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Nine / WIN breach Code with Ramsay & Underbelly

The "C" word stands for classification says ACMA, ruling Gordon Ramsay and Underbelly too hot for an M rating.

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The Australian Communications and Media Authority has found the Nine and WIN Networks in breach of the Code of Practice for episodes of Ramsay’s Kitchen Nightmares and Underbelly.

ACMA says three Ramsay and Underbelly programmes were incorrectly classified as M when they should have screened in a later MA time slot.

Ramsay’s Kitchen Nightmares – Secret Garden was in trouble over both very coarse language and very aggressive coarse language. ACMA says it used the “C” word twice plus 45 variations of the “F” word.

Underbelly’s sexual content was considered too long and too detailed for an M rating. One episode also contained very aggressive coarse language.

“The code allows coarse language in M-classified programs but does not allow very aggressive coarse language or very coarse language. Frequent coarse language is allowed only when it is ‘particularly important to the story line or program context’. Equally, depictions of implied or simulated intimate sexual behaviour must be restrained in M-classified programs, “said Chris Chapman, ACMA Chairman.

In its defence Nine claimed there were 7,603 spoken words in an episode of Kitchen Nightmares and that its 73 instances of coarse language qualified as infrequent use which is allowable in an M rating. ACMA disagreed.

“ACMA is particularly concerned about the number of programs that were incorrectly classified, and is discussing serious remedial action with the Nine Network, which provided and classified the programs, and with the WIN Television licensees, which broadcast the programs,” said Chapman.

NWS Adelaide, VTV Regional Victoria and STW Perth were found to have breached the Code.

“ACMA recognises the circumstance faced by network affiliates who receive programming under program supply agreements, and it will take this circumstance into account when deciding what action it will take in relation to the WIN Corporation licensees (Nine Network affiliates) who have breached the code,” he said.

Since the “C” word was dropped by Gordon Ramsay, Nine CEO David Gyngell has said he didn’t want it air on any more of the network’s programmes.

Source: ACMA

13 Responses

  2. Glenn, the same can be said about movies like Scarface, which received the same rating (despite relatively frequent coarse language). In order for a film to be rated R18+ for coarse language (I haven’t seen enough to know), it would either have to be very frequent, aggressive and/or sexually explicit in nature.

    “Viewing impact” is subjective though since the swearing will be perceived differently from person-to-person. Frankly, I don’t see what the problem is regarding Ramsay since the language in his shows are used in an everyday context, and from what I’d seen, weren’t anywhere near as frequent or as aggressive as I expected (however I understand that some episodes may exceed what the M rating would allow).

    I’m just sick of this recent censorship frenzy on TV. If it were up to the ACMA, practically every primetime show would be in breach of their “code”.

  3. Sillygostly: “The OFLC didn’t even mention coarse language in the MA15+ rating for the Underbelly DVDs, so I don’t see what the ACMA are whinging about.”

    You know, I could say the same thing about the movie ‘Narc’. It was rated R18+ and contained a lot of F-words throughout it, but the OFLC did not warn about “coarse language”, only “medium level violence”.

  4. Unfortunately Gordons swearing is a very accurate depiction of life in hospitality – anyone who has ever worked in a resturant will tell you. Its the ultimate reality TV.

  5. Sillygostly, did you read the article? ACMA only complained about sex in Underbelly except for language in one episode, which probably wasn’t deemed notable enough for the rating descriptor on the OFLC logo.

  7. I can see the penalty: “A nine executive shall come to ACMA offices within 30 days to receive three (3) slaps on either wrist. Any further infringements shall incur a fourth (4th) slap. That is all.”

  9. The OFLC didn’t even mention coarse language in the MA15+ rating for the Underbelly DVDs, so I don’t see what the ACMA are whinging about. I thought that the swearing was relevant to the context/storyline of Underbelly that the language could be accomodated under the M rating. The drug and sexual content and sexual content on the other hand, are another story.

  10. “In its defence Nine claimed there were 7,603 spoken words in an episode of Kitchen Nightmares ”

    Who was the poor sucker that had to count how many words were in an episode of Kitchen Nightmares?? Lol!

  13. Who would have thought that a joke like this (a swearing chef) would even remotely be a hit in the first place? It was a successful fad for a while, I’ll give it that.

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