Commendably Dismissing Unevidenced Moral Objections…South African satellite TV regulators approve 3 porn channels including hardcore

Read more Africa Censorship News at MelonFarmers.co.uk

See article from rawstory.com

South Africa’s broadcasting regulator has granted a local satellite television service permission to air the country’s first pornography channels. The Independent Communications Authority (ICASA) ruled that there is no law of general application prohibiting the production and distribution of adult content by TopTV. The three channels, Playboy TV, Desire TV and Private Spice will be broadcast between 8pm and 5am. According to the watchdog, objections were brought by several groups but were commendably dismissed as they were: Based on moral grounds, rather than a research evidence to demonstrate some of the conclusive remarks linking pornography and gender-based violence.

PIN Aggravation…Satellite company dream up ludicrous PIN restriction to try and convince South African TV censor to licence sex channels

Read more Satellite X News at MelonFarmers.co.uk

See article from channel24.co.za

TopTV subscribers watching a sex channel on its proposed separate porn bouquet will have to stop and re-enter their PIN every 30 minutes. In its application before the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (Icasa), TopTV said that viewers watching porn will have to re-enter their PIN after every 30 minutes as a safeguard against a sex channel being left unattended: All Playboy channels will be configured with a preset time-out period (eg. 30 minutes) after which the PIN must be re-entered. This prevents the channel being left unattended for longer than the preset period. TopTV has also said that their prepaid subscribers will not be able to gain access to it’s bouquet of porn channels, and that it will only be made available to contract subscribers. Eddie Mbalo, the acting CEO of TopTV said: We acknowledge that there is genuine public concern about the protection of children from viewing adult TV content. Even though we have strict mechanisms in place to give parents full control over the access to these channels, as an extra precaution we have made the decision not to broadcast adult material outside the watershed period, when children are likely to be awake. TopTV is currently arguing its case before Icasa for authorisation for channels to broadcast soft and hardcore porn in South Africa. TopTV wants to offer three porn channels – Playboy TV, Desire TV and Private Spice – as a separate porn bouquet and with a rating classification of R18 which comes with its own PIN system.

Banned Babe Links…Ofcom whinges at babe channels for promotion of related porn websites

Read more Ofcom Watch at MelonFarmers.co.uk

See Broadcast Bulletin [pdf] from stakeholders.ofcom.org.uk

Northern Birds, Essex Babes, Sportxxx Girls, and Livexxx Babes 24 September to 8 February 2013, various times throughout the day The services all transmit interactive daytime chat and adult chat advertising content. These services are freely available without mandatory restricted access and are situated in the adult section of the electronic programme guide of the Sky digital satellite platform ( Sky EPG ). Viewers are invited to contact on-screen presenters via premium-rate telephony services ( PRS ). The female presenters dress and behave in a sexually provocative way while encouraging viewers to contact the PRS numbers. The licencesare all held by Satellite Entertainment Limited ( SEL ). Ofcom received a complaint that, throughout the day and across all these channels, on-screen references were made to the website bluebird.tv by means of a graphic giving the URL of the website positioned in the bottom left-hand corner of the screen. The complainant said that on accessing the website there were no access restrictions, and that users were directed to freely accessible R18 equivalent content by clicking on any number of links . From Ofcom’s examination of the broadcast material, it appeared that no verbal references to the website URL were made by the presenters. The bluebird.tv website consisted of a homepage containing a number of tab-style links to Bluebird branded content. There were no access restrictions other than responding OK to a pop-up box on first visiting the site to confirm that the user was over 18 years of age. Ofcom observed that this website contained explicit pornographic material (equivalent to the British Board of Film Classification ( BBFC ) R18-rated content 1 ). Registration and age verification by means of using a credit card (holders must be over 18 years of age) was only required if the user wished to become a member of the premium Bluebird service. Two types of explicit pornographic material could be accessed and viewed from the Bluebird Films homepage. The first type, on initially accessing the Bluebird Films website, consisted of an embedded video player positioned in the centre of the screen, which automatically played a video clip. The player showed a 50-second video clip, the first 30 seconds of which featured edited glamour shots of scantily clad or naked women, kissing, touching and posing in an erotic way. The final 20 seconds of the clip, however, featured explicit sexual material involving shots of oral sex, vaginal penetration, and the use of sex toys for sexual stimulation or penetration some of which were in close-up. The second type of pornographic material was accessible at the bottom of the page and consisted of 17 photographic hyperlinks under the heading Bluebird Films Hot Movies . These links promoted pornographic films that could be viewed in full by purchasing premium Bluebird membership or by purchasing the associated DVD product (from the Buy DVD’s [sic] tab positioned at the top of the page). Clicking on these photographic hyperlinks led the user through to teaser videos, each between about one and two minutes in length, promoting the full film to which the photographic hyperlink corresponded. These teaser videos featured explicit sexual material including vaginal penetration, oral sex, and masturbation some of which was again in close-up. Ofcom considered BCAP Code Rule 30.3, which states: Advertisements for products coming within the recognised character of pornography are permitted behind mandatory restricted access on adult entertainment channels only. [After an initial approach from Ofcom the company reorganised the website so that the first website which would be accessed by viewers does not contain adult material itself but links though to another related website that does. Ofcom judged that this technique does not circumvent the ban on links to porn sites]. Ofcom Conclusion: Brach of Rule 30.3 The broadcast of an advertisement, on channels without mandatory restricted access, for a website containing pornographic material, is a serious breach of the BCAP Code. Ofcom is particularly concerned that the Licensee in these instances broadcast, for extended periods both during daytime and immediately after the watershed when children were available to view (some unaccompanied), on-screen references to a website which led to R18 equivalent material without any access restrictions. Ofcom therefore puts the Licensee on notice that it will consider these breaches for the imposition of a statutory sanction. Breaches of BCAP Code Rule 30.3

