BSA Decisions Ngā Whakatau a te Mana Whanonga Kaipāho

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Summary

A touring show of male strippers was the feature of a documentary entitled

Manpower Australia broadcast on TV2 at 9.30pm on 4 September 1995.

Mr McBride complained to Television New Zealand Ltd, the broadcaster, that the

show was offensive, blatantly sexist, partial and unbalanced.

TVNZ responded that the programme provided lighthearted entertainment and denied

that any of the poses shown were offensive or explicit. It rejected the complaint that

it discriminated against men, arguing that the men were portrayed in a positive manner

and appeared to be enjoying themselves. Dissatisfied with TVNZ's decision not to

uphold the complaint, Mr McBride referred the complaint to the Broadcasting

Standards Authority under s.8(1)(a) of the Broadcasting Act 1989.

For the reasons given below, the Authority declined to uphold the complaint.

Decision

The members of the Authority have viewed the item complained about and have read

the correspondence (summarised in the Appendix). As is its usual practice, the

Authority has determined the complaint without a formal hearing.

Manpower Australia, broadcast on TV2 at 9.30pm on 4 September, featured a behind-

the-scenes look at the members of an all-male revue which included items from their

shows, and footage showing some of their modelling and photographic assignments.

Mr McBride complained that some of the erotic poses of the men were offensive and

explicit, especially to male viewers. He argued that because there were no female

strippers posing erotically, the item was unbalanced, partial and discriminated against

men. In addition, he objected to the fact that it coincided with a live tour of New

Zealand by the group and amounted to a promotion of the tour. He suggested that a

programme designed to entertain only one gender, and which was blatantly sexist,

breached a number of broadcasting standards.

TVNZ reported that it had assessed the complaint under standards G2, G6, G7, and

G13 of the Television Code of Broadcasting Practice. Those standards require

broadcasters:

G2  To take into consideration currently accepted norms of decency

and taste in language and behaviour, bearing in mind the context

in which any language or behaviour occurs.

G6  To show balance, impartiality and fairness in dealing with political

matters, current affairs and all questions of a controversial nature.

G7  To avoid the use of any deceptive programme practice which takes

advantage of the confidence viewers have in the integrity of

broadcasting.

G13 To avoid portraying people in a way which represents as inherently

inferior, or is likely to encourage discrimination against, any section of

the community on account of sex, race, age, disability, occupation

status, sexual orientation or the holding of any religious, cultural or

political belief. This requirement is not intended to prevent the

broadcast of material which is:

i) factual, or

ii) the expression of genuinely-held opinion in a news or

current affairs programme, or

iii) in the legitimate context of a humorous, satirical or

dramatic work.

TVNZ described the programme as lighthearted entertainment and, while it

acknowledged that it was not to everyone's taste, denied that it breached any

broadcasting standards. Turning first to the complaint that the item contained erotic

poses, TVNZ explained that the poses were struck by members of the troupe

modelling for photographic assignments and that in none of the sequences was the

genital area revealed. It advised that it did not consider that muscular men having their

photographs taken during modelling assignments or taking part in an entertaining revue

constituted a breach of good taste and decency.

To Mr McBride's point that there were no female strippers shown, TVNZ responded

that over the years there had been numerous shows on television featuring women in

beauty pageants and that Manpower Australia was contributing to righting any

imbalance which might have existed. It rejected the complaint that the programme

lacked balance because it did not feature female performers.

Referring to the complaint that standard G7 was breached because the programme

promoted a live show, TVNZ responded that the Broadcasting Standards Authority

had interpreted the standard as referring to "a technical or editorial device which

distorts the original piece". TVNZ therefore considered standard G7 was irrelevant to

the complaint. It added that there was no standard which prevented the screening of

material on television simply because it coincided with a live event.

Finally, TVNZ responded to the point that the show discriminated against men and

thus was in breach of standard G13. In TVNZ's view, the men were portrayed in a

positive manner and as a group of enthusiastic and successful individuals. It

considered that there was no suggestion that the programme exposed them, or men

generally, to exploitation, abuse, denigration or ridicule.

The Authority agreed with TVNZ that the programme portrayed the performers in

Manpower Australia as fit, healthy men who were obviously enjoying themselves. It

also concurred with TVNZ's assertion that the depiction of scenes from the show and

of some of the men on modelling assignments was not a breach of the good taste and

decency standard. With respect to the argument that the programme lacked balance

and therefore breached standard G6 because it did not include female strippers, the

Authority decided that the standard did not apply since the programme did not deal

with political matters, current affairs or a question of a controversial nature.

Turning to the alleged breach of standard G7, the Authority repeated that it has, in

previous decisions, interpreted the standard to mean that technical or editorial devices

have been employed which distort the original piece. It noted that this standard has

recently been clarified because of the various interpretations which have been given to

it. The Authority ruled that standard G7 was inapplicable in this instance.

Finally, the Authority turned to the complaint that the programme discriminated

against men and thus breached standard G13. The Authority considered it highly

unlikely that the portrayal of the performers in Manpower Australia would lead

viewers to conclude that men, as a class, were inherently inferior and would, as a

consequence, be discriminated against.

