as a broadcaster we do have certain social responsibilities as well…”

The broadcaster said that the advertisements for the presenter’s company were paid for spots, which followed a predetermined schedule that had no connection with the live show.

The provision of material to Ofcom
With regard to Conditions 11 and 12 of MATV’s licence to broadcast, the broadcaster said it had provided material to Ofcom “as and when requested”. It added that MATV had had “no communications issues regarding providing information to Ofcom” and stated the reasons for the delay in the provision of specific material (for example, due to ill health).

Decision

Ofcom noted MATV’s assurance that the broadcast of neither programme had been subject to a commercial arrangement with a third party. Ofcom therefore concluded that product placement had not occurred in either broadcast.

Nevertheless, Ofcom is concerned at MATV’s apparent lack of understanding when interpreting both the Code and the conditions of its licence.

Bahran Punjab Diyan
In the Code, a “programme” refers to broadcast editorial content and comprises live and pre-recorded material that is not advertising.

Rule 10.3 of the Code prohibits the promotion of products and services in any programme. This includes the promotion of a commercial business, or one of its representatives, even if it offers a special/free service by arrangement with the broadcaster.

Ofcom notes that a legitimate contact phone number was provided on screen for viewers who wished to participate in the live discussion within the programme and obtain advice from the studio guest.

Ofcom accepts that MATV and its guest had agreed to conduct a free off-air advisory service for viewers following the programme. Nevertheless, the provision of additional contact details – for the programme’s guest (a solicitor) and the company he represented (MB Law Solicitors) – together with solicitations for callers to contact the guest off air, merely promoted products and services in the programme, in breach of Rule 10.3 of the Code.

An occasional passing on-air reference to the provision of a subsequent free off-air advisory service, with reference to its contact details being available, for example, on the broadcaster’s website, may be editorially justified within a programme. However, the provision in a programme of a commercial business’s contact details, or those of its representative, are unlikely to have editorial justification, irrespective of how few times they are mentioned on air.

In this instance, the programme offered advice to viewers who contacted it via a legitimate contact number that was occasionally promoted on screen. Ofcom could therefore find no editorial justification for the reference to the contact details of the guest solicitor or to the full postal address of the company he represented. The programme was therefore in breach of Rule 10.4 of the Code.

Financial Matters
Ofcom accepts that MATV may have social responsibilities that it wishes to fulfil on-air. Ofcom notes that a legitimate contact phone number was provided on screen for viewers who wished to participate in the live discussion and obtain financial advice within the programme.

Ofcom also accepts that advertisements for the presenter’s company, broadcast in and around Financial Matters, were paid for spots, which followed a predetermined schedule that had no connection with the live show.

Nevertheless, as with Bahran Punjab Diyan, above, the provision of additional contact details within the programme – for its guest and his company (London Debt Solutions (London Residentials Ltd)), merely promoted products and services in the programme, in breach of Rule 10.3 of the Code.

No reference in the programme to the contact details of the presenter or his company had editorial justification, especially as the screened business telephone number was also provided in advertisements for the same company, as broadcast in and around the programme. The programme was in breach of Rule 10.4 of the Code.

The broadcaster was previously found in breach of Rules 10.3 and 10.4 of the Code, in September 2008, when it stated it had broadcast promotional material by mistake. (-1-) Ofcom is particularly concerned that MATV has now breached the same Code rules with material that it believes was compliant.

Broadcasters should note that the repetition of breaches of the Code is a condition under which Ofcom may consider the imposition of statutory sanctions, in accordance with its published procedures.

The provision of material to Ofcom
Ofcom does not accept that MATV had provided material to Ofcom “as and when requested” or that it had had “no communications issues regarding providing information to Ofcom.” Ofcom notes, for example, that MATV failed to:

The broadcaster was therefore in breach of Conditions 11 and 12 of its licence, which require, among other things, that recordings or transcripts requested by Ofcom are provided “forthwith” and that the licensee will “furnish to Ofcom” information “in such manner and at such times as Ofcom may reasonably require [it].”