3 Minute Whinges…Ofcom has another knock at Studio 66 for porn video download ads

Read more Ofcom Watch at MelonFarmers.co.uk

Broadcast Complaints Bulletin [pdf] from stakeholders.ofcom.org.uk

Studio 66 Nights Studio 66 TV4 (Channel 927), 10 October 2012, 21:00 to 21:30 Studio 66 Nights is a segment of interactive adult chat advertising content broadcast on the licensed service known as Studio 66 TV4 (Sky Channel 927). The female presenters dress and behave in a sexually provocative way while encouraging viewers to contact the PRS numbers. The licence for Studio 66 TV2 is owned and operated by 965 TV Ltd. Ofcom received a complaint that content on this service, broadcast between 21:00 and 21:30, contained explicit sexual images that were too strong to be shown at this time. Ofcom noted that the advertising content featured a female presenter onscreen but, from approximately 21:07 onwards, the presenter was replaced with an advertisement shown full screen for three minute uncensored videos , downloadable to a mobile phone. The advertisement, which was repeated three times comprised a series of short clips taken from these uncensored videos , which included the following images: full screen close ups of bare breasts being massaged with oil and rubbed together; full screen close ups of a woman’s buttocks being massaged with oil and cream and being slapped, and of women pulling down thongs between their buttocks; two females kissing and touching each other’s breasts and buttocks; naked images of female presenters with their legs open or bending over to camera with a censored overlay placed on the genitals and anal area; naked images of presenters with hands or legs concealing the genital area; and an image of a presenter pulling down her bikini pants with a censored overlay which only partially covered her genital area. The clips were accompanied by advertising straplines including: get this filthy video ; xxx content and more ; and get this video uncensored . These images were also accompanied by shortcode numbers which viewers could text to receive pictures. Ofcom considered BCAP Code Rule 30.3: Advertisements for products coming within the recognised character of pornography are permitted behind mandatory restricted access on adult entertainment channel only. 965 TV explained that the onscreen promotional video containing the clips taken from the uncensored videos was broadcast as a result of two errors. The first related to the promotional content that was broadcast and the other related to the product that was advertised. Ofcom Decision: Breach of Rule 30.3 To assess the product being advertised, Ofcom sent a text message to a sample of the shortcodes shown onscreen with the same number 899**. As a result, Ofcom was sent details of a URL which gave access to explicit video and explicit still images. Some of these images were in close up. Ofcom notes that the Licensee has stated this content could only have been received by a handset which was age- verified by the mobile network operator. Indeed, Ofcom did receive a text message requesting age verification but we were still able to access the explicit sexual content without being required to provide any proof of age and this would have also been the case had a person under the age of eighteen used an adult’s mobile phone to call the onscreen shortcode. In Ofcom’s opinion, this explicit sexual material was clearly equivalent to adult sex material 6 or stronger content such as that which would be given a British Board of Film Classification ( BBFC ) R18 rating. Both R18 equivalent content and adult sex material are clearly within the recognised character of pornography . Any advertisement for this type of content is prohibited on a free-to-air service without mandatory restricted access. Having reviewed the numerous onscreen images shown in this video promotion (which included: close-up images of bare breasts and buttocks with oil, mud and cream being applied and massaged into bare skin and the women’s nipples; women slapping their buttocks; and naked women touching and kissing one another intimately), Ofcom is of the view that this material broadcast as part of an adult chat service would have breached BCAP Code Rule 32.3 if broadcast before 22:00 (as in this case), but, even if it had been broadcast after 22:00, it would potentially have been in breach of Rule 4.2. Rule 32.3 states that: Relevant timing restrictions must be applied to advertisements that, through their content, might harm or distress children…or that are unsuitable for them. Rule 4.2 states that: Advertisements must not cause serious or widespread offence against generally accepted moral, social or cultural standards. This is a serious breach of the BCAP Code. Ofcom therefore puts the Licensee on notice that it is minded to consider a statutory sanction if there is any recurrence of this, or similar, compliance failings. Breach of BCAP Code Rule 30.3 Ofcom also recorded a code breach for similar content on Studio 66 TV2 (Channel 938),

