The UK government dreams up a new wheeze to take censorship control of streaming TV channels under current law

The UK government dreams up a new wheeze to take censorship control of streaming TV channels under current law.

Read more uk_internet_censors.htm at MelonFarmers.co.uk

See article from gov.uk See consulation document from gov.uk

The government writes: Broadcast television in the UK is subject to a system of regulation overseen by the independent communications regulator Ofcom, which is key to ensuring protections for audiences. This regulation ensures that regulated television channels available in the UK abide by a common set of rules and standards in relation to the programmes they show. Over the last century, the number of channels available in the UK has increased significantly 203 from a single channel in 1922 to several hundred today. This trend has been recently accelerated by the increasing availability of internet-delivered linear television, known as internet protocol (IP) delivered television. For example, Sky’s newest product Sky Stream delivers content via the internet, compared to Sky Q that delivers its services via satellite. Under the amended Communications Act 2003, in general only channels that appear on regulated electronic programme guides (EPGs) are subject to UK regulation. Which EPGs are regulated in the UK is described in legislation and under this description these currently are Freeview, Freesat, Sky, Virgin Media, and YouView. This list of regulated EPGs means that many of the newer EPGs and channels utilising IP technology are unregulated and can be easily accessed by audiences on their television sets. While millions of people still choose to watch television through the traditional regulated EPGs, there are increasingly significant numbers of UK viewers accessing linear television channels and content via television sets that can be connected to the internet. Data suggests that the UK has a high proportion of these kinds of televisions, with smart televisions already in as many as 74% of UK households. This shift is transforming the way that audiences access television, with many new services now delivered via the internet. This evolution of distribution means that there is greater choice for consumers in how they access linear television content and that there is more competition within the market for delivering services, allowing for new and innovative services to emerge. Many of the larger providers of unregulated EPGs have voluntarily put in place terms and procedures to protect audiences from harmful content, which may result in some comparable levels of protection as the regulated EPGs while incurring lower administrative costs for the providers. However, the introduction of these newer unregulated and self-regulated guides has resulted in a clear regulatory gap within the existing statutory regime, which could result in inconsistent protections for audiences and limited options for independent complaints handling. This also means that guides do not have to ensure other benefits for audiences like prominence for public service channels and accessibility for people with disabilities. The government is therefore concerned that the combination of the defined set of regulated EPGs and the growth of new, IP delivered services means that there is increasingly a lack of regulation. UK audiences being able to access unregulated EPGs means there is an increasing number of linear television channels and services that are not regulated by Ofcom and to the standards audiences in the UK expect. This has the potential to cause harm, especially for children and vulnerable audiences, with no statutory protections on these unregulated services. The lack of protections in place for these unregulated services mean that there is a range of potentially harmful content that could be shown on television with no independent recourse for action to be taken. This includes content that would be unsuitable for younger audiences that are available during the day, that would need to be shown after the watershed if regulated, such as those that include swearing, violence, and sexual content. Moreover, an inconsistent application of statutory regulation means that EPGs delivering similar — and often competing — services do not currently have to comply with the same statutory requirements. This means that there is not currently a fair competitive environment between providers. Given the landscape of changing technology and the increasing risk to audiences of unregulated content appearing on television, the government believes that legislation is required to update the EPGs that are regulated in the UK. The government is therefore consulting on whether and how to use existing powers that allow it to update which EPGs are regulated in the UK. This 8-week consultation seeks views on whether and how the Secretary of State should exercise this power, and seeks views on a proposed approach. In summary, the government is consulting on: The impact of regulating EPGs. The proposed approach for defining which EPGs should be regulated. Responses from all individuals or organisations on the specific consultation questions and content of the consultation document are welcome.

