LO2 – F - REGULATIONS

Emma Fraser

OFCOM Ofcom is the communications regulator in the UK, they regulate the TV, radio and video-

on-demand sectors, fixed-line telecoms, mobiles and postal services, plus the airwaves over which wireless devices operate.

Ofcom Regulations:

- Protecting the under-eighteens- Harm and offence- Crime, disorder, hatred and abuse- Religion- Due impartiality and due accuracy- Elections and referendums- Fairness- Privacy- Commercial references on TV- Commercial communications on radio

EXAMPLES - OFCOMAn example of when Ofcom was involved with a TV show was when BBC 1’s drama Red Rock breached broadcasting guidelines. The show aired a violent scene in which a female police officer was attacked by three men; the story was played shown before the watershed, during the afternoon. Ofcom said that the violence was not “appropriately limited and scheduled before the watershed”, as well as stating that “We found the violence was heightened by various factors such as the tone, music and duration of the scene, and lacked any appropriate warning.”(http://www.knutsfordguardian.co.uk/uk_national_entertainment/14794158.BBC1_drama_Red_Rock_rapped_over_violent_scenes/)This applies to my TV show as it will include a lot of violence, especially during the last two episodes; therefore I must ensure that the shows are shown after the watershed time, which is around 9pm, to ensure that I do not break any guidelines in which Ofcom have set.

Another example is when a TV show on Sangat TV featured a debate within a show in which its guests supported an assassination attempt on a former Indian Army General. Complaints flooded in due to viewers believing the scene was “likely to encourage or to incite the commission of crime or to lead to disorder”. Ofcom said satellite channel, Sangat TV, broadcast statements in a panel discussion programme which "were an indirect call to members of the Sikh community to take violent action against Lt General Brar and other members of the Indian armed forces". However the channel was fined £30,000 by Ofcom due to inciting violence, despite this, the channel did try to appeal against the fine, whilst claiming that Ofcom had not shown “any kind of flexibility”. (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-23724223)This applies to my TV show as I need to ensure that the violence that is shown within the show has a warning before, and is not behaviour in which will ‘encourage or incite the commission of crime or lead to a disorder’, as this has been known to upset viewers previously.

APPLYING THE REGULATIONS TO MY TV SHOW:Protecting the under-eighteens:This principle ensure that people under eighteen are protected, therefore I will show my TV drama after the watershed as well as placing a warning before it airs.

Harm and offence:The principle is to ‘ensure that generally accepted standards are applied to the content of television so as to provide adequate protection for members of the public from the inclusion in such services of harmful and/or offensive material.’ I will ensure this regulation is respected throughout my show as I will ensure that limited violence is shown were it is necessary, this can be tailored through the editing of the show, as well as showing a warning before its aired.

Crime, disorder, hatred and abuse:The principle is to ensure that material likely to encourage or to incite the commission of crime or lead to disorder is not included in television. This will mean that standard violence can be shown throughout the drama but anything extreme must not be shown to the viewers.

Religion: The principles include to ensure that broadcasters exercise the proper

degree of responsibility with respect to the content of programmes which are religious programmes.

To ensure that religious programmes do not involve any improper exploitation of any susceptibilities of the audience for such a programme.

To ensure that religious programmes do not involve any abusive treatment of the religious views and beliefs of those belonging to a particular religion or religious denomination.

To ensure I comply with these regulations, I will leave religion out of my TV drama, especially with the show being based around violence, to ensure that I don’t offend any of the audiences.

Due impartiality and due accuracy:The principles include: To ensure that news, in whatever form, is reported with due

accuracy and presented with due impartiality. To ensure that the special impartiality requirements of the Act are

complied with.I will ensure throughout my TV show that everyone is treated equally in order comply with ‘due impartiality’.

Fairness:The main principle is to ensure that broadcasters avoid unjust or unfair treatment of individuals or organisations in programmes.Everyone within the TV show will be treated fairly and respected, this will ensure that we comply with Ofcom regulations.

Privacy:The main principle is to ensure that broadcasters avoid any unwarranted infringement of privacy in programmes and in connection with obtaining material included in programmes.When creating the TV show we will make sure that any of the names or stories used are completely fictional in order to avoid upsetting any of the viewers, however if we do take some inspiration for the story or characters from a real person, we will make sure to ask for their permission thoroughly before using their name, etc.