As far as I can see, Encrypted shows will be allowed to go hardcore, but FreeToAir channels won't change one bit. Encrypted shows can show porn between 10pm and 5:30am on Sky, midnight to 5:30am on Freeview.
Don't see any reason why hardcore websites can't be shown on an encrypted show, but they can now.
Adverts for hardcore websites will NOT be allowed unencrypted, so no change there.
Reasons and quotes below.
The new rules (click the link, scroll down to
New BCAP Code then scroll to section 30 Pornography, page 131 on for a fun night in) say that R18 material is not banned - the BCAP code seems to work on the permissive principle, that everything is allowed unless specifically banned. It's the same as ordinary law in free countries.
ENCRYPTED PHONE-IN SHOWS
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Para 30.3.1 says "Television only – Advertisements must not feature R18-rated material or its equivalent.
That does not preclude advertisements for R18-rated material or its equivalent behind mandatory restricted access on adult entertainment channels."
meaning R18 is banned on FreeToAir, but not-banned (=allowed) on encrypted channels.
Note the word "or its equivalent", meaning a show does not need to go and get a BBFC certificate. It's the strength that matters.
the next para, 30.3.2 says "Television only – Advertisements permitted under rules 30.2 and 30.2.1 must not feature material that comes within the recognised character of pornography before 10.00pm or after 5.30am."
limiting R18 to between 10pm and 5:30am on encrypted channels.
So what is an advert? Ofcom have been saying that entire babeshows (encrypted or not) can be, provided they are selling something and advertised as a teleshopping channel. So if SportXXX was encrypted, had a scrolling banner to phone the babes and was registered as a teleshopping channel, that would be OK. But if they took the phone number off the screen it might not qualify!
Got that? Entire shows are adverts if you can phone in, not just 30 second spot adverts.
KIDS SHOWS
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Para 32.2.6 says in a roundabout way "These may not be advertised in or adjacent to programmes commissioned for, principally directed at or likely to appeal particularly to audiences below the age of 18:" ... "live premium-rate services, unless those services have received prior permission from PhonePay Plus to target people under 18."
So no premium rate sex chat phone lines on shows aimed at kids. That shouldn't be a problem.
Also para 22.8 says "Advertisements for live premium-rate services must not appeal particularly to people under 18, unless those services have received prior permission from PhonepayPlus to target people under 18."
UNENCRYPTED SHOWS
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Paragraph 3.1(a) is a direct lift from the Ofcom code:
"These provisions imposed on Ofcom by the Communications Act are therefore relevant to BCAP:" ... "The standards objectives, insofar as they relate to advertising, include:" ... "that persons under the age of 18 are protected;"
and 3.1(f) ... "that generally accepted standards are applied to the contents of television and radio services so as to provide adequate protection for members of the public from inclusion in such services of offensive and harmful material;"
Sections 3.2 and 3.3 are also lifts from Ofcom Rules or enabling legislation, and imply a reserve power to impose minimum standards.
I had hoped that unencrypted babe shows would be able to show up to cert 18, rather than 15ish as now, but it seems not. FreeToAir shows will still be subject to the notorious "generally accepted standards".
TIME LIMITS ON UNENCRYPTED SHOWS
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Para 32.19 requires a watershed "Advertisements that are unsuitable for children (for example, because they might cause distress or because they refer explicitly to sexual matters)
must be subject to restrictions on the time of transmission designed to minimise the risk that children in the relevant age group will see them."
OFCOM INVESTIGATES
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Not too surprisingly, para n of the Introduction says "The investigation of complaints in relation to Participation TV (long form television advertising for direct-response, remote entertainment services that typically include the possibility of interacting with broadcast content) remains a matter for Ofcom."
meaning that Ofcom still has the steering wheel.