Safer Internet Day…Ofcom save the sexualised world by making babe channels a little bit more miserable

Read more Ofcom Watch at MelonFarmers.co.uk

See Broadcast Beulletin [pdf] from stakeholders.ofcom.org.uk See revised censorship rules for babe channels [pdf] from stakeholders.ofcom.org.uk

Note to Broadcasters Re Adult chat and daytime chat services Ofcom guidance clearly sets out what Ofcom considers to be acceptable to broadcast on daytime and adult chat services, both pre- and post-watershed. Ofcom has also made clear to licensees in numerous published decisions what sort of material is unsuitable in daytime or adult chat advertising content broadcast without mandatory restricted access. Recent assessments and investigations by Ofcom into complaints about daytime and adult chat services have highlighted three areas which cause concern. Ofcom has therefore decided to amend the existing guidance to daytime and adult chat broadcasters to take account of these issues. The revised guidance link is effective immediately. Ofcom requires daytime and adult chat broadcasters to take careful note of the following three points in particular, which are reflected in the amended guidance: Presenters’ clothing on daytime chat services During daytime chat content, all dress and behaviour should be non-sexual in tone and apparent intent. Therefore presenters should wear clothing that adequately covers their bodies (in particular their breasts, genital areas and buttocks. Presenters should not wear revealing underwear, swimwear, gym wear or fetish clothing (for example nurse, secretary or police officer outfits); Transition The watershed is at 9pm and adult chat advertising is acceptable between 9pm and 5.30am only. Adult chat broadcasters should ensure that the transition to more adult material at 9pm, and from adult chat to daytime chat at 05:30am, is not unduly abrupt; and R18 and equivalent products Under BCAP Code Rule 30.3, advertisements for R18 and equivalent products (such as websites, video content or images that contain R18 material or its equivalent) are allowed on services with mandatory restricted access only. Ofcom has published on pages 53-59 and 60-66 of this Bulletin findings which illustrate how we apply BCAP Code Rule 30.3 and our interpretation of this rule regarding the advertising of websites and products that fall within the recognised character of pornography. Ofcom also formally notifies daytime and adult chat broadcasters that as a result our continuing concerns about the compliance of material broadcast on these services with BCAP Code requirements, we are commencing a targeted monitoring exercise of all services broadcasting daytime and adult chat content. Broadcasters are put on notice that any serious or repeated failings in this area are likely to result in Ofcom taking further regulatory action, for example, the consideration of the imposition of statutory sanctions.

