Grandiose Censorship…Babe channel Get Lucky TV takes its turn for a smacking from the TV censors at Ofcom

Read more Ofcom Watch at MelonFarmers.co.uk

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

Dirty Wives Get Lucky TV (Channel 909), 15 February 2012, 21:01 to 21:30 Dirty Wives is a segment of interactive adult chat advertising content broadcast on the licensed service known as Get Lucky TV (Sky Channel 909). The service is freely available without mandatory restricted access and is situated in the „adult section of the Sky electronic programme guide. Viewers are invited to contact onscreen presenters via premium rate telephony services. The female presenters dress and behave in a sexually provocative way while encouraging viewers to contact the premium phone numbers. The licence for Get Lucky TV is owned and operated by Grandiose Limited. Ofcom received a complaint that some content broadcast immediately after the watershed contained sexual images that were too strong to be shown at this time. Ofcom noted there were three female presenters on screen during the broadcast. The female presenter on the left of the screen was wearing a pink leopard print top, a black high leg thong, black stockings and shoes. From 21:04 this presenter adopted various positions. She knelt facing the camera with her legs open and mimed sexual intercourse and knelt with her bare buttocks to camera at times lifting up a leg to reveal her crotch area in greater detail. On one occasion while in this position, she pulled tightly on her thong and lifted it to reveal anal detail. Ofcom considered 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. Ofcom Decision: Breach of Rule 32.3 Ofcom noted that between 21:01 and 21:30, the female presenter on the left of the screen wore a high leg thong that revealed her outer genital area. In addition, at approximately 21:07 she was on all fours, with her bare buttocks to camera and briefly pulled tightly on her thong on three occasions to reveal her anal area. While wearing this very skimpy clothing, she adopted sexual positions such as lying on her back with her legs open to camera thrusting forward with her hips, and kneeling facing the camera miming sexual intercourse. The same presenter later but before 21:30: rubbed oil onto her outer genital area and breasts (through her top); slapped her buttocks; massaged her breasts and stroked her outer genital area; and while kneeling with her buttocks side on to camera, pulled her thong down to under her buttocks and gyrated her hips. In Ofcom’s view, the revealing clothing and sexual positions and other inappropriate images, including that of anal detail, 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.

Freedom for Adults…To make informed TV viewing choices after 9pm

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Suggested by Les See petition from epetitions.direct.gov.uk Closes 18th August 2012

The following petition was opened in September 2011 and has now reached 600 signatures. Les has requested a reminder of the petition in the quest for more signatures. Freedom for adults to make informed viewing choices after 9pm Responsible department: Department for Culture, Media and Sport After the 9pm watershed adults should be free to make their own informed viewing choices: After 9pm encrypted television channels with age verification should be permitted to show any BBFC certificate 18 equivalent content regardless of genre, broadcaster motivation or context. The BBFC makes no such distinction and Ofcom should not either. After 10pm free-to-air adult channels should be permitted to broadcast any cert 18 equivalent content subject to adequate labelling and the ability to block them. Sexual content on sex themed channels has attracted an extremely small number of complaints, the majority from competitors. The serious or widespread offence that Ofcom cites simply does not exist. After midnight all channels should be permitted to broadcast any cert 18 equivalent content subject to adequate labelling. After midnight encrypted television channels with age verification should be permitted to show BBFC certificate R18 content and its equivalent. …Sign the petition

