Ofcom Discussion

I have detected a distinct improvement in the channels in recent weeks.

I suspect they know the new regime is less on their case. If so happy days!

Let's hope so, the channels have been through enough over recent years, it'll be nice to have some positive news

Well its not quite the summer of 2010 yet or 2011 but an air of optimism is creeping in, Babestation have now brought back the naked 2 for 1's

Not a lot is known about the current chairman Patricia Hodgson but the previous 2 at the helm colette bowe who succeeded David Currie were both viewed as very old fashioned with their puritanical views and both I'm sure contributed a lot to what the present rules have become.

I definitely also think that the new regime appears to be a lot more liberal, I mean publishing a survey that less and less people are now offended by sex and violence, that's unheard of in the history of ofcom who to my knowledge used to fabricate their own statistics and surveys, also note how the word widespread offence was also absent in the latest survey published.

A definite wind of change I think

Yes, Ofcom in recent years have been Mary Whitehouse but with government backing...

Anyone remember her?!?!?

Before we get too carrried away, Ofcom just fined Discovery a tidy sum for showing a violent documentary series before the watershed :

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-28324118

I think it's too early to say there is a change in attitude, these things tend to go in cycles, Ofcom clamp down, the channels run scared and tame down to comply, then slowly they push the boundaries again, until suddenly Ofcom steps in again, and back round we go.
So time will tell if there is a genuine change, or if we are just in a lull, where the channel content has been so tame there really has been nothing for Ofcom to wag it's finger at, but here's hoping the new broom does indeed show a more sensible approach.

^That's what I think is happening too,
Cannot see Ofcon ever being the libertarian.

Last night was a stinker after some improvement in recent weeks. Oh for some consistency and producers with testicles...

Have to agree with the comments from Munch, the shows are not showing anything that could be classed in breach, Babestation 906 has a licence that could show a lot more but they never will as all they want to do is channel punters to BSX which isn't worth the entrance fee, but aslong as people are daft enough to purchase then Babestation won't use their licence to the hilt.

As for a more liberal approach from Ofcom I think people are kidding themselves, aslong as it exists you will always have people who think they know what is best for everyone regardless. They should get rid to save millions to the tax payer and set up the old ITC at a fraction of the cost.

Ofcoms latest Broadcast Bulletin is out today. As usual the vast bulk of complaints are against the BBC and ITV with Channels 4 and 5 bringing up the rear.

The main item is a brief mention that Discovery was fined £100k for showing violent murder documentaries on three dates at times when children could be watching. The content was clearly unsuitable, but is the fine justified?

The audience size is not quantified, but the fine for this unintentional breach that Discovery made no financial gain from could by over £1 per viewer.

Ofcom says Discovery "does NOT have a history of contraventions" but punishes it anyway for having a central compliance unit, and a history of 5 breaches over a 6 year period across 37 channels.

Top Gear makes the headlines - again - for the use of an offensive racial term. The word is not listed in Ofcoms list of rude words. Part of the case is that the word might be offensive to people in the USA and Australia - so far as I am aware Ofcom is not responsible for regulating broadcasts there.

The regulator says Top Gear had plenty of time to research the word. Really? Is it necessary to research each and every humorous word, in case it is more offensive than realised to a specialised section of audience?

Ofcom also fails to quantify how offensive the word is. Is it at the mild end or as severe as can be?

The relentless pursuit of Top Gear is pathetic. They deliberately sail close to the wind and are un PC. That is why it is one of the most watched progs across the entire planet. I have heard many insults in my years but slope is not one of them.