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SummaryAn 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....

Download a PDF of Decision No. 1993-148:Stephens and TV3 Network Services Ltd - 1993-148 PDF312. 31 KB...

BEFORE THE BROADCASTING STANDARDS AUTHORITY Decision No: 41/94 Dated the 9th day of June 1994 IN THE MATTER of the Broadcasting Act 1989 AND IN THE MATTER of a complaint by WENDY SHEPHERD of Levin Broadcaster TV3 NETWORK SERVICES LIMITED I. W. Gallaway Chairperson J. R. Morris R. A. Barraclough L. M. Dawson...

BEFORE THE BROADCASTING STANDARDS AUTHORITY Decision No: 132/94 Dated the 12th day of December 1994 IN THE MATTER of the Broadcasting Act 1989 AND IN THE MATTER of a complaint by LEWIS CLARKSON of Christchurch Broadcaster TV3 NETWORK SERVICES LIMITED I W Gallaway Chairperson J R Morris L M Loates W J Fraser...

SummaryMalcolm Sutherland, a New Zealand soldier in Vietnam in 1970, was killed by "friendly fire". The incident was "covered-up" by the platoon commander, Lieutenant Roger Mortlock, and the death was reported officially as being the result of "enemy fire". The cover-up was explained on a 20/20 item broadcast at 7. 30pm on 21 February 1999. The item reported that (now) Brigadier Mortlock had recently resigned under threat of dismissal. Ms Banbury, the late Malcolm Sutherland’s sister, complained directly to the Broadcasting Standards Authority, under s. 8(1)(c) of the Broadcasting Act 1989, that the item breached her privacy as she and another brother had been filmed at an emotional time at a Vietnam Veterans’ Reunion in 1998 when they accepted an honour on her brother’s behalf at a time when they did not know the true situation....

Summary An item entitled "Prisoner of Law" examined the situation of a solo New Zealand mother who had given birth to a child in Sydney. It explained that in order to maintain custody of her child, she was required by the Australian Family Court to live in Sydney. The programme was broadcast on TV3’s 20/20 at 7. 30pm on 13 June 1999. Mr Tichbon complained to TV3 Network Services Ltd, the broadcaster, that the item was unbalanced. It contravened the standards, he wrote, as the father was not asked for his perspective. Furthermore, Mr Tichbon added, the father was secretly filmed at the handover of the child. Explaining that the intention of the item was to illustrate the mother’s predicament and to question the law, TV3 denied that the father was vilified or portrayed as a bad father....

ComplaintThe Boys Club – film – fuck – offensive FindingsStandard G2 – adult theme – contextual factors – rating – warning – classification – time of screening – no uphold This headnote does not form part of the decision. Summary The Canadian film The Boys Club was broadcast on TV3 on 24 June 2001. It told the story of some teenage boys with a secret hideout who hide a dangerous criminal. Their conversation frequently used the word "fuck" and its derivatives. Phillip Smits complained to TV3 Network Services Ltd, the broadcaster, that the teenage boys as the main characters used offensive language extensively. People of that age, he wrote, should not be allowed to swear. In response, TV3 pointed to programme’s rating (AO), the time of screening (10. 40pm), and the verbal and written warning which preceded the broadcast....

Download a PDF of Decision No. 1992-002:Connell and TV3 Network Services Ltd - 1992-002 PDF299. 1 KB...

BEFORE THE BROADCASTING STANDARDS AUTHORITY Decision No: 1996-148 Dated the 31st day of October 1996 IN THE MATTER of the Broadcasting Act 1989 AND IN THE MATTER of a complaint by GEOFF HOLDING of Gore Broadcaster TV3 NETWORK SERVICES LIMITED J M Potter Chairperson L M Loates R McLeod A Martin...

BEFORE THE BROADCASTING STANDARDS AUTHORITY Decision No: 1997-014 Dated the 27th day of February 1997 IN THE MATTER of the Broadcasting Act 1989 AND IN THE MATTER of a complaint by CHRISTOPHER S INGRAM of Tauranga Broadcaster TV3 NETWORK SERVICES LIMITED J M Potter Chairperson L M Loates R McLeod A Martin...

Summary In reporting the New Zealand cricket team’s visit to Buckingham Palace a 3 News sports item broadcast on 3 June 1999 beginning at 6. 00pm announced "The Blackcaps bowl up at Liz and Phil’s wicket…". Mr Bernards complained to TV3 Network Services Ltd, the broadcaster, that this reference was disrespectful to the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh and overstepped the limits of acceptability. He sought a sharply worded warning to TV3’s management not to repeat such language. TV3 responded that the phrase was intended to be a brief, light-hearted pointer to the report coming up. It noted that the humorous reference was more than adequately balanced by the tone of the full news item. While it regretted that the complainant had found the reference distasteful, it did not consider it had breached broadcasting standards and it declined to uphold the complaint....