Savait…Dorcel growing in the market for high tech porn

Read more World Sex Sells News at MelonFarmers.co.uk

See article from newswire.xbiz.com

French adult producer Marc Dorcel has reported strong company growth of 10% in 2011 along with net sales exceeding $33 million. The company said its sales have doubled since 2007. In 2010 Dorcel the company premiered its extensive 3D catalogue with 200 exclusive programs especially designed for 3D and produced with state-of-the-art recording technologies (3D cameras, side by side, full HD). It also launched 3D IPTV and SVOD platforms. In 2011, the company also unveiled the Dorcel App for Smart TV especially developed and designed for TV manufacturers. The app allows viewers to access Dorcel content from their TV screens. The company has also diversified with European adult concept stores dedicated to pleasure. The 4th Dorcel Store in France opened its doors in March, 2011. Designed for couples, the stores offer more than 3,000 adult products. Plans are on tap to open 50 more stores in coming years and bolster its line of classy Marc Dorcel sex toys. Dorcel also ventured into publishing in 2008 with the monthly Dorcel Mag that’s distributed in France with a circulation of 30,000 issues. With our magazine, our high quality TV channel, our chain of sexy concept stores, our collection of stylish sextoys and our soft production unit, we have settled our company in all different sectors of the adult industry, making it a major player of the sector and a global media group, CEO Gregory Dorcel said.

Sidestepping Ofcom…Porn makers Marc Dorcel court TV manufacturers to bring hardcore onto TV

Read more Internet Video X News at MelonFarmers.co.uk

See article from broadbandtvnews.com

France based Marc Dorcel is the first adult channel provider to go connected with TV’s with built in Internet TV capabilities. None of the parties wants to go on record, but behind the scenes talks are going on with all the major consumer electronics manufacturers to bring adult apps to their smart TV sets. Broadband TV News understands that at least one more provider wants to go connected. The question remains if the new services will also become available in countries where access to hard porn channels is limited due to local censorship. In the UK, the two major platforms, Virgin and Sky, only offer soft adult content, although legally they could distribute and sells more explicit channels that are licensed in another European country such as the Netherlands. By signing deals with TV manufacturers, hard porn channels could sidestep the censorship associated with cable/satellite and legally become available in the UK, both in linear and on-demand form, but this requires active participation of the consumer electronics industry. So far, the industry has been careful. The Marc Dorcel on-demand content is available on Panasonic connected TV sets with Philips, Samsung and Sony to follow soon — but only in a limited number of territories. Now other providers of hard adult content might be more adventurous by starting to offer access to streaming channels.

An Ofcom Storm of Prudery…Widespread offence of 1 person winds up the easily offended TV censors

Read more Ofcom Watch at MelonFarmers.co.uk

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

Storm Night Storm, 9 December 2011, 23:30 Storm is a free to air babe channel (Sky channel number 966). The licence for the service is held by Chat Central. A complainant alerted Ofcom to the broadcast of inappropriate content during Storm Night on 9 December 2011. The female presenter was wearing: a grey pleated skirt, pulled up over her stomach and under her bare breasts; a striped tie draped over her shoulders; a novelty necklace; and white trainers and socks. The presenter was not wearing any underwear. During the broadcast she lay back on a desk, facing the camera with her legs tightly closed. At various points during the broadcast she changed position and covered her genital area with either a flat or cupped hand. Approximately 20 minutes into the broadcast she opened her legs to camera and placed a cupped hand over her genitals, clearly applying pressure against her genital area. She also poured white lotion onto her breasts, which remained there for the duration of the broadcast. Ofcom considered rule 4.2 of the BCAP Code: Advertisements must not cause serious or widespread offence against generally accepted moral, social or cultural standards. Ofcom has previously published rules on what Ofcom considers to be acceptable to broadcast on these services post-watershed. adult chat broadcasters should at no time: broadcast anal, labial or genital areas or broadcast images of presenters touching their genital or anal areas either with their hand or an object; and at no time broadcast shots of presenters using liquids of a sort in a way which suggests the liquid is ejaculate. Ofcom Decision Breach of rule 4.2 In Ofcom’s view the images highlighted above were strong and clearly capable of causing offence. We noted that the broadcast included material that is clearly inconsistent with Ofcom’s guidance. For example: the presenter was clearly applying pressure against her genital area with her hand and used body lotion in a way that suggested it was ejaculate. Ofcom noted that in conjunction with those images the presenter performed various other actions including: stroking her body; shaking her breasts to camera; and miming fellatio. Her position on screen (reclining on the desk facing the camera) also resulted in her genital area becoming the focal point of the shot, despite the fact there were no actual images of her genitals, intrusive or otherwise. Ofcom considered the material included images that are not permitted in „adult chat advertising content that is available without mandatory restricted access. Ofcom considered that because the presenter was not wearing any underwear, the chances of the material contravening the relevant rules and guidance was significantly increased because she had to ensure her genital area was adequately covered by her hand each time she changed position. Ofcom does not prohibit nudity in adult sex chat services. However, as set out in Ofcom’s guidance, images of presenters touching their genital or anal areas either with their hand or an object are prohibited within the context of „adult chat advertising content that is freely available without mandatory restricted access. In light of this we would caution against the use of naked presenters when broadcasting this content. Ofcom found this material in breach of Rule 4.2 of the BCAP Code.

