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.
Something which needs to happen, but for which the government will have no stomach, is reviewing the hodge-podge of ac hocery [sp?] that is “ratings” and supposedly “community standards”.
What Australia seriously needs is a classification system based on the actual broad-minded tolerance of most Australians — something which will require some social research — rather that the shrill, well-organised but tiny minority of the right-wing “Christian” wowsers.
(That’s “Christian” in scare-quotes because as I understand it, that Jesus bloke was actually quite broad-minded and chilled with hookers and stuff. The smarmy narrow-minded intolerance these wankers peddle is a million miles from what Jesus seems to have said.)
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Why do shows rated PG at 730PM contain promos for shows rated MA?
It’s not much fun having to explain to kids why the angry man with the gun has blood all over him. Just before Matt Preston gives his verdict.
The TV stations don’t care, Murdoch/Packer/Stokes and their ilk especially don’t care, and our pollies are too jelly-backed to do anything about it.
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Mick, my understanding of the laws and the Codes of Practice is that the trailers shown at PG times need to be also rated PG, even if the program being promoted is rather “higher”.
But, if you want anything to change then you have to make a written complaint to the broadcaster, and only if you are dissatisfied with the result can you then complain in writing to ACMA. Welcome to self-regulation.
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Thanks Stilgh.
Yes, self-regulation.
A vivid image of a fox standing in front of the hen house, with keys to the padlock in one paw, has just appeared in my mind.
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