BSA Decisions Ngā Whakatau a te Mana Whanonga Kaipāho

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Summary

Some words which were pronounced in the same way but had different meanings were discussed on the children’s programme You and Me, broadcast on TV3 at about 3.25pm on 30 July 1998. "Chairs" and "cheers" were given as one such pair.

Mr Gibson complained to TV3 Network Services Ltd that these words should be pronounced differently, and that the programme’s effort to suggest otherwise breached the standards relating to good taste and balance.

In response to the complaint, TV3 did not accept that the good taste standard was in question. As for balance, it said that viewers were advised that the words sounded the same, not that they were pronounced the same, and it declined to uphold that aspect of the complaint.

Dissatisfied with TV3’s decision, Mr Gibson referred the complaint to the Broadcasting Standards Authority under s.8(1)(a) of the Broadcasting Act 1989.

For the reasons below, the Authority declines to determine the complaint.

Decision

The members of the Authority have viewed the item complained about and have read the correspondence (listed in the Appendix below). In this instance, the Authority determines the complaint without a formal hearing.

Pairs of words which sounded the same were discussed on You and Me broadcast on TV3 at 3.25pm on 30 July 1998. This programme is aimed at pre-school viewers.

After dealing with "duck" (the bird and the action), and "hair" and "here", the presenter said that "chairs" and "cheers" sounded the same. Mr Gibson complained formally that the comment that "chairs" and "cheers" were pronounced the same breached the broadcasting standards. It involved, he wrote, an attempt to redefine the pronunciation of these words.

TV3 assessed the complaint under standards G2 and G6 of the Television Code of Broadcasting Practice. They 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.

Maintaining that the presenter pronounced each word correctly, and pointing out that she had explained that they had different meanings although they sounded the same, TV3 declined to uphold the complaint.

Having watched the tape and read the correspondence, and although it hesitates to agree with TV3 that the words were pronounced correctly, the Authority concludes that the issue raised is not a matter of broadcasting standards. In these circumstances, it decides, pursuant to s.11(b) of the Broadcasting Act 1989, not to determine the complaint.

For the reasons above, the Authority decides not to determine the complaint in all the circumstances.

Signed for and on behalf of the Authority

Sam Maling
Chairperson
10 December 1998

Appendix

1. Mr Gibson’s Complaint to TV3 Network Services Ltd – 10 August 1998
2. TV3’s Response to the Formal Complaint – 22 September 1998
3. Mr Gibson’s Referral to the Broadcasting Standards Authority – 5 October 1998
4. TV3’s Response to the Broadcasting Standards Authority – 29 October 1998