The repeated breaches recorded in this finding raise serious concern. Ofcom puts MATV on notice that it will consider further regulatory action in the event of any further recurrence or serious compliance failure in the future.

Breaches of Rules 10.3 and 10.4 of the Code
Breaches of Licence Conditions 11 (Retention and production of recordings) and 12 (General provision of information to Ofcom)

  1.- Finding available at: http://www.ofcom.org.uk/tv/obb/prog_cb/obb118/.

In Breach

Top Gear
BBC2, 2 August 2009, 20:00

Introduction

Top Gear is the BBC’s long running entertainment series about cars, presented by Jeremy Clarkson and two co-presenters, James May and Richard Hammond. This edition, the final show of the programme’s thirteenth series, featured a spoof remake of an advertisement for a Volkswagen car which showed a man committing suicide with a gunshot to the head, followed by blood splattering out after the impact. The scene also included a depiction of the dead man lying in a pool of blood.

Fifty viewers contacted Ofcom to complain about this scene which they felt was too graphic and unsuitable for the time of broadcast (20:00) because children were watching. Ofcom noted that a subsequent repeat of the programme on 3 August 2009, in a 19:00 timeslot, removed the scene in which the man was seen shooting himself in the head. This mock advertisement was one of six or seven such advertisements in this segment of the programme which employed exaggerated and absurd themes to draw attention to the Volkswagen Sirocco’s perceived lack of speed. Other ‘advertisements’ contained references to the Bible, to mothers in law, to funerals, and to explosions. One advertisement included a scene in a hospital waiting room. An actor who had supposedly been in a car accident was seen holding what appeared to be his own severed arm from which blood spurted in large quantities for approximately two minutes.

Ofcom asked the BBC to comment on the complaints in light of the Code Rule 1.11 (violence to be appropriately limited before the watershed). We also asked it to explain the reasoning for editing out the image of the man shooting himself from the 19:00 repeat of the programme.

Response

The BBC pointed out that the Code does not preclude the depiction of all violence before the watershed, even when children are likely to be watching a programme. Rule 1.11 requires that violence should be appropriately limited and in this case, the BBC said, it believed that it was limited by what it described as “the ludicrous and obviously comic depiction of the suicide.”

The BBC continued that the reason for the man committing suicide was preposterous – that he had failed to buy the diesel variant of a particular car and that the loss of blood following the shooting was absurdly and deliberately exaggerated. This comic exaggeration and distancing from reality, which characterised the whole segment, were such as to limit the actual depiction of violence in the same way as a violent sequence from a children’s cartoon. The fact that the original Volkswagen advertisement was also shown in its entirety highlighted to viewers that this was a witty, if slightly grotesque, send up of a classic advertisement.

In relation to the removal of the image of the man shooting himself from the repeat of the programme, shown at 19:00, the BBC acknowledged that there would have been a certain number of children amongst the programme’s audience. However, it said it believed that the depiction of the suicide was appropriately limited so as to make it suitable for transmission in the programme’s usual slot. The programme was broadcast at 20:00 and the sequence in question was shown at just after 20:30. The programme-makers were conscious, however, that the repeat, transmitted at 19:00, might attract a significant number of younger children so the decision was taken to re-edit the sequence and remove the images of the gun shot. The BBC emphasised that it was not done because it was felt that there an editorial misjudgement in relation to the original transmission but because they were sensitive to the fact that there may be a “sliding scale of bedtimes” in many family homes.
 
Decision

When applying the Code, Ofcom must carry out its duties in light of Article 10 of the European Convention of Human Rights which provides for the right to freedom of expression. Ofcom must regulate potentially harmful or offensive material in a manner that respects freedom of expression – the broadcasters’ right to transmit information and the audience’s right to receive it. Ofcom must therefore seek an appropriate balance between protecting members of the public from harm and offence on the one hand and the broadcaster’s right to freedom of expression on the other, taking into account context.