Ofcom warns adult video sharing websites that are stupid enough to be based in Britain that it will soon be enforcing age/identity verification

Read more uk_internet_censors.htm at MelonFarmers.co.uk

See press release from ofcom.org.uk

One of our priorities for the second year of the video-sharing platform (VSP) regime is to promote the implementation of robust age assurance, so that children are protected from the most harmful content. In October 2022, we published our report on the first year of VSP regulation . The report highlighted that many platforms that specialise in videos containing pornographic material (or “adult VSPs”) do not appear to have measures that are robust enough to stop children accessing pornographic material. Today Ofcom is opening an enforcement programme into age assurance measures across the adult VSP sector. Our objectives for this programme are: to assess the age assurance measures implemented by notified adult VSPs, to ensure they are sufficiently robust to prevent under-18s from accessing videos containing pornographic material; to identify whether there are other platforms in the adult VSP sector that may fall in scope of the VSP regime but: have not yet notified their service to Ofcom, as required under the VSP framework (see more below); and may not have appropriate measures in place to protect under-18s from pornographic content; and to understand from providers of adult VSP services the challenges they have faced when considering implementing any age assurance measures. This will also help us build a picture of what measures work and are proportionate to expect from different VSPs, in line with our strategic priority of driving forward the implementation of robust age assurance. The programme will seek to determine the scale of any compliance concerns in respect of notified and non-notified adult VSPs. We will then decide whether any further action (including enforcement) is needed, and how best to address potential harm.

The BBFC decides to stick with the Netflix Random Rating Generator after a successful trial period

Read more bw.htm at MelonFarmers.co.uk

See press release from bbfc.co.uk

The British Board of Film Classification (BBFC) and Netflix have moved into the next phase of their partnership, which will see Netflix carry BBFC age ratings and ratings information on its service for years to come. The new agreement follows a successful pilot phase, during which the innovative partnership – a first for the UK – between the streaming service and the regulator resulted in Netflix achieving 100% coverage of BBFC age ratings and content advice (‘ratings info’). The conclusion of the pilot phase and the move to a long-term partnership has been welcomed by Caroline Dinenage, Minister of State for Digital and Culture, and by children’s charities. Netflix applies BBFC Classification Guidelines standards to films and television shows, which the BBFC has set based on large-scale public opinion research and auditing ratings to ensure consistency. Netflix’s entire catalogue of original and acquired content now carries a BBFC age rating and a line of ratings information so that families can choose shows safe in the knowledge that everything they press play on is rated to trusted, BBFC standards which reflect UK expectations. This builds on Netflix’s wide range of parental controls including PIN-protected profiles, maturity filters, profile locks and viewing history, helping parents make the right viewing choices for their families. David Austin, Chief Executive of the BBFC, said: Parents have been very clear that they want and expect online content to carry the same age rating it would carry offline, in the cinema or on DVD. Crucially for child protection, BBFC ratings guarantee that age classifications reflect UK parental and child expectations on issues such as sexual violence and drug use. Our innovative partnership with Netflix has proven that it is possible for streaming services to carry trusted BBFC age ratings on 100% of their content and will make a significant contribution to parents’ peace of mind and children’s wellbeing for years to come. We are calling on all other streaming services operating in the UK to follow Netflix’s excellent example and work with us to give parents what they need. Jessica Stansfield, Director of Ratings at Netflix, said: Our members are our number one priority. We’re committed to delivering an experience that doesn’t just meet, but exceeds their expectations, which is why we are proud to be the first and only streaming service to voluntarily carry BBFC age ratings on 100% of our catalogue, while our updated parental controls provide the tools parents need to make the right viewing choices for their family. Caroline Dinenage, Minister of State for Digital and Culture, said: We want parents and young people to be able to make informed choices about what content is appropriate for them to watch. The BBFC’s age ratings are well trusted and widely recognised, which is why I am pleased that this long-term agreement will see their ratings continue to be used across Netflix’s content for years to come.

Making the UK internet the most censorial and red tape infested outside of China…

The Government salivates over suffocating proposals for censoring internet TV now that it can go even further than the red tape Dystopia called the EU.

