Ofcom Discussion

(02-01-2012 13:36 )jimmyt73 Wrote:  i just wondered if anyone saw the terminator 3 film shown pre watershed on watch with no pin protection at the weekend it seems to me that depictions of kids being executed before 9 pm are potentially far more damaging than a babeshows content 4hours afterwards.
also wondered how much of new activity has to be shown to be a generally accepted standard please could someone clarify this for me because if all the babeshow providers agree to feature one similar thing such as nipple sucking could it not become a generally accepted standard,
p.s if u can make the explantion in lamens terms as im currently out of a job many thanks

Ofcom are quite happy with all forms of violence - war, gang, cartoon, realistic, heavy calibre, knife, even if it is easy to imitate with household utensils and depicted as being easy, quick and painless, but show a nipple and they go ballistic.

Ask mosy Mums and they would prefer to sit through a violent war/adventure film with their kid than something with nudity, but ask them honestly what they would prefer their kids did when out after dark and you get the exact opposite answer.

There is huge embarrasment factor.

Remove the embarrassment factror by taking the kids, inlaws, vicar out of the equation, and ask the same Mums if they think sex should be banned from "grown up time" TV and suddenly they arent as bothered. Some even like it.

Trouble is Ofcom are in Social Worker mode, protecting us from ourselves.

As for the second part of your post, thats a good question but sadly the answer isnt good.

When does something become an established standard? Ofcom would say that this is a measure of what society finds acceptable, not what broadcasters have been doing, no matter how long for and no matter how widespread. They claim they conduct "impartial" "scientific" studies to assess what the public find acceptable, and base rules on these.

Trouble is they have never defined what the threshold of acceptablity is. An adult sample clip can be rated more acceptable than a sample clip from the BBC, yet the adult clip is deemed unacceptable while the BBC clip is OK in Ofcoms eyes.

Ofcom have also categorically stated in the past that just because a show has been repeatedly been broadcast in the past, without complaint, that does not make it acceptable. In their view it just means it has not been acceptable. So they could come in an decide that a 5 year old encrypted show on TVX or Playboy breaks the rules and fine the channel. If they wanted. So all the channels acting together would not work. Sorry.

People keep banging on about Sexcentra for some reason, I don't quite understand why as that programme has been censored and also it's bloody repeats they are showing from years gone by and the same can be said about Sin City whether it be uncensored or not, I've seen all these episodes before as has probably the majorty of people who like their fix of late night erotica. One thing that is noticable is the lack of new erotic entertainment being produced, even on the encrpted channels it's all seen it before endless repeats, aswell as Ofcom being an obsticle these days, the same too can be said of media society, Big Brother for example broadcasting highlights now instead of live coverage incase of upsetting the censors, the current problems extend far further than the 900 channels. We have lost a lot of good channels the past few years such as Brava, Men And Motors and Fashion TV with SKY ARTS turning more into a rocumentry channel so we can't even see any artistic nudity, so all in all the current choice of anything remotely erotic is utter shite.

(03-01-2012 18:58 )Scottishbloke Wrote:  People keep banging on about Sexcentra for some reason, I don't quite understand why as that programme has been censored and also it's bloody repeats they are showing from years gone by and the same can be said about Sin City whether it be uncensored or not, I've seen all these episodes before as has probably the majorty of people who like their fix of late night erotica. One thing that is noticable is the lack of new erotic entertainment being produced, even on the encrpted channels it's all seen it before endless repeats, aswell as Ofcom being an obsticle these days, the same too can be said of media society, Big Brother for example broadcasting highlights now instead of live coverage incase of upsetting the censors, the current problems extend far further than the 900 channels. We have lost a lot of good channels the past few years such as Brava, Men And Motors and Fashion TV with SKY ARTS turning more into a rocumentry channel so we can't even see any artistic nudity, so all in all the current choice of anything remotely erotic is utter shite.

Most of the shots in every Sexcetera I've seen have been uncensored. Penis's are never censored, and there's plenty of full frontal vaginas, as well as some open leg from time to time. They also rarely censor the anus.

Also, on guide to sex, they showcased women using strapons on their boyfriends, and their anuses were not censored. So basically, it's unacceptable to see a vagina on the adult channels, yet it's perfectly acceptable to learn how to do a man in the ass with a strapon at 10pm on non adult channels.

Fair point mrmann but at the end of the day my main point is the crux of the matter is that they are all old shows, Sexcetera is on a loophole of endless repeats, they are not exactly fresh now are they so even uncensored they are not exactly a thrill anymore, I mean I've probably got it recorded allready from bygone years as I recently found a vhs recording of Sportxxx encrpted back in 2004 and it literally brought tears to my eyes as I thought at the time that erotic entertainment was the norm, I also remember shows such as Naked News on Get Lucky TV from that era aswell as late night babe on Babestation FTA, how the shit has hit the fan with nothing like that these days, Ofcom have ripped the heart out of anything worth staying up for, I can recall going into work the next say absolutely shattered back in the 2006 era when Babestar TV and Sexstation TV was in full thrust, it was an exciting era when the channels literally stuck 2 fingers up to Ofcom with the attitude fuck you we're only giving the punters what they want. The censors were challenged back then virtually every night as a lot of the channels adopted this all or nothing approach, how I miss those days.