GirlGirl CensorCensor…Ofcom Whinges about daytime babes on ChatGirl TV

Read more Ofcom Watch at MelonFarmers.co.uk

See article [pdf] from stakeholders.ofcom.org.uk

GirlGirl ChatGirl TV (Sky Channel 937), 22 August 2012, 07:30 to 08:30 GirlGirl is a segment of interactive adult chat advertising content broadcast on the licensed service known as ChatGirl TV (Sky Channel 937). The service is freely available without mandatory restricted access and is situated in the adult section of the Sky electronic programme guide ( Sky EPG ). Viewers are invited to contact on- screen presenters via premium rate telephony services ( PRS ). The female presenters dress and behave in a sexually provocative way while encouraging viewers to contact the PRS numbers. The licence for ChatGirl TV is owned and operated by Playboy UK TV. Ofcom received a complaint that content on this service, broadcast between 07:30 and 08:30, contained sexual images that were too strong to be shown at this time. Ofcom noted that the advertising content featured a female presenter on screen wearing a leopard skin print one piece outfit which consisted of a thin piece of material, covering her breasts but not her torso, under which she wore a black bra which covered the majority of her breasts. Over the top of the leopard print one piece outfit she wore skimpy black hot pants which revealed some of the buttock. She also wore black stockings which she rolled up and down intermittently. From 07:30 the presenter adopted one particular position: she lay on her front gently thrusting and rocking her buttocks up and down and from side to side (albeit away from camera). While making these movements she rubbed and stroked her buttocks and upper thighs. On a few occasions the presenter varied her position: lying on her side, opening her legs (albeit away from camera) and gently rocking her body backwards and forwards. In addition, the presenter made several invitations to callers to telephone her. These included her saying: I’m helping you get up today boys in my stockings. I also have my boots today very close by… [I]f you want my boots putting on all you have to do is say the word and they will get on my long legs ; come and get me ; have some fun on this bed ; you boys should give me a good work out! ; what are you waiting for boys? and want a bit of fun on my bed right now? Ofcom considered this material raised issues warranting investigation under BCAP Code Rule 32.3, which states: 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. Playboy TV said it viewed the material and confirmed that the Licensee considered the broadcast an unfortunate blip on our compliance record and that it immediately took steps to prevent a recurrence. The Licensee stated that with all live programming there is always a small chance of content airing that strays close to the limits of the Code and that it took all such issues seriously and would do all it could to prevent them. Ofcom Decision: Breach of Rule 32.3 Ofcom noted that the female presenter was wearing clothing that did not adequately cover her body, in particularly high cut hot pants that exposed some of her buttock. While wearing this outfit, the presenter acted in a sexualised manner: she was shown lying on her stomach for prolonged periods of time, repeatedly and clearly gyrating and thrusting her buttocks so as to mimic sexual intercourse (albeit away from camera). She also touched, rubbed and stroked her upper thighs, legs and buttocks in a sexually suggestive manner and invited callers to contact her in a sexually provocative way. In light of this behaviour and imagery, Ofcom concluded that this material was clearly unsuitable for children. The broadcast of such sexualised content was inappropriate to advertise adult chat during the day and before the watershed. This broadcast was therefore in breach of BCAP Code Rule 32.3. In light of this breach and concerns about the Licensee’s compliance, Ofcom will be monitoring the Licensee’s daytime content for a period of time

Babes in Australia…Interesting article outline how Australian TV tried out babe channel programming

Read more Australia Censorship News at MelonFarmers.co.uk

See article from mumbrella.com.au

Australia’s TV censor has thrown out complaints made against Channel Nine for broadcasting live phone sex content on its infomercial channel. BabeTV Live went out on Extra in Queensland and regional NSW after 10pm on 8 October, with some viewers complaining that the exploitative and degrading content should have come with a (softcore) R18+ adult rating. BabeTV Live features two scantily clad female presenters who encourage viewers to call in at a cost of $4.75 per minute, using provocative language and suggestive actions. Before it begins, the message the following program is for ADULTS ONLY appears on screen. In its findings on its website, the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) ruled that BabeTV Live is advertising, since the presenters continually refer to the phone number displayed on the screen, including direct verbal requests to the camera to phone in, using phrases such as ‘call me’. Even though BabeTV Live aired for four hours and 43 minutes, ACMA maintained that the content was advertising. This is considerably longer than the usual duration of a televised advertisement. However, the Act does not specify the minimum or maximum duration of content to qualify as advertising or sponsorship material. To the point of Nine airing explicit content on Extra, one complaint read: I would have thought it breaches the general licence conditions that state ‘licensees will not transmit datacasting content that has been classified as RC or X18+ by the Classification Board, and that R 18+ must be modified or subject to a restricted access system’. This program is clearly in the 18+ category supported by the fact that you need to be 18+ to participate! The broadcaster said that BabeLive TV had not been classified because it was live-to-air content — so the Classification Board could not have seen it before it went to air. Nine said that BabeLive TV followed MA 15+ guidelines, and had taken steps to ensure this sort of content did not get any racier than material suitable for viewers above the age of 15. Nine stated its rules for presenters of this sort of content to ACMA: They must be wearing no less than bra and panties/swimwear/etc. and no see-through underwear or nipple covers. Breast cleavage may be visible but not the whole breast, no nipples and no nipple shadow. No pubic hair or nude genital area. No nude rear. No actual or implied sexual activity between the Presenters. May include sexually suggestive touching or position but cannot include the handling, kissing, licking or sucking or sex toys or phallic-like objects. Nine also said that it had introduced new, stricter rules for presenters, as follows: The Presenters must not touch each other at any time, including kissing. The Presenters must not mention, talk about or refer to any sexual acts or sexually [suggestive] acts. The Presenters must not consume any drink or food on camera. Even though Nine did not breach any of ACMA’s rules, the broadcaster has since stopped airing BabeTV Live.

