BSA Decisions Ngā Whakatau a te Mana Whanonga Kaipāho

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Summary

An exchange between the presenters of TV One's Breakfast show on 21 May 1998

between 7.00–9.00am touched on the relative merits of soccer as compared to rugby.

Mr Bishop complained to Television New Zealand Ltd that the comments made by

one of the presenters were unfair, biased, and denigrated those who followed and

played soccer. He also complained that sports coverage in New Zealand was in

general grossly imbalanced because of its concentration on rugby.

In its response, TVNZ emphasised that the tone of the remarks made it clear that they

were intended to be humorous, and were part of the banter between the show's hosts.

TVNZ said it believed Mr Bishop had overreacted to a humorous exchange. It

declined to uphold the complaint.

Dissatisfied with TVNZ's decision, Mr Bishop 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 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). On this occasion, the Authority

determines the complaint without a formal hearing.

When news of the European football final was broadcast on Breakfast on 21 May

1998 between 7.00–9.00am, the presenter Mike Hosking suggested that soccer was

boring, particularly in comparison to rugby which he described as a high scoring game.

Later, when reference was made to a rugby player, the presenter said "at least he

doesn't play soccer."

Mr Bishop complained to Television New Zealand Ltd that he took exception to the

remarks because they were neither fair nor accurate, and because they denigrated those

who played and followed the sport of soccer. In his view, the personal opinions of

the presenter should have been kept private. Mr Bishop emphasised that soccer was

the world's most popular sport, and was played everywhere in the world, whereas

rugby had a limited following. In addition, Mr Bishop complained that sports

television was grossly imbalanced in New Zealand, and requested that an equal

amount of time be given to soccer coverage as to rugby.

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

G4 and G13 of the Television Code of Broadcasting Practice. Those standards require

broadcasters:

G4    To deal justly and fairly with any person taking part or referred to in

any programme

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, occupational

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.

First, TVNZ emphasised that the context in which the remarks occurred made it clear

that the light-hearted comment was nothing more than a humorous exchange between

the presenters and was part of the deliberately nurtured "chemistry" between them.

It said it believed Mr Bishop had overreacted. It did not believe the broadcast

infringed the Codes of Practice.

When he referred the complaint to the Authority, Mr Bishop reiterated that he was

deeply disturbed by the insults and derision he and other soccer supporters were

subjected to by presenter's remarks. In his view, presenters should be required to

keep their personal views private. Mr Bishop also lamented the lack of coverage

received by soccer in general on free to air television, which he suggested led to a

perception that it was a lesser pursuit than other sports.

The Authority deals first with the question of which standards are applicable to the

complaint. It considers standard G4, which relates to dealing justly and fairly with

any person referred to or taking part in any programme, is not relevant to this

complaint as no person was referred to. It therefore examines the complaint under

standard G6, which requires broadcasters:

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

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

In assessing whether the presenter's comments were fair, the Authority takes into

account the context in which the remarks were made. It notes that the style and

format for Breakfast is informal and relaxed, and that the personalities of the

presenters and their interaction are an important component of the programme. While

the presenter's personal preference for rugby was obvious, the Authority does not

consider his remarks about soccer were to be taken as a serious comment on the

relative merits of rugby and soccer. It was clear, in the Authority's view, that the

banter between the presenters was simply good-humoured ribbing, and there was no

question that standard G6's requirement for fairness was compromised. It finds no

breach of the standard.

Turning to the complaint that standard G13 was breached, the Authority observes

that soccer players and followers are not a section of the community to which the

standard applies. However, even if they were, the Authority finds nothing in the

remarks which denigrated soccer players and followers, or would lead to them being

discriminated against. It therefore declines to uphold this aspect of the complaint.

Next the Authority deals with the complaint that the small amount of coverage of

soccer on free to air television succeeded in marginalising it as a sport. The Authority

notes that viewer preferences are not matters which are capable of being resolved by

the formal complaints process.

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

Signed for and on behalf of the Authority

Sam Maling
Chairperson
24 September 1998

Appendix

Steve Bishop's Complaint to Television New Zealand Ltd – 22 May 1998

Mr Bishop of Albany complained through the Broadcasting Standards Authority to

Television New Zealand Ltd about an exchange between the presenters of Breakfast

broadcast on TV One on 21 May 1998 between 7.00–9.00am.

Mr Bishop objected to the disparaging comments made by the presenter concerning

soccer during an item on the outcome of the European Football final, particularly in

light of the presenter's obvious support for rugby. In his view, those remarks

denigrated all people in New Zealand who followed or played soccer, the world's

most popular sports code. He also complained that sports coverage in New Zealand

was grossly imbalanced because of its concentration on rugby.

