In this Codebook, unless otherwise indicated, a word or expression assigned a meaning in the Act has the meaning given there. In respect of other words or expressions, the following meanings shall apply unless otherwise indicated.
Act means the Broadcasting Act 1989.
Advisory Opinion means an opinion issued pursuant to s21(1)(d) of the Act.
Alcohol promotion may be in the form of one or more of the following:
- promotion of an alcohol product, brand or outlet (‘promotion’)
- alcohol sponsorship of a programme (‘sponsorship’)
- advocacy of alcohol consumption (‘advocacy’).
Audience means the viewers and listeners of both television and radio.
Audience advisory means a message or warning broadcast prior to a programme or particular content. It may be verbal, visual or both. It should be broadcast immediately prior to content which is likely to disturb, distress or offend a significant number of viewers. On pay television, audience advisories include:
C – content may offend
L – language may offend
V – contains violence
S – sexual content may offend
Authority means the Broadcasting Standards Authority.
Child, where referring to an audience member, means a person under the age of 14. In privacy cases, a parent, guardian or person over the age of 18 acting in loco parentis (standing in the shoes of the parent or guardian) may consent on behalf of a child under the age of 16.
Children’s normally accepted listening times are usually up until 8.30pm and especially before school and after school.
Children’s normally accepted viewing times for free-to-air television are usually up until 8.30pm and/or during G or PGR programming (see below).
Classifications (free-to-air television) means the classifications that should be broadcast on all free-to-air television programmes except news, current affairs, sports and live content. The classifications are:
- G – General: Programmes which exclude material likely to be unsuitable for children. Programmes may not necessarily be designed for child viewers but should not contain material likely to alarm or distress them.
G programmes may be screened at any time.
- PGR – Parental Guidance Recommended: Programmes containing material more suited for mature audiences but not necessarily unsuitable for child viewers when subject to the guidance of a parent or an adult.
PGR programmes may be screened between 9am and 4pm, and after 7pm until 6am.
- AO – Adults Only: Programmes containing adult themes and directed primarily at mature audiences.
AO programmes may be screened between midday and 3pm on weekdays (except during school and public holidays, as designated by the Ministry of Education) and after 8.30pm until 5am.
Classifications (pay television) means the classifications that should be broadcast on all pay television programmes except news, current affairs, sports and live content. The classifications are:
G – approved for general viewing
PG – parental guidance recommended for younger viewers
M – suitable for mature audiences 16 years and over
16 – people under 16 years should not view
18 – people under 18 years should not view
Doorstepping refers to the filming or recording of an interview or attempted interview with someone, without any prior warning.
Factual programmes/Factual programming means non-fiction programmes which contain information that audiences might reasonably expect to be authoritative or truthful.
Premium channel means a pay television channel that subscribers choose to subscribe to and pay a subscription fee for, in addition to the entry level fee already paid for the basic provision of the pay television service.
Public interest refers to a matter of concern to, or having the potential to affect, a significant section of the New Zealand population. It is more than something that merely interests the public.
Strong adult content means a greater degree of sexual activity, potentially offensive language, realistic violence, sexual violence or horrific encounters, which go beyond audience expectations of usual Adults Only content.