Film and Video Labelling Body – censorship and charity

October 31, 2011 by Leave a Comment

The Film and Video Labelling body (“FVLB”), like the Society for Promotion of Community Standards Inc (“SPCS”), is constituted as an incorporated society under the Incorporated Societies Act 1908. Like the Society, which is a registered charity (registered with the Charities Commission on 17/12/2007 Reg. No. CC20268); it too is a registered charity (registered 28/01/2008 Reg. No. CC20715).

For many years the FVLB was headed by Mr William (Bill) Hood, with whom the SPCS had regular contact. He retired as FVLB committee member and executive secretary on 31/01/2011. Ms Sharon Rhodes has taken over his leadership role.

The gross income of the FVLB for “service provision” for the financial year ended 31/12/2010 was $1,504,338, according to financial records it registered with the Charities Commission (www.charities.govt.nz). From this income, $588,376 was absorbed in salaries and wages.

The FVLB employs five persons full time and two part-time  to achieve its “service provision” and the total hours worked by “all employees” per week is 262 hours (equivalent to 6.55 full time persons). Each full time equivalent employee receives on average an annual remuneration package of about $90,000 per annum.

The FVLB has been registered as a charity by the Commission on the basis that its purpose it to serve “some other public benefit” to society ( it does NOT qualify as a charity on the basis that it fulfils any one of more of the remaining three charitable purpose categories:  relief of poverty, advancement of education or adavancement of religion). (Note: The SPCS qualifies as a charity for its “advancement of public welfare” or “public well-being”, which are terms recognised in law). [Read more...]

Filed Under: Broadcasting Standards Authority, Censorship, Complaints to Broadcasters, Film Ratings, Films Tagged With: , , , , , , , , ,

Media Matters in NZ Inc. calls for BSA to be disbanded for penalizing complainant

August 16, 2011 by Leave a Comment

Media Matters in New Zealand Inc. – a registered charity with the Charities Commission – in its press release issued on Sunday, has called for the Broadcasting Standards Authority (BSA) to be disbanded. The charity was registered with the Commission on 30 June 2008 (Reg. No. CC4277)

see: http://www.viewers.org.nz/Press_Release_20110814.html

BSA fines complainant Donald MacDonald

Press Statement: Media Matters in NZ | Sunday, 14 August 2011

It appears from its decision in respect of a complaint from one of our members, Donald MacDonald, a retired scientist, about news accuracy, which has resulted in its effectively fining Mr MacDonald for having the temerity to complain, that the Broadcasting Standards Authority has relinquished any claim to credibility as a monitor of standards in NZ Broadcasting.

Instead of having on the broadcasters for their persistent breaches of acceptable standards, especially in respect of sex violence and bad language, all of which it continues to allow to be thrust daily into the faces of the young and vulnerable in our society, the BSA has decided to go after complainants instead.

The sum of $50 (see attached BSA decision 2011-020) may seem small but Mr MacDonald is an elderly beneficiary who cannot afford any sort of financial impediment.  Instead of penalizing him financially, they should be pinning a medal on his chest for the many times he has complained in a valiant if vain attempt to make the BSA live up to its responsibilities. [Read more...]

Filed Under: Broadcasting Standards Authority, Complaints to Broadcasters Tagged With: , , , ,

BSA Slams TVNZ’s Close Up Porn Promotion

March 23, 2011 by Leave a Comment

Media Release by Family First NZ, a registered charity with the NZ Charities Commission.

“The trend by the networks to sexualise news and current events is disturbing” – Family First NZ

Family First NZ is welcoming a ruling from the Broadcasting Standards Authority (BSA) demanding that TVNZ publicly acknowledge their breach of broadcasting standards for a programme in August 2010 which offended many families with its gratuitous display of the porn industry. TVNZ has also been ordered to pay a paltry $3,000 fine.

“As a result of a campaign by Family First supporters, TVNZ received an ‘unprecedented’ number of complaints regarding this programme. The Close Up story was based around the promotion of the porn industry – all under the guise of so-called ‘daily news and current events’. The trend by the television networks to sexualise news and current events and use sexual innuendo is disturbing,” says Bob McCoskrie, National Director of Family First NZ. [Read more...]

Filed Under: Broadcasting Standards Authority, Censorship, Children's Television, Complaints to Broadcasters, Pornography Tagged With: , , , , , ,

TV sleaze backlash gathers steam [as community groups express concerns]

September 18, 2010 by Leave a Comment

TV sleaze backlash gathers steam
By John Drinnan Sep 17, 2010

Source: http://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=10674013

Pressure is building on television networks to reduce the amount of sleaze in early prime time. The Broadcasting Standards Authority is expected to announce a decision next week that will set the new tone. There is particular concern about sexual content on early-evening TV.

BSA chief executive Dominic Sheehan said he was aware of concerns and had spoken to two community groups. He will be suggesting that the BSA board commission more research into the issue of how sexuality is presented, including the effect on early prime time – up to the 8.30pm cut-off for adult viewing. He had met the groups – one of which is Family First [a highly respected registered charity]- and they had raised convincing arguments that the BSA needed to develop its research.

