BSA Decisions Ngā Whakatau a te Mana Whanonga Kaipāho

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Summary

A promo for the PGR cartoon King of the Hill was screened during The Busy World of

Richard Scarry, a programme aimed at child viewers, at 7.35am on 11 June 1998.

M L Boyle of Hamilton complained to TV3 Network Services Ltd that the adult

nature of remarks made during the promo had made it unsuitable for screening during a

programme designed for pre-schoolers. The complainant stated that promos for three

other adult programmes of "dubious content" had screened at the same time.

TV3 advised that it did not regard the content of the promo to be unsuitable for child

viewers and reported that it had been given a "G" rating by its appraisers. It also

argued that the programmes which the promos referred to were intended for younger

viewers and carried either a "G" or "PGR" classification. Accordingly, it declined to

uphold the complaint.

Dissatisfied with the broadcaster's decision, M Boyle 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). In this instance, the Authority

determines the complaint without a formal hearing.

M L Boyle complained to TV3 about a promo for the cartoon King of the Hill which

had screened during The Busy World of Richard Scarry on 11 June 1998 at 7.35am.

While watching the programme with a four year old, the complainant stated it had

been shocking to see a promo for an adult programme, which had contained unsavoury

remarks. The remarks about "racial stereotypes" and "white men's butts" made by

two cartoon characters had, the complainant contended, made the promo unsuitable

for preschoolers. M Boyle wrote that promos for three other programmes, which in

the complainant's opinion had been designed for adults and were of "dubious

content", had screened at the same time. All of the programmes to which the promos

related, the complainant added, screened after 7.30pm.

TV3 advised the complainant that it had assessed the complaint under standard G12

of the Television Code of Broadcasting Practice. That standard requires the

broadcaster:

G12    To be mindful of the effect any programme may have on children during

their normally accepted viewing times.

It reported that it did not regard the content of the King of the Hill promo, or any of

the others mentioned, to be unsuitable for child viewers and said that it agreed with its

appraisers who had assigned the promos a "G" rating. It argued that all the

programmes referred to by the promos were intended for younger viewers and carried

either a "G" or "PGR" classification. Accordingly, it declined to uphold the

complaint.
           

M Boyle contended that PGR was probably the appropriate classification for King of

the Hill if it screened at 8.00pm but maintained that TV3 could not justify screening

the promo for the programme during early morning programmes for pre-schoolers.

In determining whether standard G12 was breached by the broadcast, the Authority

examines whether the "G" classification carried by the promo was appropriate. The

Authority notes that a "G" classified programme or promo must not contain material

likely to be unsuitable for children under 14 years of age. It also draws attention to

standard G22 of the Code. Standard G22 provides:

G22    Promotions (promos) for AO and PGR programmes may be screened

during "G" time bands provided the promo has been produced in such a

way that it can be classified as PGR or G, as appropriate. Promotions

which carry an AO classification may only be screened within AO time

bands.

The remarks complained about on this occasion were, in the Authority's view,

innocuous and somewhat obscure. It believes that they were most unlikely to be

understood by very young children or to cause, in younger viewers generally, any

adverse effect which could jeopardise compliance with the requirement in standard

G12. The Authority agrees that the "G" classification carried by the promo was the

appropriate one, and therefore concludes that the broadcaster had been mindful of its

obligations to child viewers on this occasion.

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

Signed for and on behalf of the Authority

Sam Maling
Chairperson
24 September 1998

Appendix

M L Boyle's Complaint to TV3 Network Services Ltd – 11 June 1998

M L Boyle of Hamilton wrote to TV3 Network Services Limited that while watching

The Busy World of Richard Scarry with a four year old, it had been shocking to see a

promo for King of the Hill which made references to "racial stereotypes" and had

included the words "white men's butts". M Boyle complained that it was totally

inappropriate to screen a promo for an obviously adult programme of "dubious

content" during a programme aimed at pre-schoolers. The complainant added that

promos for the programmes 3rd Rock from the Sun, Teen Angel and Sabrina had

screened at the same time and were all programmes scheduled for broadcast after

7.30pm. M Boyle asked TV3 to screen its promos for adult programmes at more

appropriate times.

TV3's Response to the Formal Complaint – 10 July 1998

TV3 Network Services Limited, in its response to the complainant, advised that the

complaint had been considered in relation to standard G12 of the Television Codes of

Broadcasting Practice.

TV3 reported that it had viewed the promo for King of the Hill along with the other

promos referred to by the complainant, which had screened at the same time. TV3

was of the view that the promos in question were suitable for child viewers and

advised that it considered the "G" ratings assigned to the promos by its appraisers

were appropriate. It added that all of the programmes which the trailers promoted

were intended for younger viewers and stated:

The Teen Angel and Sabrina programmes are normally rated G – meaning

suitable for all viewers, King of the Hill and 3rd Rock from the Sun are normally

rated PGR – meaning suitable for older child viewers or for children subject to

the guidance of a care-giver. None of the programmes are "adult programme(s)

of dubious content".

Accordingly, TV3 advised the complainant that it declined to uphold the complaint.

M L Boyle's Referral to the Broadcasting Standards Authority – 22 July 1998

Dissatisfied with TV3's decision, M Boyle referred the complaint to the Broadcasting

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

M Boyle reiterated the grounds for his complaint, and claimed further that the

characters' remarks were offensive. The complainant said that the promo had not

been suitable to screen during a programme designed for pre-schoolers. M Boyle did

not dispute a PGR classification for King of the Hill if it screened at 8.00pm, but

argued that TV3 could not justify screening a promo for it in the morning during

programmes aimed at pre-schoolers.

TV3's Response to the Authority – 6 August 1998

TV3 had no further comment to make with regard to the complaint.