ofcom cut freeview hours

(02-06-2010 19:03 )michael21 Wrote:  tvnews & tvnews2 are cellcast channels like bigdeal was last year so they already have the hours tvnews2 is on a 30min loop there would make more money have 24 hours of babestatiion there would be the only babes channel on freeview day time

Ofcom has decided to amend the Broadcasting Code to clarify that services designed primarily to promote Premium Rate Service (PRS) lines would not be considered as editorial in nature (and regulated under the Broadcasting Code) but would be treated as advertising. Advertising is regulated under the BCAP Broadcast Advertising Standards Code (the Advertising Code).

The revised Advertising Code is due to come into effect on 1 September 2010. The amended rules will be effective from this date.


http://www.ofcom.org.uk/consult/condocs/...statement/

1.14 However, Ofcom notes that, compared to other TV platforms, DTT (AKA FREEVIEW) provides a smaller number of channels to access; also, not all receivers offer parental controls, to block either individual channels or groups of channels on the platform. The risk of unintentional viewing is therefore higher than with other platforms, and we consider that a stricter timing restriction should be introduced for DTT (AKA FREEVIEW): that adult sex chat services should be allowed only between midnight and 0530 hours, rather than 2100-0530 on other platforms.

http://www.ofcom.org.uk/consult/condocs/...statement/

1.14 However, Ofcom notes that, compared to other TV platforms, DTT (AKA FREEVIEW) provides a smaller number of channels to access; also, not all receivers offer parental controls, to block either individual channels or groups of channels on the platform. The risk of unintentional viewing is therefore higher than with other platforms, and we consider that a stricter timing restriction should be introduced for DTT (AKA FREEVIEW): that adult sex chat services should be allowed only between midnight and 0530 hours, rather than 2100-0530 on other platforms.

(03-06-2010 15:59 )vostok 1 Wrote:  The revised Advertising Code is due to come into effect on 1 September 2010. The amended rules will be effective from this date.


http://www.ofcom.org.uk/consult/condocs/...statement/

1.14 However, Ofcom notes that, compared to other TV platforms, DTT (AKA FREEVIEW) provides a smaller number of channels to access; also, not all receivers offer parental controls, to block either individual channels or groups of channels on the platform. The risk of unintentional viewing is therefore higher than with other platforms, and we consider that a stricter timing restriction should be introduced for DTT (AKA FREEVIEW): that adult sex chat services should be allowed only between midnight and 0530 hours, rather than 2100-0530 on other platforms.

ALL RECEIVERS OFFER PARENTAL CONTROLS (that's an EU legal requirement) - often DTT receivers offer far better and more secure controls than satellite receivers.

Ofcom are bullshitting AS PER FUCKING USUAL.

Where's the proof Ofcom's assertion is correct? Where's the breakdown and comparrison of what parental controls are or aren't available on each type of receiver? Scientific/statistical PROOF is what we DEMAND.

I can lock (i.e. require a PIN number to view) and/or PERMANENTLY HIDE/DELETE any channel listed on my STB. It is no less capable or any less secure than a $ky digibox.

Ofcom's 'duty' seems to be to prevent adults watching any adult entertainment despite EVERYONE in the UK KNOWING what the 9pm watershed MEANS in terms of more adult-oriented programming.

You're a bunch of lying, two-faced, mindless CUNT5, Ofcom!

I was wondering just how long it would take Ofcom to publish their response. The 3rd round of "consultation" closed on 15 Jan, 4 1/2 months ago, ending 3 full rounds of consultations over 3 years. 2-3 months is a more typical delay, for example Reviews of Channel 3 and 5 Financial Terms, that affected 2 major broadcasters watched by far more people, employing 000s of people and with much more money at stake. One small show like Trisha or Live From Studio Five probably employs more people than the entire Adult sector.

A basic principle of consultation is that the various options are presented in full, otherwise people can claim they were misled. Where I live there have been consultations on "regeneration" that have been completely bland and anodyne, and the council has subsequently claimed public support for totally unrecognisable detailed proposals. Years later the proposals are still stuck and original champions have left politics.

