Bang Babes
Tease Me, 18 March 2009, 21:00
Bang Babes is programming of a sexual nature, available freely without access restrictions on the channel Tease Me (Sky channel number 912). It is situated in the ‘adult’ section of the Sky EPG. The channel broadcasts programmes, after the 21:00 watershed based on interactive ‘adult’ sex chat services: viewers are invited to contact on-screen presenters via premium rate telephony services. The female presenters dress and behave in a sexually provocative way.
Ofcom received a complaint about content broadcast, soon after 21:00, on Tease Me on 18 March 2009. The complainant said that the programme showed the presenters simulating masturbation and included close up screen images of the presenters’ anal areas. Overall the sexual content was considered to be in excess of the material generally available on a channel without restricted access at 21:00.
Ofcom viewed the material. It noted that the broadcast showed three different presenters during the period 21:00 and 22:00. In the background a rolling film showing clips of women’s bodies, which included one particular image of buttocks that showed the area immediately around the anus.
At 21:05 one of two presenters onscreen, wearing thong style pants, positioned herself on all fours and began to thrust her body to the camera for a period of approximately five minutes during which anal detail was visible. At 21:13 a single presenter replaced the two women. There followed a 45 minute period with this presenter wearing a very skimpy thong. Images of her with her legs open and her buttocks to the camera showed her anal area in some detail. She also lightly touched her buttocks and genital area and appeared to simulate oral masturbation.
Ofcom considered Rules 2.1 (generally accepted standards) and 2.3 (material which may cause offence must be justified by context) of the Code.
Ofcom Decision: Breach of Rules 2.1 and 2.3
In terms of the content of this broadcast one of the two presenters on screen at 21:05 posed in a sexual position, on all fours. Given that she was wearing thong style underwear there were occasions when her anal and labial areas were shown in intrusive detail. In addition, when the single presenter took over at around 21:13, she lay on her back and opened her legs whilst she gyrated in a sexual manner. She also lightly touched her genital and anal area and spanked her buttocks and on a few, brief occasions appeared to simulate oral masturbation.
In Ofcom’s view the actions of each of these presenters onscreen between 21:05 and 22:00 was sexualised and sexually provocative and filmed in an intrusive manner. The nature and location of the channel in the ‘adult’ section of the EPG and the existence of parental controls are not sufficient in Ofcom’s view to justify broadcast of such content before 22:00. The broadcast was therefore not justified by the context and breached Rules 2.1 and 2.3.
The Pad
Tease Me 2, 20 March 2009, 12:30
The Pad is a televised daytime interactive chat programme broadcast without access restrictions. It is located in the ‘adult’ section of the EPG on the service Tease Me 2 (Sky channel number 948). Viewers can call a premium rate telephone number and talk to an onscreen female presenter.
Ofcom received a complaint that material broadcast at lunchtime featured a presenter in a black PVC basque and fishnet tights lying in various positions such as on her side and back with her legs intermittently opening. In addition, she stroked her legs, thighs and buttocks throughout the broadcast. The presenter’s outfit was skimpy revealing a low cleavage, and whilst lying on her back one of her nipples was visible for a short period of time.
Ofcom considered Rule 1.3 (children must be protected from unsuitable material by appropriate scheduling) and Rule 2.3 (broadcasters must ensure that material which may cause offence is justified by context).
Ofcom Decision: Breach of Rules 1.3 and 2.3
With reference to the nature of the content, the presenter was dressed in an item of clothing that was very revealing to the point where her breasts were barely covered. This meant that when she adopted a certain position on her back, and the producer cut to a camera angle looking down onto her body, it was likely that her nipple area would be exposed to viewers. In Ofcom’s opinion, one of the presenter’s nipples was visible despite any nipple covers she was allegedly wearing.
In addition, in Ofcom’s view, the positions adopted by the presenter – such as lying on her back with her legs opening and closing, and lying on her side lifting her legs up and down whilst stroking her thighs and buttocks – exceeded a “flirty” manner and were sexualised in nature.
Whilst showing a bare breast and nipple before the watershed is not a breach of the Code where it is justified by context, in this case the sexual nature of this material in addition to the visibility of the presenter’s breast and nipple meant this partial nudity was shown in a clearly sexual context. This in Ofcom’s view was not acceptable for a daytime broadcast.
Ofcom Note to Daytime and Adult Sex Chat Service Broadcasters
Ofcom has during the past two years published a number of breach findings relating to daytime chat and adult sex chat channels which are available without access restrictions. Some of these contraventions were considered serious enough and/or were repeated so that Ofcom imposed financial penalties.
In this Bulletin, Ofcom has recorded breaches of the Code against broadcasters for transmitting material which was too sexually explicit.
Broadcasters operating in this area are reminded that Ofcom’s Broadcast Bulletin and adjudications by the Content Sanctions Committee contain important guidance on the broadcast of sexual material. Failure to follow such guidance may result in Ofcom considering further regulatory action, including statutory sanctions.
Daytime and adult sex chat broadcasters must take all reasonable steps to protect people under eighteen and ensure that generally accepted standards are applied to their material.
Daytime chat programmes must ensure that all material broadcast is appropriate for the time of day bearing in mind that it is transmitted before the watershed and at times when children may be in the audience.
Similarly, material of a sexual nature broadcast after the 21:00 watershed must be appropriately limited and justified by the context to ensure compliance with generally accepted standards. For instance, broadcasters operating in the free-to-air ‘adult’ sex chat sector should take great care not to include physically invasive shots, in particular images of anal or genital areas for example, or of any real or simulated sex acts including masturbation or intercourse, or inappropriate shots of simulated oral sex.
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