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Complaint under section 8(1B)(b)(ii) of the Broadcasting Act 1989Hotel Babylon – sex scene broadcast one minute after the Adults Only watershed – broadcaster upheld complaint under three standards – action taken allegedly insufficient Findings Standards 1 (good taste and decency), 7 (programme classification) and 9 (children’s interests) – broadcaster upheld complaint under three standards and counselled appraiser – action taken sufficient This headnote does not form part of the decision. Broadcast [1] An episode of Hotel Babylon, a BBC drama following the lives of workers at a five-star hotel, was broadcast on TV One at 8. 30pm on Wednesday 1 October 2008. The programme’s introductory sequence at 8. 31pm included a five-second scene showing a couple having sex. No breasts or genitals were shown, and, although the woman’s naked back could be seen as she straddled a man in bed, her buttocks were covered with a sheet....

Complaint under section 8(1)(a) of the Broadcasting Act 1989Paul Holmes Breakfast – comments regarding the beheading of hostages in Iraq – allegedly breached good taste and decency FindingsPrinciple 1 (good taste and decency) – presenter’s comments light-hearted look at serious issue – common practice in broadcast media – no intent to minimise gravity of subject matter – no obscene language or macabre detail employed – not in breach of good taste and decency standard – not upheld This headnote does not form part of the decision. Broadcast [1] At about 6. 53am on 22 September 2004 the host of Paul Holmes Breakfast on Newstalk ZB (Paul Holmes) began a segment about the beheading of hostages in Iraq. At the time of the broadcast, British man Kenneth Bigley had been captured by terrorists in Iraq....

Summary A promo for the Jo Brand programme included a "stand-up" comedy routine in which the comedian related how her mother warned her not to take sweets from old men. In relating the story, she used the expression "getting his knob out". The promo was broadcast on TV4 on 26 January 1999 at 7. 40pm during a PGR-rated programme. Mr Raffray complained to TV4 Network Ltd, the broadcaster, that the language used resulted in the broadcast of AO content during a PGR time-slot, without any warning, and during a programme which appealed to younger viewers. TV4 responded that the promo had a "hard PGR" rating which, it wrote, meant that it could not screen in programmes aimed at children. Because of the way the joke was told, the colloquial words were obscure enough not to be understood by younger viewers, it added....

Complaint under section 8(1B)(b)(i) of the Broadcasting Act 1989Two and a Half Men and Scrubs promo – male character in Scrubs promo stated "I don’t like doing things I'm not good at", to which female character responded, "Yeah, that's why we don't have sex much" – male doctor in Scrubs promo talking to a female nurse said "My post-op is going in and out of consciousness. You know what I'd like to go in and out of?...

Complaint under section 8(1B)(b)(i) of the Broadcasting Act 1989Close Up – interview with actress Keisha Castle-Hughes and director Niki Caro about their new film The Vintner’s Luck – references to sex – showed scenes from the film of the main characters passionately kissing and the male character putting his head up the female’s skirt – allegedly in breach of good taste and decency and children’s interests FindingsStandard 9 (children’s interests) – sex scene was gratuitous in a current affairs programme at 7pm – unsuitable for children – upheld – language was vulgar slang unexpected in this type of programme – borderline but not upheld Standard 1 (good taste and decency) – sex scene was not sufficiently discreet for PGR timeslot – upheld – language borderline but acceptable – not upheld No Order This headnote does not form part of the decision....

Complaint under section 8(1B)(b)(i) of the Broadcasting Act 1989The Edge Morning Madhouse – host broadcast phone calls recorded at 3. 30am Australian time to Australian residents with horse racing-related surnames to ask for betting tips for the Melbourne Cup – allegedly in breach of privacy and good taste and decency Findings Standard 1 (good taste and decency) – childish prank intended to be humorous – did not threaten standards of good taste and decency – not upheld Standard 3 (privacy) – people phoned were not identifiable – no private facts disclosed – not upheld This headnote does not form part of the decision. Broadcast [1] During The Edge Morning Madhouse, broadcast on The Edge on the morning of Tuesday 3 November, one of the hosts noted that the Melbourne Cup was “the race that stops the nation”, but questioned whether it might be “the race that wakes the nation”....

