BSA Decisions Ngā Whakatau a te Mana Whanonga Kaipāho

---

Summary

Samuri Pizza Cats is an animated cartoon show aimed at children which is broadcast

on weekdays on TV2 at 8.00am. In the episode shown on 23 May 1996, one pizza

cat referred to a group of female cats on the beach as "audacious babes', to which the

other cat said, "I'm amazed" and the first replied, "I'm aroused."

Mrs Howard complained to Television New Zealand Ltd that those remarks were

sexist and carried sexual connotations which were inappropriate for a children's

television programme.

In its response, TVNZ did not agree that the use of the expression "babes' was sexist,

or that the cats' response was beyond currently accepted norms. It suggested that

nearly all children's cartoons were pitched at two levels and that the expression would

go over the heads of most children.

Dissatisfied with that response as to the item's sexual connotations, Mrs Howard

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 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 practice, the Authority

determines the complaint without a formal hearing.

An animated cartoon show entitled Samuri Pizza Cats is broadcast on weekday

mornings at 8.00am on TV2. The episode screened on 23 May 1996 included an

interchange between two of the cats in which one referred to a group of female cats as

"audacious babes", to which the other cat said "I'm amazed" and the first responded

"I'm aroused".

Mrs Howard complained to TVNZ that those remarks were not only sexist, but

carried sexual connotations which were inappropriate for a children's television

programme and were therefore in breach of the good taste requirement. She considered

the reference to female characters was derogatory and capable of encouraging young

boys to regard women and girls as inferior.

In its response, TVNZ advised that it had assessed the complaint under the standards

in the Television Code of Broadcasting Practice nominated by Mrs Howard. 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.

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.

With respect to the good taste standard, TVNZ argued that in the context of an

animated fantasy programme featuring a group of talking cats, the use of the phrase

"I'm aroused" did not go beyond currently accepted norms of good taste and decency.

It suggested that the programme, like most cartoons, was pitched at two levels – one at

the children themselves and one at the adult or caregiver presumed to be watching with

them. In its view, the expression would have gone over the heads of child viewers.

Turning to standard G13, TVNZ did not accept that the use of the word "babes" in

the context represented women or girls as inherently inferior. It did not consider there

was any implication of a derogatory remark.

When she referred the complaint to the Authority, Mrs Howard accepted TVNZ's

argument that standard G13 was not breached, but persisted with her complaint that

the remark "I'm aroused" breached the standard requiring observance of good taste and

decency (standard G2).

When it examines an alleged breach of good taste, the Authority is required to take into

account the context in which the remark was conveyed. It acknowledges Mrs

Howard's argument that even if cartoons are pitched at two levels, their content

should still be acceptable to the intended audience of children, and that adults or

caregivers should be confident that a programme carrying a "G" rating is suitable for

unsupervised children to watch.

The Authority agrees that the remark was somewhat tasteless but believes it was

relatively inoffensive and would have been likely to be beyond the comprehension of

younger viewers. Taking the contextual matters into account, it decides that the

standard was not breached.

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

Signed for and on behalf of the Authority

Judith Potter
Chairperson
19 September 1996

Appendix

Mrs Howard's Complaint to Television New Zealand Ltd - 18 June 1996

Mrs Heather Howard of Upper Hutt complained to Television New Zealand Ltd

about an episode of Samuri Pizza Cats broadcast on TV2 on 23 May 1996 at 8.00am.

About 20 minutes into the programme, two of the characters were talking and one of

them referred to the females on the beach as "babes on the beach". Then one of them

went on to say "I'm amazed", while the first said "I'm aroused".

Mrs Howard maintained that language such as "I'm aroused" was totally

inappropriate for a children's television programme. She argued it obviously had a

sexual connotation because they were ogling the "babes on the beach".

Secondly, she argued that the reference to the female characters as "babes' was

derogatory. She believed young boys would view the female gender as less than equal

to themselves, and in the context that it was shown, that female characters were

something to look at.

Mrs Howard did not consider the programme was suitable for her 4 1/2 year old boy.

TVNZ's Response to the Formal Complaint - 27 June 1996

TVNZ noted that in the 23 May episode, the pizza cats were shown visiting what

they believed was a desolate island upon which prisoners of the evil ruler were

incarcerated, only to find that the other side of the island was a tropical paradise in

which the supposed prisoners were frolicking happily.

It advised that it considered the complaint under standards G2 and G13 of the

Television Code of Broadcasting Practice.

Referring to the use of the expression "babes', TVNZ observed that although it was

not a politically correct term, it was one that was widely used in the community. It

argued that it was not used in any disparaging way and reflected the cat's surprise at

finding a sunny beach resort.

In reference to the phrase "I'm aroused". TVNZ noted that children's cartoons are

generally pitched at two levels - at children, and at the adult or caregiver who is

assumed to be watching with them. In its view, the term would go right over the heads

of child viewers.

TVNZ did not consider that the words "I'm aroused" used in the context breached the

good taste standard, especially since the programme was an animated fantasy

programme about a group of talking cats.

As far as standard G13 was concerned, it did not believe the use of the word "babes'

caused viewers to regard women or girls as inherently inferior.

It advised that the programme had been screened on three other occasions and had not

elicited any complaints.

Mrs Howard's Referral to the Broadcasting Standards Authority - 22 July 1996

Dissatisfied with TVNZ's response, Mrs Howard referred the complaint to the

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

Mrs Howard advised that she was willing to accept TVNZ's explanation regarding the

use of the term 'babes' but did not accept its response with respect to the phrase

"I'm aroused" which, she maintained, carried sexual connotations and was

inappropriate for a children's television programme.

She considered the fact that programmes were pitched at two levels was no

justification, pointing out that the content of the programme should still be acceptable

to its main intended audience of children. She reminded TVNZ that it carried a G

rating and suggested that programmes screened during the morning children's session

should be such that it was not necessary for a caregiver to be involved in directly

supervising the content.

Further, she wrote, although the phrase might go over the head of a younger child,

children of 8-10 years watched the programme and many would understand what was

being suggested. She added:

Furthermore I feel that my complaint is somewhat belittled by suggesting that

because the programme "is an animated fantasy programme about a group of

talking cats" it is okay to use such phrases. Young children often see no

difference in the examples set by animated characters or real people or even

consider the consequences of those examples, eg when the programme

"Mighty Morphin Power Rangers" was screening there was a noted increase in

the level of aggression in the school playground, albeit at a playing level.

Noting TVNZ's argument that the programme had been screened on three earlier

occasions and had not elicited other complaints, Mrs Howard advised that she had

spoken to other people who were all astounded by the inclusion of the phrase "I"m

aroused" and its context.

TVNZ's Response to the Authority - 31 July 1996

TVNZ responded that it had nothing further to add to its letter of 27 June. It did not

consider that the fleeting comment "I'm aroused" was, in the context, sufficient to

breach programme standards.