Ofcom recognises that Top Gear is a series with an established audience, some of whom are children. It is known however for its adult orientated content and humour, which some viewers on occasions may find challenging. Viewers have in general come to expect these features of the programme. In the scene complained of, in a send-up of a well known Volkswagen advertisement, an actor is seen, at close quarters, apparently killing himself by shooting himself in the head. The aftermath of the shooting is also shown as described above.

Rule 1.11 is designed to protect children from depictions of violence and its after effects in programmes broadcast before the watershed. Therefore Ofcom considered whether children were likely to be viewing the programme. Audience data indicated that a significant number – 204,000 – younger viewers (those aged between 4 and 9 years) were watching the original broadcast at 20:00. Ofcom noted the BBC’s decision to remove the image of the gunshot to the head from the programme broadcast in the earlier timeslot of 19:00, because they considered that a greater number of younger children may have been watching at this time. In fact, the audience figures showed that substantially less – 36,000 fewer younger viewers - watched the repeat. Therefore it was the case that, whilst the programme of 2 August 2009 was not aimed specifically at children, the programme regularly attracts a strong child audience and the broadcaster should have taken this into consideration when including the scene in the later broadcast.

The rule states that violence before the watershed must be appropriately limited and must also be justified by the context. Firstly, Ofcom considered whether the violence was appropriately limited. Whilst the shooting scene was only a few seconds in duration, it was Ofcom’s view that the spoof suicide was graphically depicted on screen with the man holding the gun to his temple and firing and blood splattering into the air after the bloody impact of the gunshot. Its realistic depiction meant that the violent imagery was not appropriately limited.

Ofcom then considered whether the scene was contextually justified. Context includes, but is not limited to: the editorial content of the programme; the service on which the material is broadcast; the degree of harm or offence likely to be caused; and the likely expectation of the audience.

Firstly, in terms of the editorial content of the programme Ofcom took into account the established nature of Top Gear asdescribed above . It also considered the BBC’s argument that the comic exaggeration inherent in the spoof advertisement overall, and in this scene in particular, rendered it inoffensive and, in context, justifiable. While scenes such as the hospital patient with the severed arm, described above, were so comically exaggerated and preposterous that they could be said to be justified by the overall context of the Top Gear series as described above, the depiction of suicide was of a distinct nature from this and so not justified by the context.

In Ofcom’s view, it was precisely because Top Gear is an established entertainment programme which features a typical sort of humour that many viewers – including some adults watching with children - would not have expected such a violent scene to appear. Ofcom noted there was no information before the spoof advertisement was shown which would have prepared viewers for its potentially disturbing nature and alerted adult viewers to the fact that it may be unsuitable for younger viewers. These factors taken together meant that the scene exceeded audience expectations for the programme and led Ofcom - on balance - to conclude that there was no editorial justification for its inclusion.

Breach of Rule 1.11

In Breach

Sa Re Ga Ma Pa Lil Champs
Zee TV, 17 July 2009, 10:00

Introduction

Zee TV is a Hindi general entertainment channel. The series Sa Re Ga Ma Pa L’il Champs is a studio-based child talent contest. The programme was sponsored by East End Foods.
 
The following references to the sponsor appeared during the programme:

A viewer complained about the inclusion of commercial messages within the programme.

Ofcom asked Zee TV to comment on the sponsor references under Rule 9.12 of the Code (sponsorship credits must be clearly separated from programme content).

Response

Zee TV accepted that the references did not comply with the Code and apologised for this error.

The broadcaster explained that the programme was produced and originally transmitted live in India. Unlike many of the channel’s other programmes, the programme was broadcast in the UK very quickly after the original live transmission in India. Zee TV believed that this speed of turnaround may have “caught the staff out.”

