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ComplaintThe Book Group – drama – male sex scene – offensive FindingsStandard 1 and Guideline 1a – context – no uphold This headnote does not form part of the decision. Summary [1] The Book Group is a series about a group of people who regularly meet to discuss books, and is described by the broadcaster as a “quirky and unpredictable drama”. An episode broadcast on 24 September 2003 at 10. 05pm on TV One included a scene of two men having sex. [2] Michael Beedell complained to Television New Zealand Ltd, the broadcaster, that the scene was offensive and “inappropriate for public viewing”. [3] Declining to uphold the complaint, TVNZ said in context the scene did not breach current norms of good taste and decency. [4] Dissatisfied with TVNZ’s decision, Mr Beedell referred his complaint to the Broadcasting Standards Authority under s. 8(1)(a) of the Broadcasting Act 1989....

ComplaintThe Weakest Link – G rating – contestant said "pissed off" – offensive language FindingsStandard 1 and guideline a – contextual matters – no uphold Standard 9 and guideline a – context and use – no uphold This headnote does not form part of the decision. Summary [1] A celebrity edition of The Weakest Link was broadcast on TV One between 7. 40–8. 40pm on 6 January 2002. A contestant, Pam Corkery, said among her later final comments that she was "pissed off" at her inability to answer one specific question. [2] Gordon Hayes complained to Television New Zealand Ltd, the broadcaster, that to include such language in a programme rated G was "absolutely disgusting". [3] In response, TVNZ described the phrase as a "mild vulgarism" which was not sufficiently offensive to breach current community standards, and that children who were still awake after 8....

Complaint under section 8(1B)(b)(i) of the Broadcasting Act 1989Rome – two episodes contained offensive language – allegedly in breach of good taste and decencyFindings Standard 1 (good taste and decency) – language was gratuitous and could have been edited without affecting the storyline – upheldNo OrderThis headnote does not form part of the decision. Broadcast[1] Two episodes of the historical drama Rome were broadcast on TV One at 10. 25pm on 13 January and at 11. 10pm on 3 February 2008. The 13 January episode contained the following lines: Caesar would’ve fucked Medusa if she’d had a crown. Nice manners, for a whore. Your son will eat shit and die before I make him legal. [I swear] on Juno’s cunt. I am a son of Hades! I fuck Concord in her arse! You can tell your lawyer to shove a taper up his arse and set himself alight....

Complaint under section 8(1)(a) of the Broadcasting Act 1989Off the Wire – participants discussed a food outlet that had opened in a church – commented “the body of Christ does come with six grams of fat” – allegedly in breach of good taste and decency and denigratoryFindingsPrinciple 1 (good taste and decency) – in context, not indecent or in poor taste – not upheld Principle 7 (social responsibility) – item not critical of Christians or Christian practices – not upheldThis headnote does not form part of the decision. Broadcast [1] The participants in Off the Wire, broadcast on National Radio on 3 October 2004 at around 3:00 am discussed recent news events, including the opening of a food outlet in a New York church....

Complaint under section 8(1B)(b)(ii) of the Broadcasting Act 1989Jono’s New Show promo – man said “Fucken oath, look at him, what a fuckwit. Goes for a run and gets shot in the arse” – “fucken” and “fuckwit” were partially bleeped but words could still be distinguished – broadcaster upheld complaint under two standards – action taken allegedly insufficient Findings Standards 1 (good taste and decency) and 9 (children’s interests) – broadcaster upheld complaint under two standards and changed appraisal process – action taken sufficient This headnote does not form part of the decision. Broadcast [1] A promo for Jono’s New Show was broadcast at approximately 6. 14pm on Sunday 14 September 2008 on C4. It included a man saying “Fucken oath, look at him, what a fuckwit. Goes for a run and gets shot in the arse”....

Complaint under section 8(1)(a) of the Broadcasting Act 1989This Way Up – host interviewed correspondent about an Irish pub which had been burned to the ground twice allegedly by local mafia in Sicily – host laughed occasionally while asking questions – allegedly in breach of good taste and decency Findings Principle 1 (good taste and decency) – awkward laughter did not threaten standards of good taste and decency in the context of an entertainment programme – not upheld This headnote does not form part of the decision. Broadcast [1] On Radio New Zealand National’s This Way Up programme on the afternoon of Saturday 3 March 2007 the host, Simon Morton, interviewed a correspondent in Rome. The correspondent told the story of an Irish pub in Sicily – owned by Italian and Irish men – that had refused to pay the local mafia “protection money”....