Censors Devalue Freedom…South Africa’s TV censor unilaterally decides that freedom of expression rates below women’s rights to whinge at porn

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See article from xbiz.com

South Afica’s TopTV’s bid to air TV porn channels was banned in part by the country’s TV censor because it deemed women’s rights and dignity outweighed the right to freedom of expression.The Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (ICASA) released the reasons for its ban: On the issue of balancing the rights of women to equality and human dignity with the right of freedom of expression, ICASA is of the view that the right of women to equality and human dignity overrides TopTV’s right to freedom of expression, as well as the rights of viewers to receive pornography on television in the home. ICASA holds this view because it regards the consumption of pornography as one contributing factor, amongst others, to the normalization of violence against women in SA.

The Ofcom Taliban Seek to Impose their Will on Others…Ofcom whinges about Dutch licensed Babestation that can be a little more sexy than repressed UK competitors

Read more Ofcom Watch at MelonFarmers.co.uk

See article from guardian.co.uk

UK TV censor Ofcom has complained to the Dutch media regulator about the content of adult chat channels Babestation and Smile TV, which are licensed in the Netherlands but broadcast to millions of Freeview households in the UK . The UK TV cenosr said that this is an important issue, and active discussions are under way with Commissariaat voor de Media (Dutch media authority), the country’s content licensing body, to see how British audiences can be protected from scenes of near naked women massaging each other’s breasts, masturbating and faking orgasms. Babestation and Smile TV broadcast free to air on digital terrestrial TV service Freeview between 10pm and 6am. Ofcom has previously revoked the broadcast licences of UK adult TV channels that are anywhere near sexy. However, as Babestation and Smile TV are licensed by the Dutch media authority, rather than Ofcom, the UK regulator has no power to block or ban them. The TV censor added that it has no tally of the number of complaints received from British viewers about the channels, adding that it advises those offended to approach the Dutch regulator. Caroline Dinenage, Conservative MP for Gosport and member of the parliamentary inquiry into online child protection, said there was an urgent need to address inappropriate television content: Some of the images on Freeview may be contravening UK regulation. This is terrestrial TV, free to everyone, including children and teenagers. We need to ensure that Freeview operators who sell capacity to non-UK porn channels behave responsibly, and respect UK regulations. There may be a compelling case for Ofcom to withdraw licences from companies selling spectrum to porn channels, without putting in place age restrictive access control. The channels could be in breach of puritanical UK censorship rules  by promoting websites offering R18 hardcore pornography content or equivalent. An Ofcom spokesprude said If they don’t do what we ask them we can go to the European Commission. A Freeview spokesperson said as an open platform it is required to broadcast licensed channels that apply for distribution, including Babestation and Smile TV. The channels use DTT spectrum owned by Arqiva to broadcast on Freeview. Each multiplex owner is responsible for a bundle of spectrum via which a number of channels are broadcast. Any spectrum not used for their own channels is leased to other broadcasters. A spokesman for Dmol, a company owned by the operators of the six Freeview multiplexes — the BBC, ITV, Channel 4 and Arqiva said that the current arrangement was not ideal, with the Dutch-licensed adult chat channels accessible to 90% of about 10.6m UK homes that use Freeview: We are conscious of the need to move quickly. We are encouraged by news of Ofcom’s active discussions.

