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.

ASA Sour Pusses…Pontificating about a Sourz drinks advert supposedly appealing to kids

Read more ASA Watch at MelonFarmers.co.uk

See article from asa.org.uk

A blog entry titled RASPBERRY HEAT WAVE stated Colour blocking is the hot clothing trend of 2011. Everyone from Chezza to Nicole Scherzinger to Leona Lewis are getting their bright colour game on. As a very brightly coloured bunch, we’re bang into it too! We’ve been seing [sic] loads of pink, which we LOVE – as it’s totally an homage to our new Sourz Raspberry flavour Pink is not just for girls either … lads have been getting in on the trend too with raspberry skinny jeans, shirts, belts and ties. Don’t believe us? Check out this lot, who were more than happy to strike a pose and show off their latest colours on Threadz . Images showed male and female models in various outfits, with each photo including glasses of brightly coloured pink (and in one case green) drink. Issue Alcohol Concern, on behalf of the Youth Alcohol Advertising Council (YAAC), challenged whether: the models shown were under 25 years of age, because they believed some of them appeared to be under 18 years of age; and the references to celebrities and the use of an emoticon winking smiley face were likely to appeal to people under 18. Maxxium UK Ltd provided photographic ID for each of the models, including their dates of birth and their ages. They said the five models were aged 29, 27, 26, 25 and 25 at the time of the launch, but acknowledged that one of the models was just short of her 25th birthday at the time of the shoot. 2. They said the Sourz blog was hosted on a website which could only be accessed once a date of birth was provided and which stopped anyone under the age of 18 from legally seeing any content on the website, including the blog. They considered that all the website content appealed to and was exclusively consumed by people of a legal drinking age and if anyone under the age of 18 attempted to access the site they were re-directed to drinkaware.co.uk in line with their commitment to responsible marketing of alcohol. They referred to Yahoo Survey research, which found that respondents from the ages of 19 to 25 were the most avid emoticon users, with 68% in this age group using emoticons on a daily basis, but that it was not just the younger generation who embraced emoticons, with nearly half (48%) of respondents over the age of 50 using emoticons in their everyday communication. ASA Assessment: Complaints Upheld 1. Upheld We noted that the Code required that marketing communications for alcoholic drinks should not show people who were, or appeared to be, under 25 years of age in a significant role. Although we noted that the models were all over 25 when the shoot was published, we nonetheless considered that some of the models in the fashion shot, namely the girl featured in the pink dress and turquoise cardigan and the girl in the hat, would be considered to be some years under the age of 25 by many consumers, and could be seen by some consumers as being under 18. Although the models were not featured drinking, we noted that the shoot appeared to have taken place in a bar and that Sourz drinks appeared in some of the images. We also understood that one theme of the shoot was homage to our new Sourz Raspberry flavour . Because we considered that two of the models, who featured prominently in the images, were likely to be seen by consumers as under 25, we concluded the ad breached the Code. On that point, the ad breached CAP Code rules 1.3 (Responsible advertising) and 18.16 (Alcohol). 2. Upheld We noted that the blog used informal, colloquial language, including the use of a winking emoticon, and considered that that tone and approach were youth-orientated and likely to appeal to young people. We also noted that one aspect of the fashion shoot was to promote brightly coloured, fun fashion, which the ad claimed was likely to be worn by celebrities like Cheryl Cole, Nicole Scherzinger and Leona Lewis, and we considered that the ad associated that fashion style with the alcoholic Sourz drink. We noted that the celebrities mentioned were pop singers, associated with the X-Factor, who were popular with under 18s. We also considered that the models looked very young, with some models appearing to be around 18 years old, and, in light of that, considered that the fashion shoot would appeal to young people, rather than an older readership. Because of the colloquial language, young-looking models and the references to X-Factor celebrities in the ad, we considered that it would have particular appeal to young people and concluded, in an ad promoting an alcoholic drink, that that approach was irresponsible and in breach of the Code. On that point, the ad breached CAP Code rules 1.3 (Responsible advertising) and 18.14 (Alcohol).

Not PC Enough?…BBC initiates a formal review about impartiality of the news about religion, immigration and Europe

Read more BBC and BBC Trust Watch at MelonFarmers.co.uk

See  article from  guardian.co.uk

The BBC’s coverage of religion, immigration and Europe is to be scrutinised in an independent review led by former ITV chief executive Stuart Prebble. Lord Patten, the BBC Trust chairman, said that the review was prompted by complaints that the corporation’s coverage of world and religious events is not always impartial. Patten said: We’ve been criticised in those areas and we think it’s very important to listen to that criticism, not necessarily because it’s right but because it reflects real and interesting concerns. Prebble’s review will examine whether the BBC gives due weight to a range of opinions on controversial topics, including immigration, Islamophobia, and the EU. The inquiry will examine whether editorial decisions to include or omit certain perspectives from news coverage have been carefully reached and with consistent judgment across the corporation.