Read more uk_internet_censors.htm at MelonFarmers.co.uk

See press release from gov.uk See consultation proposals from gov.uk Consultation closes late on 26 October 2021

The UK Government has just opened a public consultation on proposals to significantly extend censorship laws for internet TV to match the nannying, burdensome control freakery that currently applies to broadcast TV in the UK. The tone of the press release highlights the obvious glee that the Government holds for more censorship: Government to consult on better protections for UK audiences on video-on-demand services Audiences could be better protected from harmful material like misinformation and pseudoscience while watching programmes on video-on-demand services (VoD), Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden has announced. Netflix, Amazon Prime Video and Apple TV+ could be subject to stricter rules protecting UK audiences from harmful material It would mean audiences – particularly children – receive a consistent level of protection on video-on-demand services as they do on traditional broadcasters Ministers seek views to level the regulatory playing field in consultation launched today The government is considering how to better level the regulatory playing field between mainstream VoD services and traditional broadcasters and is seeking views on the matter in a consultation launched today. This could mean aligning the content standards rules for on-demand TV services with those for traditional linear TV like BBC 1 and Sky. Now that the UK has left the EU there is an opportunity to create regulation suited to UK viewers that goes beyond the minimum standards as set out in EU regulation under the revised Audiovisual Media Services Directive. Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden said: We want to give UK audiences peace of mind that however they watch TV in the digital age, the shows they enjoy are held to the same high standards that British broadcasting is world-renowned for. It is right that now we have left the EU, we look at introducing proportionate new rules so that UK audiences are protected from harm. Ofcom data shows a huge growth in popularity and use of on-demand services in the UK. The number of households that subscribe to one rose by almost 350% between 2014 and 2020. In 2021, 75% per cent of UK households say that they have used a subscription VoD service. Viewers have access to thousands of hours of VoD shows and content at the touch of a button. However, services like Netflix, Amazon Prime Video and Disney+ are not regulated in the UK to the same extent as UK linear TV channels. For example, except for BBC iPlayer, they are not subject to Ofcom’s Broadcasting Code which sets out appropriate standards for content including harmful or offensive material, accuracy, fairness and privacy. This means there is a gap between existing protections for audiences watching traditional TV and those watching newer VoD services. There are some protections for under-18s but minimal rules exist to regulate content. There are very few rules to protect audiences, for example, from misleading health advice or pseudoscience documentaries. Some service providers have taken welcome steps to introduce their own standards and procedures for audience protection – such as pin-codes and content warnings – but the extent of these measures varies across services. Age ratings are also inconsistent and sometimes non-existent. The consultation asks for views on whether UK audiences viewing TV-like VoD programmes should receive the same or similar level of protections as when they are watching traditional television. It asks which measures can and should be made consistent across VoD services. It will also consider whether mainstream VoD services not currently regulated in the UK by Ofcom – like Netflix and Apple TV+ – should be brought within UK jurisdiction to provide accountability to UK audiences who use them. Not all VoD providers deliver a TV-like experience, so any regulatory change will need to be proportionate, particularly for smaller or niche services, to ensure essential protections like freedom of speech are not affected. Notes to Editors The consultation is open for 8 weeks and closes on 26 October at 23:45 BST. This review into VoD regulation will form part of a number of measures as part of a wide-ranging broadcasting White Paper into the future of broadcasting which will be published this autumn. The consultation examines the current level of audience protection from harmful content provided through regulation and voluntarily by individual VoD services, and what steps are required to ensure appropriate protection levels for UK audiences going forward. Now the UK has left the European Union, this is an opportunity to improve upon EU aligned provisions under the Audiovisual Media Services Directive with regulations that are designed in the best interests of UK audiences. This consultation does not seek responses on wider broadcasting regulation, nor changes to how television or public service broadcasters such as the BBC or Channel 4 are funded or regulated. This consultation will also not cover changes to advertising rules/restrictions and does not cover topics such as introducing levies/quotas on VoD services. Responses on these issues will not be considered as part of this consultation.