ComplaintBea Arthur on Broadway – Concert FM – joke about a taxi driver and his fantasy about oral sex with a nun – offensive FindingsPrinciple 1 Guideline 1a – context – no uphold his headnote does not form part of the decision. Summary [1] Bea Arthur on Broadway: Just Between Friends featured in the Music Alive programme broadcast on Concert FM between 8. 00–9. 10pm on Friday 24 January 2003. During the programme, actress Bea Arthur told a joke about a nun who hired a taxi, and the taxi driver who told her that he had a fantasy about having oral sex with a nun. [2] Paul Clarke complained to Radio New Zealand Ltd, the broadcaster, that the story was offensive and not the sort of material expected on Concert FM. [3] In response, RNZ apologised to Mr Clarke....

Summary[This summary does not form part of the decision. ]Two episodes of Story featured items about self-described ‘professional political campaigner’ Simon Lusk. In the first item, presenter Duncan Garner was shown hunting with Mr Lusk, and Mr Lusk apparently shot two deer. Excerpts of political figures being interviewed about their involvement with Mr Lusk, and of Mr Lusk discussing such involvement, were shown throughout the items. The Authority did not uphold a complaint alleging that the items were in breach of multiple broadcasting standards for the way Mr Lusk’s involvement in politics was reported and for featuring footage of deer hunting. The footage of the deer hunting was not so graphic or gratuitous that it would have offended a significant number of viewers, including child viewers....

Summary[This summary does not form part of the decision. ]Two Entertainment Tonight episodes, classified PGR, were broadcast prior to children’s programme Sticky TV, which was classified G. The Authority did not uphold a complaint that the Entertainment Tonight episodes contained content that was unsuitable for children, and that PGR programmes such as this should not be broadcast immediately prior to children’s programming. Taking into account the context of the broadcast, the Authority found the Entertainment Tonight episodes were within audience expectations of the programme and the PGR classification. The episodes did not contain any strong or adult content, particularly during the transition to Sticky TV, and would not have adversely affected any child viewers when subject to adult supervision. Not Upheld: Good Taste and Decency, Children’s InterestsIntroduction[1] Two Entertainment Tonight episodes, classified PGR, were broadcast prior to children’s programme Sticky TV, which was classified G....

Complaint under section 8(1B)(b)(i) of the Broadcasting Act 1989Blender – music video included segments of a toddler being frightened by people dressed up as monsters – child shown crying and distressed – allegedly in breach of good taste and decency, children’s interests and violence standards FindingsStandard 1 (good taste and decency) – video unrealistic – contextual factors – not upheld Standard 9 (children’s interests) – music video broadcast at 11. 33pm – standard does not apply – not upheld Standard 10 (violence) – video did not contain any scenes of violence – not upheld This headnote does not form part of the decision. Broadcast [1] During an episode of the music video programme Blender, broadcast on C4 at 11. 30pm on 8 June 2009, a video for a song called “Kids” by the band MGMT was played....

SummarySome highlights from mid-week programmes were played on 91. 9FM Napier on 15 November 1998, a Sunday afternoon. One extract contained the following exchange: "I work for Cunard", to which the reply was "I work fuckin’ ’ard too, but I still can’t afford a car like that! "Mr Leitch complained to the station that the extract was highly offensive. Not only was the extract broadcast live at some time during the week when there might have been an excuse that it "slipped through", he said, but it was repeated as something the broadcaster was proud of. The station responded that Mr Leitch’s comments had been duly noted and acted upon. It offered its apologies for any distress the broadcast might have caused him. Dissatisfied with the decision, Mr Leitch referred the complaint to the Broadcasting Standards Authority under s. 8(1)(a) of the Broadcasting Act 1989....

Summary An American documentary entitled Scared Straight – 20 Years On was broadcast by TV3 on 12 July 1999 at 8. 30pm. It examined a rehabilitation programme for youthful offenders which was based on behaviour modification. The programme was trialled in the 1970s, and 20 years later some of those participants were asked about their experiences on the course and how they had lived their lives since then. James Whitham complained to TV3 Network Services Ltd, the broadcaster, that the programme condoned violence and encouraged intimidating and threatening behaviour. He contended that it had breached a number of broadcasting standards. TV3 responded by noting that the behaviour modification programme had been used successfully in America to help teenage offenders. In the context of an AO programme, which had been preceded by a verbal and written warning relating to language, TV3 maintained that no standards had been breached....

