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Austar rapped by ACMA over sexual content in programme

Austar has been censured by the media watchdog over the broadcast of a reality TV show set inside a legal American brothel.  

The Australian Communications and Media Authority found that two episodes of the programme Cathouse, ‘Never Too Late’ and ‘Superstars’, aired on the pay TV operator’s Showtime Channel, contained sexual content and nudity that rated higher than the MA15+ classification.

The episodes were found to be in breach of the ASTRA Subscription Television Codes of Practice 2007.

Austar is now required to review the classification of all episodes of Cathouse before going to air; attend classification training conducted by the Classification Board; and include more robust classification and complaints handling provisions in its contracts with channels that are likely to air shows containing sexual content and nudity.

It follows a similar crack down on Foxtel in August, including a breach finding relating to another episode of Cathouse.

Also earlier this year, ACMA forced the Nine Network and WIN to put in place more rigorous classification procedures for gangland drama Underbelly, and reclassify programmes featuring celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay.

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