No Tube Sites on the Tube…Virgin Media to censor its WiFi service on London Underground

Read more Phone News at MelonFarmers.co.uk

See  article from  mobile-ent.biz

When Virgin Media first announced its London Underground wi-fi initiative, it probably had in mind people updating their Facebook pages and accessing work email. However, to ensure that their service remains suitable bland, Virgin has appointed DNS firm Nominum to ban grown up content across the 120 train stations. So presumably no reading MelonFarmers on the train then.

An Admission of Error…ASA write again to Archbishop Cranmer

Read more ASA Watch at MelonFarmers.co.uk

See article from archbishop-cranmer.blogspot.com

The ASA finally wrote to Archbishop Cranmer without the previous patronising Foboffish: We’re sorry for any confusion or upset we’ve caused. We do accept that our first email didn’t state that you were not compelled to respond to us, though we did clarify that explicitly in our second email to you. We do try to work with — rather than against — advertisers, agencies and publishers to resolve complaints that are raised with us. We also strive to make sure that our communications are clear, so we will certainly take on board the issues you’ve raised for future investigations. Our website statement clarifies that publishers are not compelled to respond in these cases and was published after our second email to you. Given that our investigation is ongoing and that you are not the subject of that investigation, I will not be addressing the wider queries you have raised or corresponding further on those points. That’s because your questions go beyond your involvement in this case. See the full article

The Language of Angels…The Angel’s Share suffers ludicrous strong language cuts for a 15 rating

Read more Latest UK Cuts at MelonFarmers.co.uk

See article from bbfc.co.uk

The Angel’s Share is a 2012 UK drama by Ken Loach.The film has just been passed 15 for very strong language and strong violence after BBFC category cuts for: UK 2012 cinema release The BBFC commented: Company chose to reduce the number of uses of very strong language (in this case ‘cunt’) in order to obtain a 15 classification. An uncut 18 classification was available. Comment: Beyond Absurd And as goatboy said on the Melon Farmers Forum: Beyond Absurd! We must protect the 16 and 17 year olds from a word they probably hear every day!

Rated H for Hype…Ridley Scott’s Prometheus is rated R by the MPAA

Read more Latest UK Cuts at MelonFarmers.co.uk

8th May 2012. Thanks to goatboy See article from theflickcast.com

theflickcast.comwrites: For all of you who have been buying into the drama surrounding Prometheus‘ ultimate rating, we have some good news for you. Fox has confirmed that the moody, dark and probably terrifying sci-fi film will indeed be rated R for sci-fi violence including intense images, and brief language. Many people never believed that a PG-13 rating was possible for the subject matter, so when it took this long to get a confirmed rating people were getting nervous. It also didn’t help that Ridley Scott has been telling people conflicted things about the movie, the process and the rating for months now. …Read the full article Update: BBFC 15 Rated 10th May 2012. See article from entertainmentcocktail.com The BBFC have rated Prometheus a 15 uncut for Intense images and brief strong language. This was confirmed by Fox studio execs at a press conference, they said: Fox confirms there will be no edit to Prometheus to secure a lower rating, it will be a 15. Update: BBFC 15 Officially Conformed 11th May 2012. See article from bbfc.co.uk The BBFC have now officially rated Prometheus as 15 uncut for ‘strong violence, gore, threat and horror’ for: UK 2012 cinema release in 2D and 3D

The Cheerleaders…New DVD release on the ArrowDome label

Read more Reviews at MelonFarmers.co.uk

From our special feed with Cult Labs Available on the ArrowDrome label at UK Amazon for release on 24th October 2011

The Cheerleaders is a 1973 US comedy by Paul Glicker. See IMDb Debbie may have done Dallas, but the girls of Amorosa High are game enough to take on the whole country in The Cheerleaders, a classic 70s sex comedy where the laughs come thick and fast and the gym knickers come off even quicker. For the bold and brassy girls of the cheerleading squad, taking one for their football team comes naturally so when rivals need to be taken down, there’s only one solution… seduce them into exhaustion. Now the game girls are on a sex-crazed mission to ride their rivals to victory in a politically incorrect comedy that shocked the world! Lesbian sports mistresses and square-jawed jocks… No one is safe from the amorous advances of the hottest squad of horny good-time girls in the USA. Meet The Cheerleaders! ARROWDROME IS A FLEAPIT SELECTED LIBRARY OF CULT FILMS; VIOLENT, HORRIFIC, SLEAZY, EXPLOITATIVE. TO EXPLORE STEP IN TO THE CULT ARENA! EVERY ARROWDROME RELEASE INCLUDES A REVERSIBLE SLEEVE OF ORIGINAL ARTWORK AND A COLLECTOR’S BOOKLET! ALSO INCLUDES TRAILERS, TV & RADIO SPOTS + FEATURE LENGTH FOLLOW UP REVENGE OF THE CHEERLEADERS + NEW BOOKLET BY AUTHOR ROBIN BOUGIE! 79 + 84 mins approx, Region 2 PAL DVD, Released 24th October

