Ofcom have fined Playboy TV (including its wholly owned subsidiary Just4Us TV) ฃ110,000 for supposed breaches of their code by the babe channels Red Light 1, 2 & 3 during April 2011.
Ofcom cited breaches of advertising censorship rules:
- Rule 4.2: Advertisements must not cause serious or widespread offence against generally accepted moral, social or cultural standards.
- Rule 32.3 Relevant timing restrictions must be applied to advertisements that, through their content, might harm or distress children of particular ages or that are otherwise unsuitable for them.
[I can't say I noticed any evidence supplied about actual 'widespread offence'. Just a handful of complaints].
The finding highlighted a number of supposed examples of broadcast material that was claimed to be clearly inconsistent with the Chat Service Guidance, such as images of the presenters:
- spitting on their bodies to emulate ejaculate;
- using a cupped hand and on one occasion a telephone to cover their genital area, resulting in clear pressure between their hand or telephone and the genital area;
- pouring oil onto their buttocks and genital area; and
- wearing clothing that did not adequately cover their genital area (in one case outer labia were clearly visible).
Ofcom considered this material should not have been broadcast within the context of adult chat. advertisements that were freely available without mandatory restricted access.
With regards to two broadcasts on 9 and 13 April 2011 between 21:00 and 21:45, Ofcom noted that on a number of occasions between 21:00 and 21:30 the female presenters adopted sexually provocative positions, sometimes for prolonged periods and regularly stroked and massaged their breasts and mimicked sexual intercourse.
In Ofcom’s opinion, viewers (and in particular parents) would not expect such material to be broadcast so soon after 21:00. Further, the broadcast of such relatively strong sexualised content was inappropriate to advertise adult sex chat so soon after the 21:00 watershed.
After considering all the evidence and all the representations made to it by the Licensees, Ofcom decided that the BCAP Code breaches were serious and repeated and therefore a financial penalty should be imposed.
Ofcom then also considered the level of the fine to be imposed. Ofcom decided it was appropriate and proportionate in the circumstances to impose a financial penalty of ฃ60,000 on Just4us and ฃ50,000 on Playboy TV in respect of the Code breaches.