Just watched the channel 4 doc '50 Years of Bad Sex' http://www.channel4.com/programmes/50-ye...ad-sex/4od

It was interesting, going through 5 decades since the beginnings of the sexual revolution. Each decade with a representative expression of sexuality in the media. Carry on films in the 60s (cheeky but still repressed), Abba in the 70s (private/public blurring, including divorce), Baywatch in the 80s (fakery in body image), Sex in the city in the 90s (gender politics and the sidelining of straight men), and slightly weirdly, X-Factor in the noughties (back to repression, asexual show, trying to keep private/public separate again in figures like Simon Cowell).

I thought it might have something to say about the trend in broadcasting about expressions of sexuality, but a bit disappointed on that score and feel the take on the Xfactor thing (and maybe Abba) was a bit leftfield. Interesting doc though, talking heads giving a bit of insight into each topic.

As I've mentioned it before, one of the most concerning issues I have is that ofcom are taking away my Adult rights. I mean, what's the point of a 9pm watershed anymore, I always thought growing up, 9pm Adult material, so you knew what to expect, but my main concern is that my Freedom is being taken away bit by bit.
Ofcom are a modern Day dictatorship, and in a so called 21st century Demorcratic country, something has clearly gone horribly wrong.
If Ofcom aren't dealt with in a severe maner quickly, then not only our babe channels will suffer but many other programmes will to.

In terms of this government ever abolishing Ofcom, my hopes are fading fast, to put it into context Ofcom are costing the government literally pennies, next to nothing, even if we had another credit crunch scenario Ofcom would still be unaltered, this is more based on our personal morals and that we are being dictated to by some wanker sub quango as Ofcom in reailty are costing the taxpayer's fuck all and it pains me to say it, the bottom line is this goverment is treating us all like children, it's a bit like grown up's still being told when it's time to go to bed, it's downright patronising. I think using this reason to get rid of Ofcom because it's costing the taxpayer's money argument is wearing a bit thin, the reality is we want an end to TV and Radio Censorship as the principle of the matter is the longer this goes on the greater this Country is becoming a fascist state just like China.

(03-01-2012 20:46 )Scottishbloke Wrote:  In terms of this government ever abolishing Ofcom, my hopes are fading fast, to put it into context Ofcom are costing the government literally pennies, next to nothing, even if we had another credit crunch scenario Ofcom would still be unaltered, this is more based on our personal morals and that we are being dictated to by some wanker sub quango as Ofcom in reailty are costing the taxpayer's fuck all and it pains me to say it, the bottom line is this goverment is treating us all like children, it's a bit like grown up's still being told when it's time to go to bed, it's downright patronising. I think using this reason to get rid of Ofcom because it's costing the taxpayer's money argument is wearing a bit thin, the reality is we want an end to TV and Radio Censorship as the principle of the matter is the longer this goes on the greater this Country is becoming a fascist state just like China.

I couldn't agree more with you, it truly saddens me that in 2012 we are even having these discussions, it's truly a depressing state of affairs

For further proof look no further than this week's Sherlock.

As was helpfully pointed out by the Daily Mail it was broadcast pre-watershed (8:10 I think) and featured a naked dominatrix flicking a whip across Holmes' face!!

Put that on an adult channel at midnight and watch the fines rain down!!

One thing Government proxies keep banging on about is anything that attracts foreign money to Britain, or threatens to drive it away.

Universities are seens as an industry that brings in tens or hundreds of millions in fees and cost of living. We keep being warned that taxing banks would drive a cash cow abroad and destroy 10,000 jobs. There is even an international trade in Law Courts with Russian billionaires queuing up to have cases heard at Chancery Lane instead of The Lubyanka, The Hague or Federal Plaza.

Last weekend there were articles about how high transport costs in the UK are damaging the economy.

Given time the penny will drop and people will realise that access to erotica is an important factor in quality of life. There are people on middle incomes who sample working abroad, experience sun, sand and sex and lose the urge to return. Then there are the rich company founders from abroad who decide not to set up their headquarters in a repressive country where they cant switch on the TV after a 16 hour day and relax, result all they jobs they would have created go to Spain or Italy or France or the USA. Yes, with enough money there are diversions available, but having to go out of your way to a handful of venues in Central London isnt the same as giving in a pretty Cotswold village, flopping in front of the TV at the end of day and watching something satisfying, and perhaps going to the Casino at the weekend to see topless cabaret.

Imagine the dissapointment if your relatives could not see Corrie or Eastenders after a long day, but had to settle for a bland diet of inoffensive American soaps.