Don’t you fuckin’ look at me!…Dennis Hopper dies aged 74

Read more US Censorship News at MelonFarmers.co.uk

Based on article from guardian.co.uk

Dennis Hopper, the hard-living Hollywood star with acclaimed roles in films including Apocalypse Now and Easy Rider, died yesterday of prostate cancer. He passed away at his home in Venice, California, at the age of 74. He was surrounded by his family and friends and died peacefully at around 9am local time. His private life was as variable as his professional one. He married five times and fathered four children. One of his marriages, to his second wife, Michelle Phillips, a singer in the group The Mamas and the Papas, lasted just eight days in 1970. Of the experience Hopper famously quipped: Seven of those days were pretty good. The eighth day was the bad one. His final marriage, to actress Victoria Duffy took place in 1996. The pair were undergoing a bitter divorce when he died. So bitter, in fact, that a dreadfully ill Hopper sought a restraining order against his spouse even though he was dying and virtually bedridden. Hopper’s private life was often blighted by tales of hard-drinking and drug-taking. He confessed that he used cocaine in order to sober himself up so he could binge on more alcohol. His problems and lifestyle became the stuff of Hollywood legend – or nightmare. He once spent time on a New Mexico commune drinking spirits, taking drugs and firing machine guns. He was committed to a psychiatric ward in 1984 after experiencing violent hallucinations. Nothing in Hopper’s personal life could overshadow a handful of truly great screen performances. In 1969′s Easy Rider, which he directed, co-wrote and co-starred in, Hopper explored the hippy counter-culture and the reaction to the Vietnam war. He dubbed the film his state of the union message and it was a roaring critical success, paving the way for the New Hollywood of the 1970s and directors such as Martin Scorsese and Francis Ford Coppola. Then in Apocalypse Now Hopper seemed to blend reality and fiction with his portrayal of a burned-out and insane war photographer. Finally, Hopper’s portrayal of a sadistic brute, Frank Booth, in David Lynch’s surreal Blue Velvet introduced the actor to an entirely new generation of fans. Dennis Hopper graced the Melon Farmers with an excellent banned chainsaw duel in Tobe Hooper’s Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2. His appearance in The Trip was banned by James Ferman who was quoted as saying In the wrong hands, a tremendous advertisement for LSD. In the film Dennis Hopper educates Peter Fonda in the pleasures of mind expansion. And of course there was the unforgettable scene in True Romance where little guy Hopper so eloquently taunts the sophisticated Mafiosi Christopher Walken, with ‘your mom was fucked by niggers’. A great melon farming contribution to the movies.

Flying Kites…Kites censored in India and the UK

Read more BBFC Cuts and Bans at MelonFarmers.co.uk

Kites is a 2010 India action romance by Anurag Basu Even before the Hrithik Roshan- Barabara Mori starrer Kites hits the screens, the movie is creating ripples enough about the sensuous and flirty scenes between the two actors, but the international version of the movie seems to have far bolder scenes than the desi version. The international one has a sizzling liplock between topless Barbara with Hrithik Roshan which is censored to the Indian audience. Payal Rohatgi, who is known for her bold image says, I think the Indian audience is not mature enough. Men download images to gratify themselves but movies are a different genre. Movies are meant for family watching and a raunchy promo will insure that family audiences don’t pull in. So movie makers are also vary, Meanwhile the BBFC cut the 2010 UK cinema release by 9s for a 12A rating. Company chose to make cuts to reduce violent detail in one scene (a man’s ear being cut off and a man being shot with accompanying bloodspray) in order to achieve a 12A classification. An uncut 15 classification was available. The BBFC further explained their 12A rating: Kites is a subtitled Hindi language romantic action thriller in which an Indian man and a Mexican woman are on the run across America. The film was classified 12A for moderate violence and threat. The film contains frequent action sequences and stunts, but the violence is generally not realistic or shown in detail. One scene, however, does involves a more realistic threat to two alleged thieves. They are threatened with a knife and a shooting is implied. This scene is the strongest moment of threat in the film. At 12A’/’12, the BBFC’s Guidelines state that Moderate physical and psychological threat may be permitted, provided disturbing sequence are not frequent or sustained. The film also contains some mild language including piss and shit.