Complaint COW AM – offensive behaviour – offensive language – questions about sex life FindingsG2 – AO – 10. 00pm – student audience – risqué but no breach – no uphold This headnote does not form part of the decision. Summary COW AM is a programme broadcast on Channel 9 Dunedin. On 16 May, two young women and a man were asked whether they had had sex on the weekend and how it rated out of 10. They were also asked what position they liked for sex. The programme was broadcast at 10. 00pm. Mr J G Donaldson complained to Channel 9 Dunedin, the broadcaster, that the programme was "disgusting and immoral". He said he had seen the same sequence broadcast the following week on 22 May at 10. 00pm, and asked whether it was a regular occurrence....

Complaint under section 8(1B)(b)(i) of the Broadcasting Act 19893 News and Sports Tonight – words “tough” and “disconnect” allegedly used by presenters – allegedly in breach of good taste and decency, law and order, and privacy Findings Standards 1 (good taste and decency), 2 (law and order) and 3 (privacy) – adequate response from broadcaster – use of the words did not threaten broadcasting standards in any way – not upheld This headnote does not form part of the decision. Broadcast [1] 3 News was broadcast on TV3 at 6pm on Friday 25 September 2009. Sports Tonight was broadcast on TV3 at 11pm on Wednesday 30 September 2009....

ComplaintComedy Season Promo – edited clips from nine comedy programmes – footage from Sex and the City unsuitable for broadcast during children’s programming – breach of good taste – broadcaster not mindful of children – explicit material unacceptable FindingsStandard G2 – promo did not breach currently accepted norms of good taste and decency – no uphold Standard G12 – not G material – broadcaster not mindful of promo’s effect on children – uphold Standard G24 – not "explicit material" as envisaged by the standard – no uphold No Order This headnote does not form part of the decision. Summary 1] TV3 promoted its Comedy Season with a montage of clips from various comedy programmes. The promo, which lasted 60 seconds, included clips from 3rd Rock from the Sun, Will and Grace and Sex and the City, edited together....

Complaint under section 8(1)(a) of the Broadcasting Act 1989One News – item showed footage of female strippers dancing in a strip club – allegedly in breach of good taste and decency and children’s interests Findings Standard 1 (good taste and decency) – contextual factors – not upheld Standard 9 (children’s interests) – majority – broadcaster was sufficiently mindful of the interests of child viewers – not upheld This headnote does not form part of the decision. Broadcast [1] An item on One News, broadcast on TV One at 6pm on 21 August 2007, reported on the controversy in Australia following an admission by an Australian politician that he had visited a strip club while in New York. The reporter then questioned several New Zealand MPs about whether they had ever been to a strip club....

Summary[This summary does not form part of the decision. ]An item on Newshub reported on the rescue of an American woman who had been held captive as a sex slave by a serial killer for two months in South Carolina. The item featured newly-released footage of the woman’s rescue, and showed her chained to the wall of a shipping container by her throat. The item also featured footage of the woman’s appearance on the American talk show, Dr Phil, during which she discussed her kidnapping. The item was preceded by the following verbal audience advisory: ‘A warning: some viewers may find our next story disturbing’. The Authority did not uphold a complaint that this audience advisory was inadequate given the nature of the footage, which was violent, inappropriate for children and further breached the featured woman’s privacy....

Summary[This summary does not form part of the decision. ]An episode of a weekly mixed martial arts championship highlights and commentary programme, MMA: One Championship Weekly, was broadcast on TVNZ DUKE at 8. 30am on Saturday 15 April 2017. The primary focus of the episode was a build-up to an upcoming match between Eduard Foyalang and Ev Ting scheduled for 21 April 2017. The episode profiled each of the fighters with reference to their backgrounds and family life. It also included 5-6 minute clips of their previous fights against other opponents. Mr Dandy complained that the use of footage from MMA fights was offensive and inappropriate to broadcast at a time when children may be watching television unsupervised....

Summary[This summary does not form part of the decision. ]The Authority has not upheld a complaint about a RadioLIVE Drive show, which discussed the issue of property managers or landlords asking to see the bank statements of prospective tenants. The Authority found the broadcast did not breach any of the broadcasting standards raised by the complainant, noting the broadcast included a range of viewpoints from the hosts, interviewees and listeners who phoned into the programme. The broadcast discussed a legitimate issue and was in line with audience expectations for the programme and for talkback radio. The Authority therefore found no actual or potential harm that might have outweighed the important right to freedom of expression....