BSA Decisions Ngā Whakatau a te Mana Whanonga Kaipāho

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Summary

An item on 3 News, broadcast on TV3 on 9 February 1999 beginning at 6.00pm, referred to a contest to conceive the first child of the new millennium. Among other matters, the presenter referred to "the first of January 2000", in describing the contest.

Mr Butchart complained to TV3 Network Services Ltd, the broadcaster, that the statements were totally untrue. He said the next millennium begins with the first day of January 2001. He sought a correction of what he called the untrue statements.

TV3 agreed that the third millennium did not commence in fact until 1 January 2001. However, it wrote, the official millennium programme in New Zealand would run from 1999 until 2001. Its programme therefore recognised that both the popular celebration date of 1 January 2000 and the actual date of 1 January 2001 deserved to be noted. The broadcaster upheld the complaint, but said it would not undertake any corrective action, because both dates were relevant and to many people "the only date that matters" was 1 January 2000.

Dissatisfied with the action taken by TV3, Mr Butchart referred his 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 a tape of the item complained about, and have read the correspondence listed in the Appendix. On this occasion, the Authority determines the complaint without a formal hearing.

Mr Butchart complained to TV3 about an item broadcast on 3 News on 9 February 1999. The item referred to a contest to find the first baby born in the new millennium. In referring to the contest, the item used the statements "the wee hours of next January first", "this first child of the new millennium", "the world’s first baby of the new millennium", and "the first of January 2000".

These were clear enough statements that the next millennium began with the beginning of the year 2000, Mr Butchart wrote. Since the next millennium began with the beginning of the year 2001, just as the first millennium began with 0001, and the second began with 1001, the statements were totally untrue, he said. Broadcasting standards required truth and accuracy, he stressed, and he requested the broadcaster to correct the untrue statements.

TV3 considered the complaint in the context of standard G1 of the Television Code of Broadcasting Practice. It requires broadcasters:

G1  To be truthful and accurate on points of fact.

TV3 agreed that the third millennium did not in fact begin until 1 January 2001. However, it pointed out, the official millennium programme in New Zealand ran from 1999 until 2001. That recognised, it said, that both the popular celebration date of 1 January 2000 and the actual date of 1 January 2001 deserved to be noted.

The broadcaster advised that it intended to uphold the complaint on the basis that the true scientific date of the next millennium was not until 1 January 2001. However, it continued, it did not intend to undertake any corrective action, because "millennium" had become an accepted generic description across all media forms, and the world’s population. As an example, TV3 quoted the Greenwich 2000 website that "The millennium officially starts on 1 January 2001…But most people are regarding 1 January 2000 as a good day to start the party".

Dissatisfied with the action taken by the broadcaster, Mr Butchart referred his complaint to the Authority. He wrote that his complaint was made on the grounds of the lack of truth and accuracy in the statements made in the broadcast. He noted TV3’s agreement with him that the next millennium started on 1 January 2001, and he wrote "Fact. End of story".

When invited to comment, TV3 pointed out that although the next millennium would begin on 1.1.2001, millions of people worldwide would celebrate its start on 1.1.2000. Furthermore, TV3 said, it would be totally unrealistic for it not to associate the next millennium with events planned for the accepted date of 1.1.2000.

In his final comment to the Authority, Mr Butchart reiterated his view as to the date for the start of the millennium, adding that it was a simple concept. Should the Authority allow TV3 to continue its current practice, he wrote, it would enable a blatant and repetitive breach of standards.

The Authority’s Findings

The issue raised on this occasion was considered by the Authority in an earlier decision (1997-013, dated 13.2.97). The Authority declined to uphold the complaint on that occasion, and reaches a similar decision on this occasion.

The Authority is of the view that mathematical arguments as to the start of the next millennium are incidental to the celebration of the change in numbers from 1999 to 2000. It considers that TV3 is justified in adopting the widespread consensus as to when the celebrations will occur.

With reference to the action taken by TV3, the Authority concludes that TV3, by accepting the popular date, has adopted a realistic approach to this issue.

For the reasons set forth above, the Authority declines to uphold the complaint that the action taken by TV3, having upheld the complaint, was insufficient.

Signed for and on behalf of the Authority

Sam Maling
Chairperson
13 May 1998

Appendix

The following correspondence was received and considered by the Authority when it determined this complaint:

1. Ian N Butchart’s Complaint to TV3 Network Services Ltd - 10 February 1999

2. TV3’s Response to Mr Butchart – 3 March 1999

3. Mr Butchart’s Referral to the Broadcasting Standards Authority – 5 March 1999

4. TV3’s Response to the Authority – 15 April 1999.

5. Mr Butchart’s Final Comment – 21 April 1999.