Censored Chat…Ofcom resumes its tirade against babe channels

Read more Ofcom Watch at MelonFarmers.co.uk

See complaints bulletin [pdf] from stakeholders.ofcom.org.uk

ChatGirl TV Adult Channel (Channel 901), 4 November 2011, 21:00 to 21:30 ChatGirl TV is a babe channel operating when the Adult channel isn’t. The content is supplied by a third party but Playboy TV is responsible for the compliance of the service. Ofcom received a complaint that the sexual content detailed below was too strong immediately after the watershed. The female presenter was wearing a one piece black and white patterned outfit. This consisted of two thin strips of fabric covering her nipples only joined by strings to a thin strip of fabric which covered her inner genital area only. Over the top of this outfit she wore leather-look hot pants which had a zip at the front which she pulled down at approximately 21:02 to reveal her pubic area and inside the thin fabric covering her inner genital area. From 21:00 the presenter adopted various positions. She lay on her side gently thrusting her hips forward and at times lifted up a leg to reveal her crotch area in greater detail. In this position, she pulled tightly on the strings connecting the strip of fabric covering her inner genital area to emphasise her pubic area and she repeatedly stroked her legs and inner thighs. The camera regularly zoomed into the presenter’s crotch in an intrusive and prolonged manner during the broadcast. The presenter also lay on her front and pulled down her hot pants to under her buttocks and thrust her bottom upwards. The images of the bare buttocks, shot to the side to avoid genital detail, were at times close up and prolonged. Ofcom considered 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 viewed the material and confirmed that it did not conform to the guidelines on adult PRS services1 . The content supplier, Access All Media, also wrote to Ofcom and conceded that on some occasions her [the presenter's] movements, together with the camera-work, have resulted in content which appears stronger than intended due to the skimpy nature of her outfit. It further accepted that the close-ups were unfortunate given the presenter’s outfit. We can now see how the combination of the close-ups and the presenter’s outfit served to increase the strength of the content beyond the intended threshold, for which we sincerely apologise. Ofcom Decision: Breach of BCAP Code Rule 32.3 In Ofcom’s view, the revealing clothing, sexual positions and close up intrusive images 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. In Ofcom’s opinion, viewers (and in particular parents) would not expect such material to be broadcast and available to view so soon after 21:00, particularly given that material broadcast on such services prior to 21:00 should be non-sexual in tone and apparent intent. 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. This present contravention of the BCAP Code is another example of poor compliance by the Licensee, given the strength of the material broadcast immediately following the watershed. However, Ofcom notes that the Licensee states it has taken several measures to improve its compliance since 15 November 2011. We would therefore anticipate no further similar breaches of the BCAP Code. Also the Licensee admitted promptly and fully that this content did not comply with the Chat Service Guidance. Playboy TV remains on notice however that any further similar contraventions of the BCAP Code will be considered for further regulatory action by Ofcom. Breach of BCAP Code Rule 32.3

Moral Censors…Ofcom has another whinge at late night babe channels Sport XXX Girls and Northern Birds