Netflix are using BBFC approved ratings for all films and TV series…

Let’s hope that the BBFC provides Netflix with a better database of ratings than the one on the BBFC website

Read more bw.htm at MelonFarmers.co.uk

See press release from bbfc.co.uk

Netflix is the first streaming service in the UK to carry a BBFC age rating on all TV seasons and feature films on the service, helping families choose content with confidence. The innovative partnership between a streaming service and the regulator, an industry first, has now reached the joint goal of 100% coverage of BBFC age ratings on the platform. This milestone has been welcomed by Caroline Dinenage, Minister of State for Digital and Culture. Netflix applies BBFC Guidelines standards to content, with the BBFC setting those standards and auditing ratings to ensure consistency. Netflix have now populated their entire catalogue of original and acquired content with BBFC age ratings, giving families in the UK trusted age rating guidance and advice. Families can now choose content safe in the knowledge that everything they press play on is rated to trusted, high BBFC standards. Netflix’s parental controls are also powered by BBFC data. Netflix has also improved its parental controls based on BBFC data and member feedback. Parents can now: pin protect individual profiles to prevent kids using them; tailor their kids Netflix experience by filtering out titles that are not appropriate for their age based on BBFC ratings; remove individual series or films by title. When this filter is used, the blocked title(s) won’t show up anywhere in that profile. easily review each profile’s setting using the “Profile and Parental Controls” hub within account settings; see what their kids have been watching within the profile created for them; and turn off auto play of episodes in kids profiles.

Littler choice…BBC iPlayer, Netflix and Britbox ban Little Britain and Come Fly With Me

Read more me_bbc_trust.htm at MelonFarmers.co.uk

Thanks to Nick See article from variety.com

Netflix , BBC iPlayer and BritBox have removed comedy series Little Britain from their platforms amid PC concerns about its use of blackface.Netflix pulled the BBC series on Friday. Netflix has also dropped the comedians’ airport mockumentary Come Fly With Me . BBC iPlayer and BritBox have also ditched Little Britain from their platforms this week. A BBC spokesman told Variety: There’s a lot of historical programming available on BBC iPlayer which we regularly review. Times have changed since ‘Little Britain’ first aired, so it is not currently available on BBC iPlayer. BritBox also confirmed that Little Britain was no longer on the service, adding that Come Fly With Me had not been available for six months. Little Britain first aired in 2003, while Come Fly With Me debuted in 2010. Both series saw the comedians play characters from different ethnic backgrounds with the use of make-up. In Come Fly With Me, Lucas and Walliams wore make up for characters including airport worker Taaj, passenger liaison officer Moses Beacon, and airline boss Omar Baba while Walliams also starred as health-spa guest Desiree Devere in Little Britain.

Wizards of Waverly Place…More silly censorship on Disney+

Read more me_internet.htm at MelonFarmers.co.uk

See article from movieweb.com

Wizards of Waverly Place is a 2007 – 2012 USA children’s comedy fantasy TV series by Lev L Spiro. Starring Selena Gomez, David Henrie and Jake T Austin. “Wizards of Waverly Place” focuses on the Russos. A typical family, which includes a mom, Theresa Russo; a dad, Jerry Russo; a son, Justin Russo; a daughter, Alex Russo; and another son, Max Russo. The kids and the family live normal lives but what their friends don’t know is the kids are wizards in training and the dad was a former wizard! The new Disney+ streaming service for children is continuing to be pulled up for censorship. The latest example is that the channel has been blurring out cleavage in Wizards of Waverly Place. There is nothing overly sexual about the scenes being blurred, just every day street clothes.The TV series was made by Disney and the cleavage was considered perfectly OK about a decade ago. Maria Canals-Barrera’s slight hint of cleavage is what offended Disney censors and required the fogging. Disney has not responded to questions about the sorry episode.

God’s Own Country

British gay drama cut for streaming by the US distributor but after the director’s intervention the film is now uncut for rental on Amazon Prime.