There had been issues about the portrayal of sex in the news and in promotions. Sheehan stressed that the BSA acted only on complaints. It cannot act proactively or make subjective decisions. The authority has been created that way to ensure the industry is self-regulating. But self-regulation has gone out the door as the networks chase ratings.

Sheehan would not discuss an upcoming decision that will have an impact on how the BSA treats complaints about good taste and decency.

Television researcher Ruth Zanker has raised alarm bells about the growing levels of sexual content in early prime time, warning that children were being sacrificed on the altar of higher ratings for TV networks. But if the number of complaints are any judge, New Zealanders are happy with sleazy 7pm shows such as Family Guy.

The show regularly features a paedophile character and themes of incest and bestiality. AGB Nielsen surveys suggest an average 25,000 children aged 7 to 14 watch the show at 7pm each weeknight.

Sheehan said the context of shows – like the different approach of cartoons and of an edgy channel like C4 – was taken into account by the BSA.

TV2′s early prime time show Two and a Half Men regularly had a sexual theme. Another sign of the times in 2010 telly? A programme this week has included a promo for a show where a character is sexually attracted to pregnant women.

From the Archives: Concerns raised with BSA by SPCS re TV3 depiction of gratuitous violence. See: http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/CU0404/S00048.htm

Filed Under: Censorship, Children's Television, Complaints to Broadcasters, Moral Values, Television Violence Tagged With: , ,

Sex creeps into early prime time TV

September 7, 2010 by 1 Comment

NZ Herald Friday Sep 3, 2010

A respected children’s media expert is lamenting that kids have been sacrificed to sleaze under New Zealand’s TV standards system. Ruth Zanker is a lecturer at Christchurch Polytechnic and a researcher who has specialised in children and the media. She has noted a change. “There is a general sexualising that has gone on with tabloidisation of media – sex is the easy way of making a hit and it boosts ratings. Children are being sacrificed on the altar of ratings,” she says. Zanker has noted an increasing level of sexuality creeping into early prime time as the TV networks chase ratings. It is a difficult time and parents are either unwilling or unable to police their kids’ viewing. Zanker says New Zealand’s broadcasting laws have created the problem. The Broadcasting Standards Authority acts on complaints. But few complain and the BSA has steered at freedom of speech rather the protection of children, she says.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=10670696

[Article highlighted on website by Family First NZ - A well-respected charity registered with the Charities Commission. See www.familyfirst.org.nz and www.charities.govt.nz ]

Filed Under: Broadcasting Standards Authority, Censorship, Children's Television, Complaints to Broadcasters Tagged With: , , , , , , ,

BSA Report on Children’s Television Viewing: Cause for Alarm

May 8, 2008 by 2 Comments

Media Release: 8 May 2008

The Society is not surprised that over half the sample (56%) of more than 600 adult “primary caregivers” of children aged between six and 13, who were interviewed as part of a report into children’s television viewing habits; were unable to identify 8.30 p.m. as the time after which programmes that are NOT suitable for children are shown on television The report containing this statistic entitled Seen and Heard, dated 6 May 2008, was commissioned by the BSA – the Broadcasting Standards Authority.

In response, the Families Commission issued a media release, calling for the 8.30 p.m. “watershed time” – to be more widely publicised by broadcasters. But is this an adequate response if the Commission is truly concerned about certain so-called “adult-only” material – pornography, sexual violence, graphic violence, blasphemy and obscenity – being viewed, or potentially viewed, by tens of thousands of our country’s children and young persons every night of the year from 8.30 p.m. onwards? Society president John Mills says the Society says “it is a totally inadequate response” and notes “we have written to the Chief Commissioner, Dr Rajen Prasad, pointing this out and called for more effective solutions from him to the problem of children and young persons being exposed to unsuitable, morally corrosive and corrupting television content.”

[Read more...]

Filed Under: Broadcasting Standards Authority, Censorship & New Technology, Children's Television, Complaints to Broadcasters, Families Commission, Other, Television Violence

Outrage over BSA Ruling on "Bloody Mary"

June 30, 2006 by Leave a Comment

Press Release 30/06/06 

The Society submitted a comprehensive written complaint to the broadcaster over the screening of the highly offensive “Bloody Mary” episode of South Park. The broadcaster made no effort to interact with the details of the complaint other than send back to us a superficial stock reply sent to all complainants. There was at least some satisfaction that the broadcaster made a commitment not to re-screen the objectionable episode in the light of the record level of complaints it received. There was no acknowledgment of wrongdoing or any breaches of the Free-to-air Broadcasting Code.

[Read more...]

Filed Under: Complaints to Broadcasters, Moral Values

Society’s complaint to Broadcaster over "Bloody Mary"

March 30, 2006 by Leave a Comment

Society’s letter of complaint to CanWest Media Works over “South Park’s” episode “Bloody Mary”

Thursday, 30 March 2006

Society president Mike Petrus says: “It is a sad indictment of the Standards Committee of the TV Channel C4, that it has failed to concede that any aspect of the contents of the “South Park” episode “Bloody Mary” transgress the Broadcasting Standards free-to-air TV Code of good taste and decency that the community expects broadcasters to adhere to.

[Read more...]

Filed Under: Complaints to Broadcasters
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