Complaint under section 8(1)(a) of the Broadcasting Act 1989Close Up – interviewee compared playing old songs to having sex and an orgasm – allegedly in breach of good taste and decency and children’s interests standards. Findings Standard 1 (good taste and decency) – comparison was delivered in a straightforward and low-key manner – contextual factors – not upheld Standard 9 (children’s interests) – item was mild and light-hearted in nature – contextual factors – not upheld This headnote does not form part of the decision. Broadcast [1] An item on Close Up, broadcast on TV One at 7pm on 5 April 2007, showed an interview with Ray Manzarek, a former member of the rock group “The Doors”. [2] Towards the end of the interview, Mr Manzarek was asked if he ever got tired of playing the same songs. Mr Manzarek replied: Are you sick and tired of having sex?...

ComplaintThe Heat – announcer named manager and referred to staff of Classic Hits abusively and as fuckwits – broadcaster upheld complaint – written apology insufficient. FindingsAction taken insufficient OrderBroadcast of apology This headnote does not form part of the decision. Summary Between 5. 30–6. 00pm on Saturday 30 June 2001, an announcer on The Heat named the manager of Classic Hits 99FM in Timaru and referred abusively to him, and to his staff. They were described on air as "fuckwits" and listeners were invited to phone Classic Hits and tell them what they thought of them. Garey Hanifin, Manager of Classic Hits 99FM in Timaru, complained to The Heat that the comments amounted to a "gross breach" of broadcasting standards. The Heat upheld the complaint. It accepted that the remarks were unfair and uncalled for, and apologised by letter....

BEFORE THE BROADCASTING STANDARDS AUTHORITY Decision No: 1997-008 Dated the 13th day of February 1997 IN THE MATTER of the Broadcasting Act 1989 AND IN THE MATTER of a complaint by CREDO SOCIETY INC of Auckland Broadcaster 95 bFM J M Potter Chairperson L M Loates R McLeod A Martin...

Complaint under section 8(1)(a) of the Broadcasting Act 1989 Groove in the Park – text messages ran across the bottom of screen during broadcast of live music event on Waitangi Day – contained content which the complainant found offensive – allegedly in breach of good taste and decency, contrary to children's interests, denigratory and in breach of promotion of liquor standardFindingsStandard 1 (good taste and decency) – use of expletives in graphic sentences was contrary to the observance of good taste and decency – upheldStandard 6 (fairness) and guideline 6g (denigration) – text messages encouraged denigration of and discrimination against sections of the community based on race – upheldStandard 9 (children’s interests) – broadcast was G-rated and children likely to be watching on a public holiday – content highly unsuitable for children – upheld Standard 11 (liquor) – unable to determine in the absence of a recording – decline…...

Complaint under section 8(1B)(b)(i) of the Broadcasting Act 1989Breakfast – host said that obese children “should be taken away from their parents and put in a car compactor” – allegedly in breach of good taste and decency Findings Standard 1 (good taste and decency) – comment was light-hearted and intended to be humorous – not upheld This headnote does not form part of the decision. Broadcast [1] At the beginning of Breakfast, broadcast on TV One between 6. 30am and 9am on 3 February 2009, the programme’s presenters outlined the upcoming items for the day. One host stated, “should obese children be taken away from their parents? That is what Australian experts are suggesting – well, some of them anyway. We’ll wade into the debate after 7”....

BEFORE THE BROADCASTING STANDARDS AUTHORITY Decision No: 1998-058 Dated the 28th day of May 1998 IN THE MATTER of the Broadcasting Act 1989 AND IN THE MATTER of a complaint by DR GLYN THOMAS of Palmerston North TELEVISION NEW ZEALAND LIMITED Broadcaster S R Maling Chairperson L M Loates R McLeod J Withers...

Complaint under section 8(1B)(b)(i) of the Broadcasting Act 1989A Place in Spain – man said “Jesus [bleep] Christ” during an argument – allegedly in breach of good taste and decency Findings Standard 1 (good taste and decency) – contextual factors – not upheld This headnote does not form part of the decision. Broadcast [1] An episode of A Place in Spain was broadcast on TV One at 5pm on Wednesday 11 June 2008. The series followed Lee and Cheryl, a Welsh couple, on their dream of packing up their life in the United Kingdom and starting a snail farm in Spain. [2] At one point in the episode, Lee and Cheryl were shown in their new car having an argument about the directions being given by their satellite navigation system. During the argument, Lee said “Jesus [bleep] Christ” twice....

