Ofcom - Current Investigations

(23-03-2011 03:14 )Scottishbloke Wrote:  Another thing, is it just a coincidence but why is it that SKY broadcast on the 28.2 degree slot that nobody else use's when it would make more sense from a business point of view to switch back to the 19.2 degree slot.

It may be a good idea in theory but there are some problems.
Where are you going to get the space to broadcast 85 transponders [including space for 50 HD channels] on that satellite? How long would it take to move '10 million' dishes? Broadcasters would have to pay to broadcast on both satellites for at least 18 months.
Who would pay to move or upgrade all the dishes?
It would incur extra cost for PSB channels having to make use of the FTV card.
I would think the satellite capacity is more expensive on that satellite for the babe channels.

I think that the reason the Babechannels aren't being investigated at the moment, is probably due to the fact of how tame they really are now and with the constant use of virtually the same girls night after night, the number of genuine viewers has dropped and lower genuine complaints have been made. So as it stands, Ofcom is winning and is now only a matter of time before we are only able to watch programmes such as Songs of Praise, Antiques Roadshow and the news.

Well judging by tonight's shows, tame, anything but, so from a positive point of view with no current complaints against the babe channels I can see a sense of freedom on the shows which I haven't seen in months. Let's hope this trend continues and Ofcom back off even more, could the tide be turning after all.

(23-03-2011 03:14 )Scottishbloke Wrote:  Another thing, is it just a coincidence but why is it that SKY broadcast on the 28.2 degree slot that nobody else use's when it would make more sense from a business point of view to switch back to the 19.2 degree slot. Is this the work of Ofcom to keep a leash on things and prevent us from accessing the other channels from Europe or like I said just a coincidence because I could just imagine Ofcom trying to block the likes of Sexysat and Eurotic Tv with great difficulty if we shared the same satellite as the French, Dutch and Germans do.

No, it is not the work of Ofcom, but Sky investing millions to ensure they have a virtual monopoly by forcing Joe Average to point their dish at a satellite carrying noone elses channels. Yes there are channels like Hallmark, Discovery, ESPN etc but they all use the Sky Platform and pay Sky handsomely for it.

And 28.2 degrees is too far across to even fit a little motorised tracking arm, meaning the only alternative is a full blown motorised system, with no broadcaster subsidy.

On paper the satellites are owned and operated by Astra and Eutelsat, but there was nothing at 28.2 degrees until Rupe cashed up, so draw your own conclusions about who wears the trousers in that relationship.

As for channels hotting up and no action being taken, this is part of a regular cycle. It is not the same as Ofcom giving hot content the green light, and they can come back on a whim any time they like unless they actually change the Broadcasting Code. They can also refer to their most restrictive rulings from the past and hammer channels that have got too, er, "relaxed". They have made it clear in the past that a long history of showing explicit material, or other channels showing strong stuff, or even showing the same recorded show time and time again, does not mean it is permitted or will be treated leniently.

Of course any sane and rational regulator would assess where complaints actually come from, realise that real complaints are made by real people who have experienced real offence (whether you and I agree with them) and that is to evidence based objective reality that they, the regulator, needs to tackle, not some idealogically driven targetting of niche channels only watched by a small audience that are not offended.

The reality of complaints and offence, as listed by me a few posts ago, is that there were 3 complaints about sex on BBC shows, 6 for ITV, 3 for Channel/Film4 and 1 for Five in the last Bulletin. These shows were watched by millions in family settings. They include Harry Hill, The Lottery and Comic Relief.

I am tempted to draw some consolation that 2 Adult shows were in the Complaints Not Upheld list. Time was when complaints were almost automatically upheld. But it might just be that they were tame shows.

Unless the actual rules change Ofcom can come back at any time.

Even The ASA Is at it http://www.thedrum.co.uk/news/2011/03/23...order=DESC

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As for channels hotting up and no action being taken, this is part of a regular cycle. It is not the same as Ofcom giving hot content the green light, and they can come back on a whim any time they like unless they actually change the Broadcasting Code. They can also refer to their most restrictive rulings from the past and hammer channels that have got too, er, "relaxed". They have made it clear in the past that a long history of showing explicit material, or other channels showing strong stuff, or even showing the same recorded show time and time again, does not mean it is permitted or will be treated leniently.


I certainly agree that these things seem to be cyclical, but I can see no signs of things 'hotting up' at present and suspect that, for the present at least, Ofcom seem to have the channels pretty well where they want them, bar, of course, the suspicion that they don't want them at all. It's all very tame and timid at the moment and so uninteresting that I can hardly be bothered to ponder on the eternal question as to why Donna Duke's boobs seem so much smaller than of yore. Sigh!

(23-03-2011 17:58 )SYBORG666 Wrote:  the number of genuine viewers has dropped and lower genuine complaints have been made.

What is a 'genuine' complaint? How do Ofcom know if a complaint is genuine?

(24-03-2011 12:48 )elgar1uk Wrote:  

(23-03-2011 17:58 )SYBORG666 Wrote:  the number of genuine viewers has dropped and lower genuine complaints have been made.

What is a 'genuine' complaint? How do Ofcom know if a complaint is genuine?

What I mean by genuine complaint is that something truly offensive has happened like swearing on a dayshow.
Someone who watches the babeshows at night and then makes a complaint because they've heard a girl swear or a girl has shown their pussy on a channel that is located in the adult section or away from mainstream channels and has happened after the watershed, in my opinion isn't genuine because is that not we expect to see on a show that is aimed for an adult audience. If you don't like what you see then change the channel because no-one has a gun to their head and forced to watch.

If you are posting something which is not about "the current ofcom investigations",
please use another of the ofcom threads in this section for your post.
thankyou

(24-03-2011 09:35 )gazfc Wrote:  Even The ASA Is at it http://www.thedrum.co.uk/news/2011/03/23...order=DESC

The difference is that the ASA does not close the shop down.