For the reasons set forth above, the Authority declines to uphold the complaint.

Signed for and on behalf of the Authority

Judith Potter
Chairperson
9 November 1995

Appendix

Mr McBride's Complaint to Television New Zealand Ltd - 5 September 1995

Paul McBride of Rotorua complained to Television New Zealand Ltd that its

broadcast of Manpower Australia on TV2 on 4 September 1995 at 9.30pm breached

several broadcasting standards.

He complained that the show featured male strippers in erotic poses, some of which

were offensive and explicit, especially to male viewers. He noted that there were no

female strippers or any women posing erotically. In his view the programme breached

standards G6 and G7 and discriminated against men.

TVNZ's Response to the Formal Complaint - 19 September 1995

In its response, TVNZ described the programme as featuring an all-male revue which

had been remarkably successful since its inception and which had performed over 500

shows in eight different countries.

It reported that it had assessed the complaint against standards G2, G6, G7 and G13

of the Television Code of Broadcasting Practice.

First, TVNZ wrote, it considered that Mr McBride had taken the programme far too

seriously. It believed that the majority of the audience would have seen the

programme as nothing more than an hour of lighthearted entertainment, albeit not to

everyone's taste.

Next, it examined the specific points raised. It responded to the complaint about

"erotic poses", noting that eroticism was in the eye of the beholder and that the poses

were mainly for modelling assignments. In none of these poses, it added, was the

genital area revealed. TVNZ advised that it was unable to detect the "explicit"

material to which Mr McBride referred.

It then turned to Mr McBride's complaint that there were no female strippers. It

noted that there had been many occasions when the female form had been the object of

attention and asked, why not the male form?

To the argument that the show discriminated against men, TVNZ responded that the

men were portrayed in a positive manner and as a group of enthusiastic and successful

individuals. It added:

There was no suggestion that their situation exposed them (or men generally)

to exploitation, abuse, denigration or ridicule.

With reference to standard G2, TVNZ reported that it was unable to identify anything

which exceeded the bounds of decency and taste in a programme beginning at 9.30pm.

Muscular males taking part in an entertaining revue, or having their

photographs taken during modelling assignments do not, in our view,

constitute a breach of good taste and decency.

Turning to the complaint that the programme lacked balance, TVNZ stated that it

assumed that was because there were no female strippers. It pointed out that over the

years many shows featuring female strippers had been shown and that Manpower

Australia was contributing to righting the imbalance which may have developed as a

consequence.

Responding to the argument that standard G7 was breached because the programme

promoted a show which was currently touring New Zealand, TVNZ quoted the

Authority's interpretation of the standard in previous decisions and advised that it

considered that G7 was irrelevant to his complaint. It added that it believed the fact

that the show was touring made the programme more pertinent.

TVNZ declined to uphold any aspect of the complaint.

Mr McBride's Referral to the Authority - 1 October 1995

Dissatisfied with TVNZ's response to the complaint, Mr McBride referred his

complaint to the Broadcasting Standards Authority under s.8(1)(a) of the Broadcasting

Act 1989.

Mr McBride reiterated his view that the programme was unbalanced because it was

blatantly sexist. He wrote:

To show a whole programme on free to air TV about male strippers,

specifically designed to entertain women was an unfair option to male viewers.

Further, he argued, he had yet to see a similar show on female strippers designed for

men only and as a promotion for a live tour. In his opinion, to promote the tour was

unprincipled broadcasting and he maintained that, from the viewer's point of view,

standard G7 was breached. He questioned the programme's purpose and argued that

its presentation was misleading.

Mr McBride contended that TVNZ did not interpret his complaint correctly in light

of standards G6 and G7. He wrote:

TVNZ seemed to take light of my complaint because of a so called trifling

theme, disregarding the sexist bias. However I think broadcasting standards

should be respected. I suggest a programme contrived to entertain only one

gender, especially in a titillating, sexual context, is highly likely to be

contentious on free to air television, and requires restraint from Broadcasters.

TVNZ's Response to the Authority - 12 October 1995

Commenting first on Mr McBride's assertion that the programme was specifically

designed to entertain female viewers, TVNZ submitted that the programme was

presented as general entertainment and was not directed at any one gender.

TVNZ denied that it was sexist to show a programme in which all the performers are

male. It commented:

Sexism requires evidence of prejudice - a putting down of a person or persons

because of their gender. We see no evidence of that in this programme which

features an exuberant and enthusiastic group of Australian men touring the

world in an all-male revue.

Mr McBride's Final Comment - 20 October 1995

Mr McBride expressed his concern that TVNZ had not interpreted the standards

correctly with respect to his complaint. He believed it should be judged as being

justified.

He considered it absurd to say that the programme was not directed at any one gender,

arguing that the group's performances were attended by women only and therefore

that it was reasonable to assume that it was directed at women. Further, he considered

it "a sly promotional vehicle". He concluded:

I think it is obvious I do not agree with TVNZ on the sexist evidence issue and

it is my opinion Manpower's behaviour is debasing and offensive.