 The Broadcasting Standards Commission annual report
indicates that:
- the number of complaints received by the Commission during the year increased by 37%;
- there have been some significant changes in public attitudes towards broadcasting during
the year;
- but the Watershed works sufficiently well for it to be retained at 9pm.
The report is in harmony with the Government's views on the future of regulation, which
endorse the approach of an independent body having a standards and fairness remit across
all broadcasting.
The Commission has called for better media education, particularly in primary schools,
to ensure children are given the means to develop critical viewing skills from the
earliest possible age. This view is supported by the BSC, BBC, ITC joint working-party on
violence, which reported in July 1998, and the findings of a more recent survey which
indicated high levels of television viewing by young people in Britain.
Lady Howe, in her final statement as Chairman of the Commission also expressed concern
at current pressures in broadcasting:
As the pressure on budgets increases, so corners may be cut and the high standards
of journalism we have come to expect can all too easily fall. This can lead to unfairness
against individuals and organisations. The Commission will monitor this vitally important
area as well as continue with the important role of providing redress for those who have
been wronged.
Complaints
During the year the number of complaints received by the Commission increased by 37%
but this masks a massive increase of 70% in the number received between November and March
compared with the same period in the previous year. Almost one-quarter of the standards
complaints concerned the portrayal of sex on television but in the second half of the year
this increased to one-third. Last year the number of sex related complaints was 18%.
Overall, 31% of standards complaints were upheld, (19% last year); 31% of upheld
complaints were about the portrayal of sex, (18% last year). The figure for bad language
was 13% (14%) and violence 15% (26%). These figures reflect the trends in concerns
expressed by viewers and listeners in the Commission's comprehensive research programme.
Of the 90 fairness complaints made against broadcasters, 63% have been upheld or upheld
in part, compared with 48% last year but consistent with the long-term trend. The
proportion of upheld complaints about current affairs and consumer programmes has
increased this year.
Future regulation
The Commission notes that broadcasting continues to represent an immense social and
public good but that it influences as well as reflects society. Consequently, Britain has
traditionally sought to regulate broadcasting in a positive way as well as safeguarding
fairness and upholding decency. It notes that there is little support from the public to
dilute regulation.
Stephen Whittle, Director of the Commission said: The Government has recently
confirmed the unique role of the Commission, which continues to have a remit covering the
whole of broadcasting. It supports the need for an independent body to consider complaints
and values our research, particularly for the impact it has on the debate about content.
The Government has also asked the Commission to consider how co-ordination with others
involved in regulation can be improved. We welcome this and the process has already begun.
Education
During the year a report, part sponsored by the Commission, compared the viewing habits
of British children with their Continental counterparts. This concluded that British
children watch far more television and showed that ownership of televisions and VCRs by
children in this country was much higher than in other parts of Europe.
The Commission recognises that the increase in the number of channels, the greater
availability of TVs and videos to children, and the development of the Internet is
creating a new environment. This has led to increased concerns about children's viewing,
particularly as only 24% of children name a children's programme as their favourite. The
Commission argues that this is a reason to improve the ability to make informed and
critical choices rather than a reason to do away with the Watershed. The curriculum
reforms of the 1980s left little room for media education and this should be remedied.
Better media education will also have an impact on the use of the Internet, where it is
not possible to rely on conventional regulation such as the Watershed. "Likewise, the
report states, in a future digital age, television may well not be able to rely solely
upon the rules and conventions that have developed over the past 40 years but will have to
be augmented by technological solutions. Whilst mechanisms such as the V-chip are now less
likely to be seen as a solution, electronic programme guides, which will be essential for
digital TV, are possible candidates for ensuring the fullest possible information about
content. This again will rely upon people being able to make informed and critical
choices.
Sex
As well as receiving an increased number of complaints about the portrayal of sex on
television, the Commission's research records a growing number of people concerned about
the amount of sex on television. The Commission notes: "People are ready to admit
they enjoy watching sex on TV but that does not mean that they wish to see it on the hour,
every hour." The Commission's research and the increasing number of complaints about
this issue indicate the growing levels of concern being expressed by the consumer of
broadcasting. There is also concern about the content of programmes made for young people
and broadcast in the early evening.
The Watershed
Despite these concerns the Commission does not support moving the Watershed to 10pm. It
argues that the present policy is well known and commands widespread support.
Additionally, two-thirds of households in the UK contain no children and have no need to
defer adult programming any later than is now the case. It points out that parents
recognise that responsibility for children's viewing rests with them but that they place
great reliance on the Watershed, which is seen as a 'contract' with the broadcasters.
As long as the Watershed is respected by broadcasters, as indicated by our recent
monitoring research, and the move to more adult programming is gradual rather than abrupt
at 9pm, then there is no need to move it to 10pm, said Stephen Whittle.
Trust
The report argues that as broadcasting is such a powerful medium, it is important that
its power is exercised responsibly and a balance is struck between freedom of expression
and fair and responsible journalism. During the past year there has been increased debate
on whether viewers and listeners can trust the broadcasters: "...one of the keys
to that trust is that broadcasters act in good faith and are straightforward and fair in
dealing with contributors to programmes," the report states. Particular attention is
drawn to the type of cases which have caused concern:
- When revisiting a case some years after an offender was arrested, programme-makers
should not have suggested that criminal behaviour was continuing without either solid new
evidence or giving the person involved a chance to respond;
- When accompanying police raids, broadcasters should be vigilant in ensuring that
people who may eventually be found innocent cannot be identified;
- As channels expand the library material available to them, caution must be exercised
in using material shot for one purpose which is then inserted into an entirely new
programme.
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