Miming Easy Offence…Ofcom whinge at Storm TV immediately post-watershed

Read more Ofcom Watch at MelonFarmers.co.uk

See Broadcast Bulletin 213 [pdf] from stakeholders.ofcom.org.uk

Storm Night Storm (Channel 966), 18 June 2012, 21:00 to 21:30 Storm Night is a segment of interactive adult chat advertising content broadcast on the licensed service known as Storm (Sky Channel 966). The licence for Storm is owned and operated by Live Television Ltd. Ofcom received a complaint that content on this service, broadcast shortly after the watershed, contained sexual images that were too strong to be shown at this time Ofcom noted a female presenter on screen wearing a translucent leopard skin print one piece outfit, which clearly showed the presenter’s breasts. The outfit was cut away at the sides and back and featured a thong style back. In addition, she wore a black thong, under the one piece outfit, and fishnet stockings. From around 21:15, and until at least 21:30, the presenter adopted various sexual positions: she lay on her side with her legs apart (albeit away from camera) while thrusting her body up and down, stroking her breasts and inner thighs and pulling down her top to reveal her cleavage; she moved onto all fours and thrust her bare buttocks (albeit at an angle slightly away from camera) to mime sexual intercourse; and, she knelt upright on her legs and moved her body up and down to mime sexual intercourse. While adopting these positions her outer genital area was briefly visible. Ofcom considered BCAP 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. Ofcom Decision: Breach of Rule 32.3 On 27 July 2011 Ofcom published revised guidance on the advertising of telecommunications-based sexual entertainment services and PRS daytime chat services. This clearly sets out what Ofcom considers to be acceptable to broadcast on these services post-watershed. In particular, the Chat Service Guidance states that with regard to material broadcast after 21:00 adult chat broadcasters should ensure that: After 9pm any move towards stronger – but still very restrained – material containing sexual imagery should be gradual and progressive. There should not for example be any miming of sexual acts between 9 and 10pm. Ofcom noted that between 21:00 and 21:30, the female presenter wore a cut away one piece outfit that, at times and depending on her position, revealed her outer genital area. In addition, from approximately 21:15 she adopted various sexual positions such as lying on her side with her legs open thrusting up and down with her hips while pulling down her top and stroking her body; moving onto all fours and thrusting her bare buttocks up and down; kneeling upright and moving up and down. In these positions she repeatedly mimed sexual intercourse. In Ofcom’s view, the translucent clothing which revealed her breasts, the sexual positions and the miming of sexual intercourse were intended to be sexually provocative in nature. In light of this behaviour and imagery, Ofcom concluded that this material was clearly unsuitable for children. The broadcast of such sexualised content was inappropriate to advertise adult sex chat so soon after the 21:00 watershed. This broadcast was therefore in breach of BCAP Code Rule 32.3

A Soft Economy…TVX put programme production on hold as a cost saving measure

Read more Satellite X News at MelonFarmers.co.uk

It is being discussed on forums that the major UK softcore satellite channel is suspending programme production for a while as a cost saving measure. TVX have said though that they have plenty of new material in stock and that viewers will not see any differences to the usual mix of new and repeat programming.

Less Amateur…TVX Amateur ceases broadcasting

Read more Satellite X News at MelonFarmers.co.uk

Thanks to Jamie See article from en.kingofsat.net

Television X is a UK softcore broadcaster. Up until recently its Xcellence package comprised of: Television X (The Fantasy Channel) TVX Brits TVX Amateur But now the package has been reduced to two channels. TVX Amateur ceased broadcasting in the last week of June 2012.