Read more Ofcom Watch at MelonFarmers.co.uk

Thanks to Nick See article [pdf] from stakeholders.ofcom.org.uk

Bluebird Live Sport XXX Girls (Channel 967), 28/29 August 2011, 23:45 to 00:45 Sport XXX Girls (Channel 967), 29 August 2011, 02:45 to 03:45 Sport XXX Girls (Channel 967), 3/4 September 2011, 23:45 to 00:45 Bluebird 40+ Northern Birds (Channel 954), 29 August 2011, 22:50 to 23:25 Bluebird Live and Bluebird 40+ are segments of interactive adult chat broadcast on free to air babe channels Sport XXX Girls and Northern Birds. The licences for Sport XXX Girls and Northern Birds are held by Satellite Entertainment Limited (SEL). A complaint alerted Ofcom to the level of sexual content in the material listed above. Ofcom therefore viewed this content and found: 1. Bluebird Live, Sport XXX Girls, 28/29 August 2011, 23:45 to 00:45 The female presenter was wearing a light blue one piece costume which consisted only of a thin strip of fabric between her legs which covered her vagina but resulted in her outer genital area being exposed. During the broadcast she lay with her legs wide open to camera gently thrusting her hips forward and stroking her upper inner thigh area. Given that this shot of the presenter with her legs wide open remained onscreen for the majority of this broadcast, the material was both invasive and prolonged. SEL denied that the presenter’s outer genital area was exposed, saying that it was covered by her garment. The Licensee also denied that these were prolonged or intrusive images, and asked for further clarification about what Ofcom considered to be invasive about the material. 2. Bluebird Live, Sport XXX Girls, 29 August 2011, 02:45 to 03:45 The presenter wore only a pink lace thong and was filmed with a hand held camera. Throughout the broadcast there were various prolonged and intrusive images filmed, extremely close up and for a duration of time, from directly behind the presenter’s buttocks and also between her wide open legs. While being filmed in these positions she thrust her buttocks and hips towards the camera revealing her outer genital area and anal detail. SEL said there were no prolonged images in the sequence with the potential to cause offence, and asked for Ofcom?s clarification as to how the images were intrusive and prolonged. 3. Bluebird Live, Sport XXX Girls, 3/4 September 2011, 23:45 to 00:45 The female presenter was wearing only a thin white and red thong. For the majority of this broadcast she was positioned on all fours with her buttocks to camera. While in this position her anal and outer genital areas were clearly visible. Given these shots had a duration of several minutes and were in sufficient close up to show anal and outer genital detail they were both prolonged and intrusive. The Licensee said that the presenter?s garment was clearly covering her genitals, and that for most of the sequence the model was on her stomach with the camera focussing on her face; therefore, SEL failed to see how these images could be in breach of the BCAP Code. 4. Bluebird 40+, Northern Birds, 29 August 2011, 22:50 to 23:25 The presenter wore a black leather look thong composed of a thin strip of fabric only covering her vagina and so revealing her outer genital area. During the broadcast she lay on her back with her legs wide open to camera, and while in this position she gently thrust her hips backwards and forwards. Some particularly intrusive images followed, filmed at close range, when her outer genital area was visible for a prolonged period. In this position she massaged and stroked around her outer genital area. Ofcom considered this material raised issues warranting investigation under Rule 4.2 of the BCAP Code, which states that: Advertisements must not cause serious or widespread offence against generally accepted moral, social or cultural standards. Ofcom Decision: Breach of Rule 4.2 of the BCAP Code Ofcom concluded that relevant scheduling restrictions were not applied so as to ensure that the material which was broadcast was not capable of causing serious or widespread offence against generally accepted moral, social or cultural standards. Specifically, this material should not have been broadcast within the context of „adult chat? advertising content that was freely available without mandatory restricted access. Therefore Ofcom found this material in breach of Rule 4.2 of the BCAP Code. Ofcom has recently imposed a sanction on the Licensee for a number of serious and repeated breaches of the BCAP Code3 , which led to the imposition of a financial penalty totalling ฃ130,000. These present contraventions of the BCAP Code by SEL are another example of very poor compliance by the Licensee. In the circumstances, Ofcom is considering what further regulatory action is appropriate.

Dolly Buster Gone Bust…Dolly Buster satellite TV service closes

Read more Satellite X News at MelonFarmers.co.uk

The European hardcore satellite service, Dolly Buster TV has ended. The company behind the service has now ceased trading. Dolly Buster TV previously offered 5 hardcore channels broadcasting from the Hotbird Satellite.