The broadcaster said that it was taking steps to ensure its viewing staff are aware of the compliance issues that can be raised by fast turnaround programmes. It had also taken steps to ensure that the necessary masking and editing of the remainder of the programmes in the series and any other such series is done.

Decision

Rule 9.12 of the Code states that sponsorship credits must be clearly separated from programmes by temporal or spatial means.

In this case the sponsor was credited during the programme both visually and verbally. The programme was therefore in breach of Rule 9.12

Breach of Rule 9.12

In Breach

Farmer Wants a Wife
Five, 20 September 2009, 11:00

Introduction

Farmer Wants a Wife is a weekly reality-style TV series. In each episode two single women move to the country and vie for the attentions of a single farmer. This series is originally scheduled to broadcast on Wednesday evenings, after 21:00 and is repeated again in the pre-watershed slot on Sunday mornings.

During this episode, one of the female contestants Karla explained on-camera her feelings about the single farmer Derek’s developing friendship with her rival Sarah. Karla said:

“It is nice to see that she [Sarah] gets along with Derek, but it is a bit frightening, ‘cos you’re like, ‘fuck!’”
 
Ofcom received three complaints from viewers who objected to the strong language being broadcast at this time of day and were concerned that children may have been watching. Ofcom wrote to Five for comments with regard to Rule 1.14 (the most offensive language must not be broadcast before the watershed).

Response

Five apologised for the broadcast of this language before the watershed. Five explained that, due to human error, its compliance team failed to notice the use of this offensive language and therefore did not flag it to be edited from the pre-watershed version of the programme. Five said that the language also went unnoticed when the edited version was checked again.

The broadcaster explained that a viewer complained to them directly shortly after transmission, and Five arranged for the episode to be re-edited, to remove the offensive language from any future transmission. Five said that it has introduced further measures to ensure similar errors do not occur again.

The following Sunday Five broadcast two apologies for any offence caused to viewers, one preceding and one following the next episode in this series.

Decision

Rule 1.14 of the Code clearly states that the most offensive language must not feature before the watershed. Ofcom’s research (-1-) confirms that most viewers find the word “ fuck” and its derivatives one of the most offensive words.

Ofcom acknowledged Five’s apologies and the steps taken by the broadcaster to ensure compliance in this area in the future. However, in Bulletin 89 Ofcom issued a notice to broadcasters highlighting their duty to ensure that a robust system be put in place to protect viewers from harmful or offensive material, in particular when editing post-watershed programmes for transmission during the daytime. It explained that human error was not a sufficient justification for such failures in compliance.

This broadcast of the most offensive language in this pre-watershed programme therefore breached Rule 1.14.

Breach of 1.14

  1.- “Language and Sexual Imagery in Broadcasting: A Contextual Investigation”, September 2005.

In Breach

Amount of advertising scheduled and retention of recordings
General Entertainment and Music (GEM), 3 August 2009

Introduction

General Entertainment and Music (“GEM”) is a subscription channel for an Iranian audience which broadcasts mainly in the Middle East. The channel cannot be received in the United Kingdom, but is licensed by Ofcom and therefore subject to Ofcom’s codes and licence conditions.

As part of Ofcom’s routine monitoring of compliance with the Code on the Scheduling of Television Advertising (“COSTA”) we requested recordings and transmission logs from the broadcaster for 3 August 2009. After some weeks GEM provided Ofcom with the transmission logs. However, the recordings provided by GEM were not ‘as-broadcast’ recordings of the channel’s output (i.e. the same quality in terms of both sound and picture as when originally transmitted), as had been requested by Ofcom. This hampered our investigation as the recordings provided did not correlate with the transmission logs and therefore did not give a clear picture of what had been transmitted.
 