Complaint under section 8(1)(a) of the Broadcasting Act 1989Nine to Noon – interviewee said “Jesus” and “for Christ’s sake” – allegedly in breach of good taste and decency Findings Principle 1 (good taste and decency) – words not used sensationally, or gratuitously repeated – fitted into the category of an exclamation of irritation or alarm – not upheld This headnote does not form part of the decision. Broadcast [1] An interview with Derek Fox, the editor of Mana Magazine and a commentator on Māori issues, was conducted on Radio New Zealand National’s Nine to Noon programme on the morning of Thursday 15 February 2007. Mr Fox spoke about Māori achievement levels in the education system. At various points in the interview, Mr Fox used the expressions “Jesus” and “for Christ’s sake”....

Complaint under section 8(1)(a) of the Broadcasting Act 1989 3 News – item about big budget films to be made in New Zealand – movie clip shown included a shot of a woman falling off her chair and her dress flying up – allegedly offensive and contrary to interests of child viewers FindingsStandard 1 (good taste and decency) – context – inexplicit – not upheld Standard 9 (children’s interests) – not unsuitable for children in context – not upheld This headnote does not form part of the decision. Broadcast [1] An item about the number of big budget films to be made in New Zealand featured on 3 News at approximately 6. 20pm on 7 June 2004. The item included interviews with two leading actors who said they were looking forward to working in New Zealand, one of whom was Jack Black....

Complaint under section 8(1C) of the Broadcasting Act 19893 News – live news bulletin reported on Christchurch earthquake – included close-up footage and interviews with victims – allegedly in breach of standards relating to good taste and decency, privacy, discrimination and denigration and responsible programming FindingsStandard 1 (good taste and decency) – unedited live news item reporting on extraordinary natural disaster – contextual factors – not upheld Standard 3 (privacy) – people shown identifiable – victims vulnerable – however, no interference in nature of prying – public interest – not upheld Standard 8 (responsible programming) – unscheduled live news programme – warnings – public interest – not upheld Standard 7 (discrimination and denigration) – complainant did not identify section of the community – not upheld This headnote does not form part of the decision....

ComplaintPromo for Pepsi Chart – man shown sitting on lavatory – behaving as if constipated – offensive behaviour FindingsStandard G2 – contextual matters – no uphold This headnote does not form part of the decision. Summary [1] A promo for Pepsi Chart showed a man sitting on a lavatory and reading a magazine. He was behaving as if he were constipated. It was broadcast on TV4 during the evening of 11 November 2001. [2] Tony Drackett-Case complained to TV4 Network Ltd, the broadcaster, that the promo was offensive. [3] In response, TV4 maintained that while it might be outside the expectations of "mainstream" audiences, it was not inappropriate on a niche channel aimed at young adults. It declined to uphold the complaint. [4] Dissatisfied with TV4’s decision Mr Drackett-Case referred his complaint to the Broadcasting Standards Authority under s. 8(1)(a) of the Broadcasting Act 1989....

Summary [This summary does not form part of the decision. ]The George Selectah Show included audio from a YouTube parody of an advertisement for ‘Chaffers New Zealand Style Deck Sealant’, making fun of the way New Zealanders pronounce the word ‘deck’ to sound like ‘dick’. The Authority did not uphold the complaint that comments such as ‘every kid in the neighbourhood has been on my dick’ were in bad taste and joked about paedophilia. This was clearly intended to be humorous and did not promote or endorse paedophilia. Most regular listeners of George FM would not have been offended, taking into account the station’s target audience, and that the content was broadcast during school time when children were unlikely to be listening....

Summary [This summary does not form part of the decision. ]The hosts of the Dave and Guy show on Classic Hits encouraged callers to phone in with stories about dealing with unwanted visitors at the front door. One caller joked that he had answered the door ‘stark naked’, surprised that the ‘god botherers’ were an elderly lady and a 16-year-old girl. The Authority did not uphold the complaint that the caller’s comments about ‘indecent exposure’ breached standards. This was clearly intended to be a joke and most listeners would not have been offended taking into account the station’s and the programme’s target audience. Not Upheld: Good Taste and DecencyIntroduction[1] During the Dave and Guy show, the hosts asked, ‘What have you done to hide from people who come to your door and you don’t want them to be there?...