Complaint20/20 – "A Position of Power" – Dr Morgan Fahey – allegations by female patients of sexual and professional misconduct – unbalanced – unfair – breach of privacy Findings(1) Standard G6 – reasonable opportunity given to Dr Fahey to answer all serious allegations – no uphold (2) Standard G4 – no unfairness in circumstances – personal information justified anonymity – timing of broadcast justified – public interest – no uphold (3) Standard G5 – no uphold (4) Standard G19 – editing fair and not distorted – no uphold (5) Privacy – no breach for police station footage – consent given to interview – no uphold This headnote does not form part of the decision. Summary Dr Morgan Fahey, a Christchurch GP and mayoral candidate, was the subject of a 20/20 item entitled A Position of Power broadcast on TV3 between 7. 30 – 8....

ComplaintFilm – Albino Alligator – repeated and overwhelming use of fuck and motherfucker – offensive language FindingsStandard G2 – overwhelming and repetitive use of fuck and motherfucker was gratuitous – uphold No Order This headnote does not form part of the decision. Summary [1] The film Albino Alligator was broadcast on TV4 on 28 June 2001 beginning at 9. 30pm. It was a police drama involving a robbery and a hostage taking. [2] Owen Blackburn complained to TV3 Network Services Ltd, the broadcaster, that the repeated use of the "f" word in the scene when a reporter interviewed a police officer, was unnecessary. [3] In response, TV3 said that film was rated AO, and preceded by a written and verbal warning. Moreover, 56 cuts had been made by TV4’s appraiser because of the language, and screening was prohibited before 9. 30pm....

Complaint 3 News Special – interview with Prime Minister broadcast on 10 July – canvassed allegations in "Seeds of Distrust" by Nicky Hager published that day – claimed that Government was aware of accidental distribution of GM contaminated seeds – unfair and inaccurate – application by broadcaster for hearing FindingsApplication declined This headnote does not form part of the decision. INTERLOCUTORY DECISION The Background [1] Detailed claims from the book "Seeds of Distrust", written by Nicky Hager and published on 10 July, were put to the Prime Minister by interviewer John Campbell during a 3 News Special broadcast at 7. 00pm on the same day. The interview had been recorded the previous day (9 July). The book, which was not mentioned during the interview, alleged that the Government was aware of the accidental distribution of GM contaminated seeds and had allowed the seeds to be grown, harvested and processed....

Complaint3 News – child participants – mother’s consent – children of gang member sought by police – privacy – good taste – fairness – upheld by broadcaster FindingsAction taken by broadcaster sufficient This headnote does not form part of the decision. Summary Two pre-school children were shown in news items broadcast on 3 News at 6. 00pm and 10. 30pm on 25 January 2000. They were described as the children of a member of the "Screwdriver Gang" who was being sought by police in connection with armed robberies in Auckland. Kris Vavasour complained to TV3 Network Services Ltd that the privacy of the two young children had been breached. She also complained that it was a breach of the good taste standard and unfair to show footage of the children in a way which publicly identified them....

ComplaintPromo – Bitches and B*stards – offensive language – promo for AO rated programme screened at 8. 00pm – inappropriately classified FindingsStandard G2 – contextual matters – no uphold Standard G8 – promo appropriately classified – no uphold Standard G12 – taking into account classification and theme of programme in which promo screened – no uphold Standard G22 – see G8 – no uphold Standard G24 – no violent or explicit material – no uphold This headnote does not form part of the decision. Summary [1] A promo for the AO rated programme Bitches and B*stards was broadcast by TV3 at 8. 00pm on 15 November 2001, during the PGR rated programme Family Confidential. [2] Michael Hooker complained to TV3 Network Services Ltd, the broadcaster, that the broadcast of offensive language at that time was unacceptable and in breach of the broadcasting standards....

BEFORE THE BROADCASTING STANDARDS AUTHORITY Decision No: 40/94 Dated the 9th day of June 1994 IN THE MATTER of the Broadcasting Act 1989 AND IN THE MATTER of a complaint by PHILLIP SMITS of Auckland Broadcaster TV3 NETWORK SERVICES LIMITED I. W. Gallaway Chairperson J. R. Morris R. A. Barraclough L. M. Dawson...

BEFORE THE BROADCASTING STANDARDS AUTHORITY Decision No: 1997-122 Dated the 18th day of September 1997 IN THE MATTER of the Broadcasting Act 1989 AND IN THE MATTER of a complaint by G L BROWN of Nelson Broadcaster TV3 NETWORK SERVICES LIMITED S R Maling Chairperson L M Loates R McLeod A Martin...

BEFORE THE BROADCASTING STANDARDS AUTHORITY Decision No: 1997-176 Dated the 15th day of December 1997 IN THE MATTER of the Broadcasting Act 1989 AND IN THE MATTER of a complaint by PHILLIP SMITS of Auckland Broadcaster TV3 NETWORK SERVICES LIMITED S R Maling Chairperson L M Loates R McLeod J Withers...