116/07

Friday 24 August 2007

Reality Television Review

The Minister for Communications, Information Technology and the Arts, Senator Helen Coonan, today directed the Australian Communications and Media Authority’s (ACMA) to release its Reality Television Review.

“Last year, concerns were raised about material which was shown on Channel Ten’s Big Brother programme.

“Because of these concerns I directed ACMA to investigate whether the Commercial Television Industry Code of Practice (the Code) was providing appropriate community safeguards for reality television on free-to-air TV.”

Senator Coonan said although the Code and current regulatory arrangements were found to be broadly effective, a number of matters have been raised in the Report which require action.

“These recommendations ask industry to include in the Code provisions which will guard against the demeaning portrayal of contestants. The research confirmed that many people are concerned about the way in which vulnerable contestants can be exploited in a reality show context for entertainment purposes.”

ACMA also recommends that broadcasters accept emailed complaints from viewers and liaise more closely with ACMA in relation to the volume and types of complaints received. ACMA will also be monitoring closely MA classified reality programmes, and those shows that have attracted particular attention, for potential Code breaches.

Further, ACMA is proposing to seek voluntary undertakings from broadcasters planning to broadcast a reality television program classified MA. This would enable a streamlined investigations process to occur quickly should community concern arise.

Senator Coonan said the ACMA recommendations represent an important step forward in ensuring that the Code deals with the challenges presented by the reality television genre.

“Fortunately the Code is currently under review, so I have written to the Chair of ACMA, Chris Chapman and the CEO of Free TV Australia, Julie Flynn to request that ACMA’s recommendations in relation to reality TV are considered,” Senator Coonan said.

Reality Television Review

ACMA Recommendations

Recommendation 1 : That a clause be included in the Code that prohibits the broadcast of material presenting participants in reality television programs in a highly demeaning or exploitative manner. This provision should be supported by an advisory note to the Code that provides guidance to program producers on the interpretation of this provision.

Recommendation 2 :That the complaints handling procedures in the Code be enhanced to expedite the process for handling complaints, and increase viewers’ awareness of the process as follows:

• licensees accept electronic complaints via their website, and take steps to promote this process;
• a licensee is to report to ACMA within three days of observing any significant spikes in viewer complaints about a Code matter regarding a particular reality television program, to alert ACMA, as the regulator, to emerging issues of concern; and
• Free TV Australia Limited (Free TV) to provide ACMA with a monthly report on Code complaints, containing sufficient detail to enable ACMA to analyse complaints trends on an ongoing and timely basis.

Recommendation 3 : That the Television Classification Guidelines for MA-classified material set out in Appendix 4 of the Code be amended to clarify the limit of material permitted at the MA classification level, by:

• including specific advice in relation to ‘sexual references’ at the MA level; and
• including ‘cumulative intensity’ as an element to be considered in classifying material at the MA level.

In addition to these recommendations, ACMA proposes to undertake the following actions, which include:

• undertake analysis of the additional complaints data supplied by Free TV in accordance with Recommendation 2, monitor complaints trends for both reality television and other forms of programming and publish information on these trends periodically.

if a commercial television licensee plans to broadcast an MA-classified reality television program, seek voluntary undertakings (similar to those given to ACMA by Network Ten for the 2006 series of Big Brother Adults Only) in relation to that program. ACMA would monitor the broadcast of such a program, including the adoption as part of the undertakings of a streamlined investigations process to enable timely consideration of any issues arising from the program.