Bad Babes…TV Censor fines babe channels, Sport XXX Girls, Essex Babes and Northern Girls

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See Sanction report [pdf] from stakeholders.ofcom.org.uk

Ofcom has fined Satellite Entertainment Ltd ฃ130,000 for being a little bit too sexy for what Ofcom prudes consider acceptable on babe channels. The fine is in respect of its services Sport XXX Girls, Essex Babes and Northern Birds. Ofcom considers babe channels to be advertising and censors such channels using advert censorship rules: Rule 4.2: Adverts 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 In addition Ofcom whinged at a lack of recordings from the channels and cited their licensing rule: Rule 11: The Licensee shall adopt procedures acceptable to Ofcom for the retention and production of recordings in sound and vision of any programme which is the subject matter of a Standards Complaint The overly sexy programmes were broadcast in the period 5th – 14th April 2011. Ofcom highlighted a number of examples of broadcast material that were claimed to be clearly inconsistent with the Chat Service Guidance, such as: extremely prolonged and close up images of the genital area; bunching of underwear to simulate masturbation; pouring oil and white cream onto, and massaging it into, the buttocks, anal area and genital area; and presenters wearing clothing that did not adequately cover their genital and anal area. Ofcom noted that in conjunction with those images the presenters performed various other actions including: opening their legs wide to camera; stroking their bodies; thrusting their buttocks; massaging oil into their breasts; and miming sexual intercourse. The combination of these images and action resulted in prolonged and frequent scenes of a strong sexual nature. Ofcom said it was also concerned at the degree of offence likely to be caused to viewers who might come across this material unawares. Ofcom decided that the Code breaches were serious and repeated, and that the breach of Licence Condition 11 was serious, and therefore a financial penalty should be imposed in accordance with Ofcom’s Procedures for the consideration of statutory sanctions. Ofcom then also considered the level of the fine to be imposed. Having regard to the serious and repeated nature of the breaches of the BCAP Code, the serious nature of the breach of Licence Condition 11 and having regard to the Licensee’s representations and Ofcom’s Penalty Guidelines, Ofcom decided it was appropriate in the circumstances to impose a financial penalty of ฃ130,000 on SEL.

Ofcom Babe Bulletin…Fines or bans on the way for Live XXX, Live 960 and Northern Birds. Final warning for Playboy’s 40 n Naughty

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Based on article from stakeholders.ofcom.org.uk

Bluebird TV Live XXX Babes, nighttime Northern Birds, nighttime Ofcom received complaints about alleged inappropriate content broadcasts but the Licensee, SEL, failed to provide recordings of the programmes requested regardless of the approaches made by Ofcom. The Licensee was put on notice in Bulletin 171 that the two breaches published would be added to the Licensee’s compliance record and would be considered for sanction, in addition to the three breaches previously recorded in Bulletin 170. Following the four further contraventions recorded in this finding, Ofcom considers that the nine breaches of SEL’s licences recorded are individually serious and have been repeated. As a result, these contraventions of its licences will be considered for the imposition of a statutory sanction. Bluebird TV Live 960, daytime Again Ofcom received complaints about alleged inappropriate content.  The Licensee; Hoppr, failed to provide the recording of the material requested regardless of the approaches made by Ofcom. The Licensee was informed in Bulletins 144, 169 & 170 that the further recorded licence condition breach would be referred for consideration of the imposition of a statutory sanction. Following the further contravention recorded in this finding, Ofcom considers that this breach and the breach recorded in Bulletin 170 of Hoppr’s licence condition are individually serious and have been repeated. As a result, these two contraventions of its licence will be considered for the imposition of a statutory sanction. Bluebird TV Live 960, nighttime On this occasion Ofcom were themselves watching so didn’t require recordings. Ofcom noted that between 00:20 and 01:30 on 25 September 2010, the content included a nastiness in the jail section with a presenter wearing striped knickers and striped legwarmers. She adopted various positions including: on all fours with her bottom to camera; sat over a toilet seat and over a bed with her legs open; and, stood up holding onto the bars of the jail setting with her legs wide. While in these positions she: stroked and licked her nipples; rubbed her genitals in a sustained and vigorous manner simulating masturbation, both over and inside her knickers; rubbed herself with her fingers and against the bed while her knickers were removed; and, spanked her buttocks harshly so as to leave a red mark. During her performance and due to her pulling at her knickers which at one point she removed, labial and anal detail were visible. Ofcom considered this a breach of: BCAP Code Rule 4.2: Advertisements must not cause serious or widespread offence against generally accepted moral, social or cultural standards. And again Hoppr seems set for a fine or ban as Ofcom concluded: This contravention of the BCAP Code is therefore a further example of poor compliance by this Licensee within a short period of time. This serious and significant breach will be taken into account in Ofcom’s consideration of the imposition of a statutory sanction. 40nNaughty Red Light Lounge, daytime Red Light Central, nightime The service 40nNaughty is owned and operated by Just4us TV, a wholly owned subsidiary of Playboy TV UK/Benelux. Ofcom received complaints about the above four broadcasts of Red Light Lounge. The complainant was concerned that the content of the material was far too graphic especially when children could inadvertently view this channel. The complainant said that the female presenters on screen were behaving in a very provocative sexual manner miming sexual acts which was totally inappropriate for the time of day and the content was of an incredibly strong sexual nature. Ofcom also received a complaint about the above broadcast of Red Light Central. The complainant said that during the broadcast the female presenter on screen was licking her fingers and simulating oral sex, she performed other strong sexual acts during this same time period. Her bikini knickers were far too small and allowed her vaginal lips to be exposed. Ofcom found these programmes in breach of BCAP Code: Rule 4.2 (Advertisements must not cause serious or widespread offence against generally accepted moral, social or cultural standards.) 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) In this case Playboy was given a final warning In August and December 2010 Ofcom recorded breaches of the Broadcasting Code and BCAP Code, respectively, against Playboy for content broadcast on its licensed service Tease Me TV 24. In light of the above and Ofcom’s recent concerns with Just4Us and Playboy’s compliance, Ofcom is now requiring the licensees to attend a meeting at Ofcom to discuss its compliance procedures. Ofcom also puts Just4Us and Playboy on notice that it must take all necessary and appropriate measures to ensure its channels comply with the BCAP Code in the future. Ofcom will not expect further breaches of this nature to occur again.