So after 3 different sets of proposals spread over 3 years, and an unusually long evaluation period, one of the 4 options presented has been approved, right? Which one?

That's correct, option 5. Ofcom's recommended proposal with alterations that no-one mentioned or supported over the previous 3 years.

A proposal that
1) drastically cuts Freeview hours (8.5 hours down to 5.5)
2) cuts out peak viewing time/participation for single men and horny couples (some of us have jobs to get up for in the morning)
3) Drops restrictions of Psychic services

As a sop to water down opposition, Ofcom drops the requirement for Psychic channels to be a Specialist section, despite knowing the arguments about this when they published their proposals (prevents other channels flipping over to Psychic services at night).
Ofcom claim they " have considered new information on the financial model of Psychic TV broadcasters, and noted the lack of evidence of risks of harm to users from the psychic services that would be permitted under the rules. We have also considered the risk of offence to viewers." ~ so after the consultation ended they took account of some other "new evidence" that no-one has seen and that contradicted their own published research.

Ofcom accepts that a proposal from Arqiva (operator of Freeview Adult services) meets Ofcom's own channel labelling and positioning requirements. So no problem? Of couse not silly, having met Ofcom's requirements, Ofcom then say the proposal is not good enough and restrict the hours.

Ofcom knew precisely what effect their proposal would have on Psychic services. The likes of Living, CBS Action, Showcase would have been unable to flip over to PRS Psychic services in quiet times because that was exactly what Ofcom wanted to achieve. They felt that the services had to be in their own special compartment to protect the gullible, impressionable and supersticious. Then Ofcom decide their own preferred proposal was unnecessary. But strangely do not propose allowing Babe channels to be simulcast on Bravo, Five*, ITV4 or Virgin1 after midnight. Strange that.

Ofcom have completely ignored a simple solution that would at a stroke remove 90% of objections to Adult services, that they can cause offence and be stumbled on accidentally. Ofcom could REQUIRE operators such as Sky and Virgin to LOCK the Adult section by default, so it would only be possible to accidentally view a channel if it had been deliberately unlocked. But they ignored that solution. Strange that.

As Five pointed out (para 2.20), the 3 Nethlands registered Babe channels will not be affected by the schedule restrictions.

Ofcom claims not all set top boxes support channel locking, and genre-driven labelling/locking, where the entire Adult sector can be locked out, does not exist on the platform. I know from personal experience that Babestation Extreme is not accessible from an old Freeview box - only newer ones support the passcode system used. There is no reason why Ofcom as Regulator could not have mandated Freeview to make Genre labelling/locking and Parental Controls mandatory on all boxes sold after, say, 1 September, and block Babe channels on boxes without upto date controls. It might take a year or two to work though the system, but as Regulator Ofcom is supposed to look at the long term impact as well as short term control. If they had done this at the outset, in 2007, all Freeview boxes out there today would either have effective Parental Controls or simply not recieve Babe channels. But yet again Ofcom has let children down.

Note that Ofcom now officially states "that this timing restriction [midnight to 05:30] would minimise the risk of children being available to view or chance upon the content" (para 2.33). To my mind this means they can no longer claim that strong sexual material after midnight poses a risk to children.

The Freeview hours restriction is presented as a positive step forward, allowing Babe FTA and encrypted Adult channels to operate where previously they could not operate at all. Discuss.

On a positive note, Ofcom "research indicates public tolerance of the services continuing, subject to certain safeguards".

Interestingly Ofcom observes that "Similarly, the Byron and Buckingham Reviews cited by BCAP referred to the importance of maintaining safeguards for children, rather than arguing that adult sex chat and psychic services which are currently permitted should be closed down." (para 2.77)

As proposed, advert for explicit adult services will only be permitted on "encrypted" channels. Ofcom goes to great lengths (paras 2.103 to 2.108) to explain that this means either a channel with registration, proof of age and PIN entry each time - free PIN entry is not enough on its own, and registration without proof of age (eg text back) is not good enough. In theory this means adult sex chat lines and adverts for sex shows, dogging sites, internet porn sites, Stringfellows etc are only allowed on channels with real encryption.

