Storm Attacked By Ofcom

Among the many things that annoys me is the way civil servants are paid to write up drooling descriptions of permitted content just to create a self justifing impression that the content was raunchier that it was.

"the presenter adopted various sexual positions" = she moved.

"she lay on her side with her legs apart (albeit away from camera)" - so what? Its away from the camera.

"she moved onto all fours" is this a problem?

"thrust her bare buttocks" bare buttocks are allowed even in daytime.

"knelt upright on her legs" how else would someone kneel, apart from on their legs? Is it relevant?

To add insult to injury the complainant was tuned into the channel from 9pm. Why if they didnt want babe content? Had the shipping forecast just finished? It has to be a competitor.

(17-09-2012 22:22 )Digital Dave Wrote:  These rules (ridiculous though they are) have been in place for over two years, so what happened that night? Was it a new producer? if so he should've had supervision. Was it an inexperienced model? If so the producer should've watched her like a hawk and Storm should've given her better training.

It works both ways. Managing Ofcom is part of the territory when running a babe channel and carelessness doesn't help.

Sounds to me like you're falling for Ofcom's bollocks

I'm sure - with the exception of the see-thru top (and let's face it we've had countless tits on show before 10pm on the other channels, albeit briefly and supposedly accidentally) - that the material broadcast was no different or more explicit than any other pre-10pm show you care to mention.

See eccles post above yours for a better example of how petty this 'in breech' was. Ofcom looked at this footage and went out of their way to find it in breech. I'm sure that in fact it was nothing of the sort.

Ofcom are crooks, plain and simple.

I've come to a few conclusions here. Maybe Storm paid Ofcom to fake finding them in breach so as to drum up more business for them because the review ofcom just gave of the show makes it sound bloody marvelous

Ofcom really need to review the shows more often, in these desperate times of recession we need more ofcom reviews to draw in a bigger audience

Ofcom would be a great selling asset to the likes of TVX and Playboy TV to sell more subscriptions

As we speak Storm has now upped the call charges from 26p a minute to 51p a minute now so well done to Ofcom for managing to drum up more business for them

And here was us thinking what a shower of bastards they are, we couldn't be more wrong if we tried

I know your post isn't meant to be taken seriously, SB, but I think it's safe to say Ofcom have achieved exactly what they wanted to with this latest investigation. They've successfully placed their foot back on the necks of the babeshows with this.

All of this 'policing' of what is/is not considered 'too' sexually alluring is way too simplistic. Sure, the obviously sexual parts (virgina/breasts; even legs) are hotspots for censorship. But what about the other things - specific outfits, shoes, make up, earings etc., etc., etc.,?

What if they produce as much sexual pleasure as the naughty bits? What happens next? We censor all ladies shoes? All make up products?


Besides, it's all a war on how folks want to pursue their sexual interests. That's always been an uncomfortable topic, and I suspect it always will be...

Quite right and Ofcom attitude surveys recognised that, find that clothing, language, approach and lighting can make content more or less offensive. Soft lighting, mood music, romantic clothing and a slow tender approach can make a sex scene acceptable. Take the same level of explicitness but have harsh bright lighting, clinical even, slutty clothing, use harsh language and get straight into rough sex if you want to offend people, particularly women. (Which is of course why no women live in Essex).

Ofcom unoffically recognise in every time they publish another investigation and write in dribbling detail that the presenter was wearing ripped fishnet stockings, a purple basque and kneeling on all fours facing the camera. They do this to make readers less sympathetic despite the detail listed being irrelevant to the rule broken, when all they need to say is "outer labia lips were visible". No, they deliberately invoke atmospher.

But its a one way street. They will never acknowledge the opposite if a presenter is shown in the most romantic way possible.

Sex is the only area on television that remains taboo. Fifty, even 20 years ago, it would have been unthinkable for radical Muslim preachers or American fundamentalists to have their own UK TV channels, or hostile nations like Iran, or even friendly but foreign nations like France, Russian and Bahrain. Or TV casinos. (OK, fast cars, smoking and drinking are also banned, but not in drama).

Fifty years ago you could be locked up for being gay. Alan Turning was chemically castrated and committed suicide because he could not stand it. Every word said in plays had to be preapproved by The Lord Chaimberlain and plays were banned "for ridiculing the middle classes". Then governments saw sense. Can you imagine what it took for MPs to vote to legalise homosexuality? Change will come.

Eccles, nicely articulated.

It just reminds us that we're not in control. Never forget that.

Ofcom are not idiots; there's too much money involved for them to get it wrong, and they hate losing money.

Yes, we're given enough to keep us watching, but not enough to satisfy us. We're kept in limbo. Sounds painful, but look what's happening. There's long threads on forums, a mass viewing public, endless debate - it's very much active. And Ofcom is fully aware of it. Ofcom know it's a live topic. I fear that even the most intelligent arguments (especially here) will make zero difference.

As an aside, I lament about how things used to be on the babeshows. Yes, things are getting worse.

For me, Emma Spellar was the most daring babe on day shows. She has completely disappeared into thin air now (where is she?).

She used to be the mistress of tease, and definitely pushed at the boundaries. I recall the frequent 'accidental' nipslips, the skintight spandex, the braless outfits, the hard, nipple pokies. Totally awesome; that's what kept me watching/calling. I regress....with a smile on my face