Read more me_internet.htm at MelonFarmers.co.uk

See article from uk.finance.yahoo.com

God’s Own Country is a 2017 UK gay romance by Francis Lee. Starring Josh O’Connor, Alec Secareanu and Gemma Jones. Spring. Yorkshire. Isolated young sheep farmer Johnny Saxby numbs his daily frustrations with binge drinking and casual sex, until the arrival of a Romanian migrant worker Gheorghe, employed for the lambing season, ignites an intense relationship that sets Johnny on a new path. God’s Own Country director Francis Lee has revealed his film was butchered by its American distributor, who censored several of the movie’s gay sex scenes for a streaming release.The censorship first came to light earlier this week, when Lee tweeted that fans should not stream the movie via Amazon Prime Video, due to edits made without his consent. He Tweeted: Dear friends in USA, God’s Own Country appears to have been censored on Amazon Prime. Until this is investigated please do not rent or buy on Amazon Prime. It is not the film I intended or made. However the director later seems to have got the Amazon Prime version fixed and he tweeted the following day: After investigation, God’s Own Country was not censored by Amazon, but by the US distributor Samuel Goldwyn Films, who butchered the streaming version without consultation to get more ‘revenue’. The rental version of God’s Own Country on @PrimeVideo is the correct version of my film. I would like to thank Amazon Prime for being supportive and I would caution any film maker of working with the aforementioned ‘distributor’. The film was banned in numerous Arab countries and China as a result of its LGBT+ themes, with only Secareanu’s native Romania playing the film in Eastern Europe.

Oh LaLa…Netflix censors Back to the Future Part II

Read more me_internet.htm at MelonFarmers.co.uk

See article from boundingintocomics.com

Back To the Future Part II is a 1989 USA comedy Sci-Fi adventure by Robert Zemeckis. Starring Michael J Fox, Christopher Lloyd and Lea Thompson. Marty McFly has only just gotten back from the past, when he is once again picked up by Dr. Emmett Brown and sent through time to the future. Marty’s job in the future is to pose as his own son to prevent him from being thrown in prison. Unfortunately, things get worse when the future changes the present. Back To the Future Part II has never troubled either the BBFC or MPAA but Netflix has decided that the film needs to be censored for its recent addition to the company’s film line up. A scene has been censored where Marty McFly is seeking to retrieve the Grays Sports Almanac from the younger Biff Tannen in an effort to restore the timeline to its original state. Marty eventually gets hold of it but finds that it is just a cover that has been used to hide a copy of a men’s magazine titled Oh LaLa .Netfllix has cut about 5 seconds where the rather modest Oh LaLa cover is on screen. The cut version leaves a rather untidy edit where the audience is left unaware as to why Marty reacts the way he does.

A Christchurch Call too far…

New Zealand has been consulting on a new censorship requirements covering Netflix and co and it seems the US internet giants are not impressed.

Read more inap.htm at MelonFarmers.co.uk

See article from newsroom.co.nz

US internet giants including Microsoft have raised the spectre of geo-blocking New Zealand if the Government proceeds with a bill for classifying streamed content.A law requiring film ratings to apply to streaming services like Netflix and Lightbox has raised hackles from some Silicon Valley firms. The bill mandates that certain commercial video-on-demand (CVoD) providers follow the process that broadcasting and film companies follow in classifying content or submit themselves to a self-classification system to be developed by the Chief Censor and the Office of Film and Literature Classification (OFLC). But even this self classification option would require reclassifying vast back catalogs of content, some CVoD providers say, and it might be easier for them to pull some content out of New Zealand altogether. There are also worries that streaming services might choose to leave the country rather than deal with a potentially onerous regulatory regime. Submissions to the Governance and Administration select committee raised concerns about enforceability or whether companies might just pull out. NZME’s submission said news sites with paid subscriptions that aired video footage could fall under the classification system .In its submission to the select committee, Microsoft warned that content it has yet to classify could be geo-blocked. Microsoft observes, however, that while the majority of content it makes available through the Microsoft Movies & TV platform is or may be rated by the studio producing the content, where a small independent studio or filmmaker makes content available on the platform, that content may not have a rating assigned. In that situation, a provider like Microsoft is unlikely to apply to rate the content itself (or itself develop a rating system) as it isn’t in the business of reviewing the film’s content in order to apply for the correct label. In the result, unobjectionable yet unrated / unlabelled content may, in some cases, not be made available to New Zealand audiences, due to the regulatory threshold associated with rating and labelling. The Deputy Chief Censor also did not think that providers would skip the New Zealand market because of the proposed changes. The OFLC, in its select committee submission , said that given that this framework is low cost and simple for providers to implement, this would be unlikely to impact services provided to NZ public. We have not seen providers withdraw from other jurisdictions due to regulation. This light-handed regulatory approach will not require providers to make significant investment to supply our relatively small market.