★★★★★ 0/5

Nine gives Underbelly promise to ACMA

Nine takes a bold step in corporate responsibility promising Underbelly will abide by ACMA classifications, and risks its revenue as a fine if it fails the test.

10
Leave a comment

ub-matthew-newton-as-terry-clark-roy-billing-as-bob-trimbole-ub2-smallHere’s a positive step in corporate responsibility.

Channel Nine and WIN Television have given undertakings to the Australian Communications and Media Authority to allay concerns over Underbelly and Gordon Ramsay classifications.

In a rare industry move, the networks have given an outline of their plans to adhere to ACMA guidelines for a period of two years. Nine has also provided a confidential estimate of its revenue for the timeslots which ACMA could use as a fine if the undertakings are breached.

This is the first time that ACMA has been offered and accepted enforceable undertakings from commercial television licensees -a very significant industry step.

The undertakings by Nine will include the upcoming season of Underbelly: A Tale of Two Cities. Nine will also classify as MA all episodes of Kitchen Nightmares and other programs “substantially” featuring Gordon Ramsay, subject to any material change in content.

“This remedial action is the product of extensive discussions with the Nine and WIN networks about action they will take over the next 24 months to ensure that these programs are correctly classified and shown in the appropriate time slot,” said Chris Chapman, ACMA Chairman.

“It is a response to the unacceptably high number of incorrectly classified Underbelly and Ramsay programs broadcast in 2008. It aims to create an improved compliance culture, while giving ACMA an avenue to pursue further remedial action if necessary.”

Nine will also reclassify repeat broadcasts of a number of episodes of the original Underbelly series, and implement additional training and reporting processes.

In addition, Nine will:

* conduct an extensive education program for the Underbelly production team to outline the requirements of the M classification;
* develop ‘detailed internal classification guidelines’ based on ACMA’s findings;
* ensure that classifiers review scripts and assess each episode of the 2009 series, to ensure that the classification requirements are met; and
* report to ACMA on compliance with the classification training requirements.

The undertakings are signed by Nine CEO David Gyngell and ACMA Chairman Chris Chapman.

Underbelly will air under an ‘M’ classification at 8:30pm next Monday.

Source: ACMA

10 Responses

  1. “Had these been movies rather than TV shows, the ACMA guidelines say to apply the existing OFLC rating — so they wouldn’t have been in breach.”

    I’ve seen the F-word on Channel 7 during a movie on Saturday afternoon, presumably because the movie was rated PG. If it was Home & Away you wouldn;t have heard the F-word at all!

  2. Actually, undertakings have been given before. Macquarie Media Group gave enforceable undertakings for the sale of Ten Darwin and Ten Tasmania, but those undertakings were subsequently withdrawn.

  3. Nick, they’re no more “greedy” than any other commercial network. Their aims and the interests of their viewers are identical in this instance. They are showing Underbelly at 8:30 because that is when the most viewers will be able to watch it. Direct your frustrations towards ACMA and the government ministers responsible for television censorship.

  5. Well, that sucks. Looks like I’ll probably skip watching the show on TV and buy it on DVD in a few months time. That way I will be able to watch it as the producers intended, not cut up and mutilated to appease some senseless bureaucrats in the name of “upholding community standards”.

    I’m sorry ACMA, but I think the people best qualified to determine community standards are the community themselves through the use of their remote controls. There is no excuse for government censorship of this kind when the forces of the free market will inevitably determine what the Australian public wants to watch on television.

    Dan – I’m afraid no phrase is more commonly used by those advocating censorship than the old “I’m no prude, BUT…..” I don’t think you can really blame Nine in this situation. All they are doing is airing the program in the timeslot where people want to watch it. It is ACMA who are interfering with the forces of the free market and consequently the public’s right to choose, so they are the one’s you should be angry at.

    And David, people choose to have television sets and an aerial in their homes, just like they choose to get pay TV or go to the movies.

  6. So what they are really saying is if you want to see Underbelly II as the maker intended, you will need to put your hand in your pocket and buy the DVD as 9 would rather chop it and screen it against Despo’s on 7 than in a more Adult friendly 9.30 slot

  7. Far be it for me to attempt to defend ACMA, however we do need to take film and OFLC out of the argument. You buy a ticket at a cinema for film, or purchase a DVD over the counter willingly -it’s different to what beams in free to middle Australia into loungerooms, airports, nursing homes, hospitals, schools etc.

    Pay TV is also considered a choice, although that would appear to be a diminishing argument as it keeps telling us how widespread it is becoming. Foxtel can’t do ‘whatever they want’ but yes they have different guidelines at the moment.

  8. While I think 9 should just bite the bullet and air MA/AV content at 9:00/9:30, the ACMA really have shown how worthless they are.

    They decide that Ten’s heavily edited “Californication” episode breaches MA guidelines, yet the OFLC give the completely uncut version an MA. They decide that Nine’s “Ramsay’s Kitchen Nightmares” breaches M guidelines, yet the OFLC have given every single UK episode an M. (I agree with the ACMA that the USA series with unbleeped C-words should be MA)

    Had these been movies rather than TV shows, the ACMA guidelines say to apply the existing OFLC rating — so they wouldn’t have been in breach.

    Meanwhile Foxtel can do whatever they want and air MA (or even R-rated content unedited with an MA) classified material at any time during the day — even on basic channels you have to take. What’s the difference between that and a free-to-air Digital channel that also features parental lockout features?

  9. Good luck channel 9, think your going to need it. The thing I don’t understand, why isn’t their an independant organisation that determines classifications before shows are aired. Movies have to have it done before they can be shown, so why isn’t it the same thing. I’m no prude but shows like Underbelly really should be aired no earlier than 9.30pm, it’s not too late and that’s the time where most adults are settled to watch TV, without being annoyed by the kids.

    It just goes to show that Channel nine doesn’t care about anything except pushing the boundaries of morality. I remember everyone getting upset about channel ten having no morals and showing stuff like BB uncut, when after watching Underbelly last year, it was just as bad as any content that was on BB.

    In my opinion channel nine is the most immoral network out there and I hope they get massive fines. Just put the show on at 9.30 and do the right thing for once.

Leave a Reply