Condition 11(2) of each TLCS licence requires that: “the Licensee shall make and retain or arrange for the retention of a recording in sound and vision of every programme included in the Licensed Service for a period of 60 days from the date of its inclusion therein…”

Analysis of the transmission logs that had been provided by the broadcaster indicated that the channel had transmitted 16 minutes and 58 seconds of advertising during the clock hour from 18:00 to 19:00 on 3 August 2009.

Rule 4 of COSTA states that “…time devoted to television advertising and teleshopping spots on any channel in any one hour must not exceed 12 minutes…”

Ofcom therefore asked GEM for its comments with regard to Licence Condition 11(2) and Rule 4 of COSTA.

Response

GEM said that it had contracted out the play-out of its programming to a third party. This company was not contractually obliged to retain copies of the ‘as-broadcast’ programmes. GEM did not keep copies of its programme output either.

With regard to the amount of advertising broadcast, the broadcaster said it had not fully understood or appreciated the detail of COSTA. GEM incorrectly believed that advertisements for sister companies and businesses were exempted from total advertising minutage. The channel admitted the breach of Rule 4 of COSTA.

GEM apologised that it had not previously fully understood its obligations and the requirements of both its licence and COSTA. The broadcaster confirmed that steps have been put in place to prevent further breaches in the future.

GEM has also confirmed that it will ensure that advertising will not exceed 12 minutes in any one hour. The broadcaster stated that it will be enlisting the support of a law firm to assist its compliance office in keeping abreast of its regulatory obligations and relevant Ofcom codes.

Decision

As a condition of holding an Ofcom licence, broadcasters are required to ensure that the material they broadcast complies with Ofcom codes. GEM failed to retain recordings of its output, as broadcast, and had been relying on a third party who was not contractually obliged by the broadcaster to do so either. The broadcaster was therefore in breach of Condition 11(2) of its TLCS licence to broadcast.

Further, on the basis of the information available, Ofcom found that the material broadcast on GEM between 18:00 and 19:00 on 3 August 2009 was in breach of Rule 4 of COSTA which limits the amount of advertising in any one hour to 12 minutes.

Ofcom notes that GEM has given assurances that it now retains recordings of its output, as required by its licence, and that it will ensure that advertising will not exceed 12 minutes in any one hour.

Nevertheless, these are serious breaches and will be held on GEM’s record. Ofcom is concerned that GEM appeared to have contracted out its compliance obligations to a third party service provider without ensuring that specific licence conditions were adhered to. Ofcom reminds GEM of its compliance obligations under its Ofcom licence and puts GEM on notice that should any breaches occur in the future, further regulatory action will be considered.

Breach of Rule 4 of COSTA
Breach of Licence Condition 11 (Retention and production of recordings)

In Breach

Radio Ramadhan Keighley 102.1F M
Radio Ramadhan Keighley 102.1 FM, 14 September 2009, 12:00

Introduction

Radio Ramadhan Keighley was a radio service which broadcast in West Yorkshire under a short-term restricted service licence for the Ramadhan period. A listener complained that the station broadcast content with a bias towards the Labour Party, and that this was not politically balanced and did not serve the purpose of a religious-based station.

Ofcom asked Radio Ramadhan Keighley for a recording of the programme to assess the content.
 
Response

Radio Ramadhan Keighley explained that it was unable to obtain the recording from its logging facility. It said a computer hardware failure meant that the external hard-drive used to record programmes was faulty, and had failed to record the programme.

Although it was unable to provide a recording, the station did explain that it had no bias towards any political party, and it had invited representatives from all the political parties to participate in local community awareness programmes.

Decision

While noting Radio Ramadhan Keighley’s comments about impartiality towards all political parties, in the absence of a recording we were unable to consider the complaint. It is a very important condition of all radio broadcasters’ licences that recordings of their output are made and retained and copies provided to Ofcom on request “forthwith.” The failure of Radio Ramadhan Keighley to meet these requirements is a serious and significant breach of the conditions of its licence. This breach will be held on record.

Breach of Licence Condition 8 (Part 2 General Conditions) of restricted service licence

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