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Are viewers really better off under the new Code of Practice?

How do our new timezones compare with overseas -and what about those changes to News & Current Affairs?

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Last week TV networks were given the greenlight to screen M rated content at 7:30pm and MA from 8:30pm after approval by media watchdog the Australian Communications and Media Authority.

Despite being opposed by groups such as The Australian Council on Children and the Media, the new Code of Practice could see increased levels of sex, violence, nudity, language and other adult themes earlier in the evening from December 1st.

Classification

So how do our new timezone limits compare with other countries?

ACMA told TV Tonight that comparisons are not straightforward.

“Australia’s time zones are based on specific classification categories (i.e. PG, M and MA15+ which, in turn, are then based on a range of classifiable elements i.e. violence, sex, nudity, language, themes etc),” it said in a statement.

“We found, when conducting our research, that other countries (with the exception of New Zealand) use different classification categories not aligned with Australia’s or have watersheds that are not based on classification categories.

“For example, the UK and USA commercial television watersheds consider whether material is ‘unsuitable for children’ (UK) or ‘indecent or profane’ (USA). Having a look at online program guides, it seems that especially in the USA programs which have been classified M for Australian TV are broadcast as early as 7.00pm, for example Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (on ION HD) Person of Interest (on The CW) and The Walking Dead (on WWOR).”

New Zealand has commercial free-to-air television time zones based on classification and its 2010 Commercial Television Code of Practice is also due for review in the next year or so.

In addition to the Classification and Timezone changes, there were other key changes approved by ACMA.

News and Current Affairs

Earlier this week Media Watch noted several changes in relation to News and Current Affairs, Corrections and Complaints.

Under the new Code, Current Affairs programs are no longer required to be impartial and may now take a particular stance on issues.

ACMA contends this is only a change “to the extent that it is now explicitly acknowledged in the Code, but it is consistent with the way the ACMA currently interprets the 2010 Code requirements.”

This 2010 rule has also been deleted:

In broadcasting news and current affairs programs, licensees … must not portray any person or group of persons in a negative light by placing gratuitous emphasis on age, colour, gender, national or ethnic origin, physical or mental disability, race, religion or sexual preference …

Corrections

Under the 2010 Code, ACMA could not compel networks to broadcast a correction. The 2015 Code includes a range of methods for correction, but makes it possible for a network to put the correction on a website. They also are not compelled to declare sponsorships on air, but can provide that information on a website too.

Complaints

There are also changes to the way Complaints are handled.

In order to complain a viewer must have watched a television broadcast. While it does include Timeshifted viewing on your PVR, it doesn’t include Catch-Up or Live Streaming. It’s a no-go zone if you are complaining about something on a network website too.

That’s despite ACMA’s claims that “television is operating in a new, digital era in which content can be viewed from a wide variety of sources and on a wide variety of platforms.”

Where the complaint relates to invasion of a person’s privacy, it can only be made by the person directly affected.

There is also no longer a facility to make a complaint by phone or fax, unless a disabled person is unable to lodge a complaint in writing.

How the new Classification changes will impact from December 1st is unclear. It’s unlikely we will suddenly see Gordon Ramsay swearing uncensored or Underbelly uncut at 7:30. But networks may dip their toe in the water to gauge community reaction, perhaps via Multichannels first.

The changes to News and Current Affairs, Corrections and Complaints hardly feel like a step forward and it is disappointing ACMA has made networks less accountable to the audience.

Despite all of the changes, Free TV Chairman Harold Mitchell says, “This Code is a real win for viewers. It will mean a greater variety of programming, while preserving key community safeguards.”

If it’s a real win for viewers, it’s an unreal win for networks.

19 Responses

  1. This is a role of the dice by the Free Tv Australia. If it doesnt work they will loose viewers and if it does then they stand to make millions. I persnally can understand why TV Networks want this, they want it because so many popular shows which are now on Cable in the US cover topics that cover taboos to some extent. So its only natural that Networks want to capitalise on that and make money earlier in prime time. On the rest of it yes the viewer will loose out however if they dont like it then they stop watching and switch to DVDs or Streaming where ACMA has no jurisdiction. In conclusion its not as bad as some people think.

  2. will they be advertising this change on tv? I reckon viewers may complain to networks without knowing of the change if they tune in and hear some say the F word at 7:30.

  3. The FCC rules for US broadcast TV are incredibly strict on language and nudity. Language and nudity allowed with justification in small amounts in PG classifications here would be banded from network TV at midnight there.

    It however has next to no rules on violence or innuendo that doesn’t involve offensive language. Making most US network shows M or MA here for violence or adult themes.

    The Code of Conduct isn’t designed to help viewers. It’s the minimum required to keep the government from regulating the industry themselves. The changes mostly allow the networks to show M rated stuff at 7:30pm when they run out of contest shows, or they tank badly. That makes life more difficult for parents of young children.

    1. “The Code of Conduct isn’t designed to help viewers.”

      Exactly. If it was then they’d put safeguards in place to keep programs running to time or to the advertised timeslot. They’d allow viewers to submit complaints to programs viewed online – yet they’re happy to have networks issue corrections and disclaimers via their websites. They’d make the networks more accountable in news and current affairs reporting. They’d make the networks clearly disclose infomercials disguised as entertainment. They’d stop splitting up programs into segments that make their ratings look better. The list goes on…

      Meanwhile the networks get a bundle load of free kicks and concessions. No doubt more licence rebates are imminent too.

  4. “It will mean a greater variety of programming, while preserving key community safeguards.”

    What a bunch of crap. It’s going to be the same game show, “news”, “current affairs”, reality, factuals/pet videos, drama 15 minutes late on the main channels, and the same multiple repeats of main channel programs, old movies, and assorted cheap dross on the multichannels.

    As for preserving community safeguards, that is the exact opposite of what has occurred here.

    Not to be outdone in this farce, ACMA claims that “television is operating in a new, digital era…”. I guess this is why people can only complain about something that they saw on old-media broadcast TV and have to do so by writing on a f’ing dead tree.

    It’s like a Charlie Brooker satire only not as funny.

      1. Au contraire my good man, it is an outrage that they’ll allow me to write my complaint with a quill and utilise my wax seal, but they don’t appear to accept hand-delivery of the message by my manservant Reginald after he’s ridden 100km on horseback – why, it’s positively backward!

  5. What is the point of a Code Of Practice written by those whom it is supposed to control? Impartiality goes out of the window when vested interests come in the door. “The views expressed on this show are the views of the proprietor.”

    1. How could you make a complaint in SMS’s 160 character limit? “? – ACA story on ? in ? was ??. Plz investig8 & resp 2 me ASAP”?

      To be honest, (a) I’ve seen more than a few ACMA submissions that aren’t much better than that, and (b) I really only wanted to see if the comments here accepted emoji 😉

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