Ofcom sneaks in an announcement that it has given itself a mission to monior channels in future for compliance with rules, instead of (mainly) acting on complaints (para 3.18 and others).

The affected categories include "Adult Chat" (para 3.21). I look forward to seeing Ofcom monitoring channels where pub bores drone on about the cost of mortgages and women say their men never take them out and how Graham Norton is "a waste". Perhaps they will do something about Loose Women and The One Show.

Previous changes have taken effect quickly. The 2010 Broadcasting Code took effect the day it was published (effectively backdating it 9 hours to midnight). Unsually only changes requiring substantial business changes have a long implementation period. Yet these changes do not take effect until September 1st, fully 8 1/2 months after the consultation ended and 10 months after it started. That represents almost a year of commercial uncertainty during which broadcasters have been unable to develop services or invest.

* Interestingly, Five sublet some of their Freeview digital capacity to Partyland ~ para 2.12 ~ but on a different channel number.

(04-06-2010 01:40 )eccles Wrote:  ~~~~
~~~~
A proposal that
1) drastically cuts Freeview hours (8.5 hours down to 5.5)
~~~~
~~~~

There are currently 11 hours each day during which babe shows are on Freeview, not 8.5 hours.

Cellcast - 10pm to 6am, Babestation + Babestation Daytime
Bang Media - 3am to 9am, Bangbabes + Early Bird

The cut will therefore be 11 hours down to 5.5, which is 50%

(04-06-2010 09:53 )TheWatcher Wrote:  There are currently 11 hours each day during which babe shows are on Freeview, not 8.5 hours.

Cellcast - 10pm to 6am, Babestation + Babestation Daytime
Bang Media - 3am to 9am, Bangbabes + Early Bird

The cut will therefore be 11 hours down to 5.5, which is 50%

In my opinion you are incorrect TheWatcher, since the hours of 05:30 to 9:00 do not include any adult chat services and therefore would be unaffected by any restriction of the hours of broadcasting adult chat services.

Which are the channels that are registered in the Netherlands???

(04-06-2010 11:03 )aaron Wrote:  

(04-06-2010 09:53 )TheWatcher Wrote:  There are currently 11 hours each day during which babe shows are on Freeview, not 8.5 hours.

Cellcast - 10pm to 6am, Babestation + Babestation Daytime
Bang Media - 3am to 9am, Bangbabes + Early Bird

The cut will therefore be 11 hours down to 5.5, which is 50%

In my opinion you are incorrect TheWatcher, since the hours of 05:30 to 9:00 do not include any adult chat services and therefore would be unaffected by any restriction of the hours of broadcasting adult chat services.

It must be considered adult chat since you have to be over 18 to phone them.

(04-06-2010 19:19 )TheWatcher Wrote:  It must be considered adult chat since you have to be over 18 to phone them.

I believe the daytime telephone numbers are classed as live entertainment rather than adult chat. In fact they can't be adult chat otherwise they could not be mentioned on daytime television (under the broadcasting code). The rules of premium rate telephone services require that any live service can only be promoted to those of 18 and above, so no matter how innocent any live service may be you still need to be 18 in order to call it.

Lets not argue with each other, particularly about percentages.

There are at least half a dozen noteworthy points in the announcement. Apparently on a whim Ofcom taken note of "new evidence" about Psychic channels, but has steadfastly refused to listen to any voices outside its own head about danger/safety of Adult content.

Ofcom has relented and accepted that Adult content can be shown on Freeview despite gaps in PIN protection, by the simple method of "bookending", a dummy channel before and after the Adult ones showing a warning message in case anyone is innocently scrolling through channels.

And what about Ofcom deciding on a set of rules that were never put out to consultation?