He asked that the Authority take action to compel unbiased and equal sports

televising and broadcasting.

TVNZ's Response to the Formal Complaint – 8 June 1998

TVNZ advised that it had considered the complaint in the context of standards G4 and

G13 of the Television Code of Broadcasting Practice. It reported that it had reviewed

the part of the programme complained about, and felt that Mr Bishop had not

understood the nature of the Breakfast programme. It added:

As well as providing the main news stories of the day, it is meant to be a

cheery and lively programme which people can dip in and out of before going

to work or embarking on the day's activities. 
         

The "chemistry" between the presenters is deliberately nurtured – and part of

the chemistry involves both in short bursts of "tongue in cheek" humour.

Such was the case on the occasion complained about, TVNZ continued. It reported

the dialogue:

Susan Wood:   What's the matter?

Mike Hosking:  That's why people don't like soccer...that's your fundamental

problem in soccer...you hang around for an hour and a half for

what? To see some guy accidentally put the ball in the net and

that's your scoring pleasure for the day. Look at Super 12

rugby. You're going to see 40 points in the final this weekend...

Susan Wood:   Quite a lot of people on the other side of the world like soccer.

Mike Hosking:  That's OK, they can be on the other side of the world if they like...

                           
Susan Wood:   Stop grumbling!

TVNZ added that what the transcript did not show was the broad grin on Susan

Wood's face throughout, indicating that the piece was a "wind-up".

TVNZ considered that Mr Bishop had overreacted to what was nothing more than

tongue in cheek humour. It did not believe it had breached standards G4 and G13.

Mr Bishop's Referral to the Broadcasting Standards Authority – 29 June 1998

Dissatisfied with TVNZ's response to the complaint, Mr Bishop referred it to the

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

Mr Bishop pointed out that in his original letter he had referred to three instances of

the presenter's most insulting remarks. However, TVNZ in its response had:

...referred to only one of the Breakfast Show's Co-Host's insults, and

flagrantly attempts to misrepresent and distort the matter, to merely being an

amusing aside to his fellow Host.

It plainly was not, and was, patently – never intended as such.

Mr Bishop argued that the host had incessantly sniped as soccer and its advocates,

and used every opportunity to give his own opinion of the code and its followers. He

maintained that soccer followers had endured a starvation diet with respect to

coverage of their chosen sport, despite the fact that the numbers in support closely

rivalled those supporting Rugby Union and far exceeded those who supported Rugby

League – sports which enjoyed much exposure on free-to-air television.

Mr Bishop complained that New Zealand appeared to select minority international

codes, such as Rugby Union and its derivatives and saturated the public with massive

coverage to the detriment of all other sport, particularly soccer, which was the world's

most popular sport.

He noted that most soccer followers were now inured to the fact that their sport

would be ignored by the news media. Nevertheless, he pointed out, it still increased in

popularity.

In Mr Bishop's view, this was an occasion when an injustice could be remedied.

He also noted the irony that some Breakfast shows were being replaced with live

World Cup soccer telecasts. He considered that was an interesting comment on the

popularity of the code, particularly as New Zealand was not represented.

Mr Bishop insisted that he was not being "precious". He wrote that he and others

like him were deeply disturbed by such insults from people like Mr Hosking. In Mr

Bishop's view, the presenter had a responsibility to keep his personal views private.

TVNZ's Response to the Authority – 27 July 1998

TVNZ advised that it had nothing of substance to add.

Referring to Mr Bishop's assertion that it had dealt with only part of his complaint,

TVNZ responded that as far as it could see, that was the only part of the exchange

which related to soccer. The other matter cited in Mr Bishop's 22 May letter was "a

minor comment in a build-up to a rugby item", according to TVNZ, and referred back

(by inference) to the exchange it quoted.

Mr Bishop's Final Comment – 30 July 1998

Mr Bishop repeated that the presenter's "general sneering disdain for all things

Soccer" had occurred on occasions other than those he had nominated. In his view,

such comments diminished the people whose sporting interests did not include rugby.

Save for the FA and World Cup, Mr Bishop argued, the profile of soccer was

decidedly that of a lesser species. He maintained that because of that, those who

played or supported soccer were regarded as "odd", and argued that it was regarded as

a "lesser pursuit" because of the lack of publicity it received.

While he agreed that rugby was part of New Zealand's culture, he argued it was no

more so than soccer. As a personal observation, he suggested that rugby was part of

the Polynesian culture, but not European or world culture. In fact, he noted, it was

only played well by New Zealand, two Australian states and 10% of South Africans.

He concluded:

Yet, as indicated by my previous correspondence, public broadcasting on

television and radio, invariably considers any day to be the start of "open

season" on soccer.

           I'd be grateful if you could guarantee a level playing field.