Channel: ACNC1

Date & time: Monday 24 April: 1:30pm

Category: Taste & Decency

Complaint from: 12 viewers

Background
In this one-off play, a young lawyer takes an evening job in a BDSM club.

Issue
While none of the lawyer's evening antics were seen, viewers were concerned about one act in which he wore only a leather posing-pouch and a series of straps and buckles. This outfit was also worn (under lawyerish garb) during several other scenes. A further complaint was made over use of the words "bastard", "bugger" and "screw". And two viewers were distressed at the site of a rather unconventional wig. The mid-afternoon slot was also thought to be a questionable scheduling.

Assessment
It was found that while the programme contained paraphernalia pertaining to certain sexual practices, they were not, in and of themselves, sexual. The language and the subject matter was deemed acceptable for a daytime showing, at a time when most children were at school, not least because the treatment was comedic and descriptions of acts were largely innuendo.

Conclusion
The programme was not in breach of the Programme Code.

Channel: ACNC TV

Date & time: Sunday 23 April: 3:30pm

Category: Taste & Decency

Complaint from: 127 viewers

Background
ArtView is a regular arts slot on ACNC, broadcast over two channels for interactive purposes. This episode was a profile of the controversial modern-artists The Chapman Brothers. ArtView has been the subject of previous rulings through its depictions of taboo language. In such cases it was deemed not in breach.

Issue
The Chapman Brothers' work is noted for its graphic nature. Many examples were shown on both the ACNC1 and ACNC2 feeds of this episode. Several of the works combine sexual imagery and items associated with children. One particular piece, which showed a child with a penis for a nose, was deemed particularly offensive by viewers.

Assessment
The episode contained several images that may be considered questionable before the watershed, although most of these were made of fibreglass. The programme was preceded by a warning, but should probably have carried more warnings within the show itself. That said, ACNC is noted for its artistic content, and its uncompromising approach to censorship. ACNC TV hold that the programme was part of a regular arts feature on a predominantly arty channel, and that they considered it unlikely that many children would be watching given that parents would be at home and that kids find art dull. Given ACNC's established position on arts programming, its history with censorship, and its uniform scheduling policy, we understand their position but feel that, in this instance, they were asking for trouble and should've tried a bit harder.

Conclusion
ACNC TV have breached section 1.2 of the Programme Code by showing graphic art of a sexually explicit nature at a time when large numbers of children could be watching. Subsequent ArtView episodes should be rescheduled if containing sensitive images such as these. An apology will be broadcast ahead of the next episode.

Channel: ACNC1

Date & time: Tuesday 25 April: 4:30pm

Category: Terrorism, Crime, Anti-Social Behaviour, etc / Children and Imitative Behaviour

Complaint from: 1 viewer

Background
Beat the Teacher is a children's game-show presented by former gangster Mad Frankie Fraser. In the programme, children score "Hit Points" against their teachers and must "Beat them to Pieces". Score is kept using a graphical representation of an increasingly broken teacher. Teachers can gain points through metaphorical canings and slippers.

Issue
The scoring system and its operation was criticised as bloodthirsty and brutal, not least for the way it is enthused over by the host. The viewer was concerned that the programme would lead to increased violence in school-children. Concern was also expressed regarding the host's allusions to violent practices.

Assessment
The scoring system is not far removed from those found in certain computer games and was considered to be unproblematic. The graphical representations of physical violence are similarly commonplace in the computer-game medium, and in this case were considerably less graphic to the point of cartoonishness, adding a comedic element to the violence. In this respect it is barely different to, say, Tom & Jerry. That said, we recognise the concerns that such imagery could lead to imitative behaviour.

Conclusion
While not exactly in breach of the Programme Code, ACNC have agreed to tone down the violent imagery of the show. The host should also enthuse a lot less about violent practice, although the commission found many of his comments amusing rather than shocking.

Channel: ACNC2

Date & time: -

Category: Filming and recording of members of the public

Complaint from: 1 viewer

Background
During the early hours of the morning, ACNC2 fills time in its schedule by broadcasting the studios' live closed-circuit security feed. The areas covered fall into the "semi-private" category.

Issue
The viewer was concerned that people caught on the camera were not consenting to being filmed.

Assessment
While the presence of cameras is well sign-posted, and while broadcasting details are clearly stated on those signs, it is not usual for CCTV footage to be shown live to an audience of millions. That said, in lieu of any specific complaint we are unable to make any specific response. So far all individuals depicted have been unidentifiable due to distance and image quality.

Conclusion
The programme is so far not in breach of the Programme Code. But it should be careful.

Channel: ACNC TV

Date & time: Saturday 22 April: 8:30am

Category: Taste & Decency

Complaint from: 17 viewers

Background
Electric Almond is a teen magazine presented by Roy Chubby Brown.

Issue
Complaints were received regarding several uses of the word "fuck" by the presenter.

Assessment
While not being a programme specially designed for children, it does precede the watershed by some way. The use of the word was evidently accidental, but persistent.

Conclusion
The programme is in breach. The presenter should better control his use of language. That or be replaced. Mark E. Smith seems to cope OK on Scream Inn. Further breaches of this nature will be fined.

Channel: ACNC 1

Date & time: Sunday 23 April: 9:00pm

Category: The Occult and 'Psychic' Practices

Complaint from: 1,624 viewers

Background
Mulled Mysteries investigates strange events in an attempt to gain a scientific understanding of the paranormal.

Issue
The episode in question showed a séance being performed at approximately 9:10pm. The context of this was to investigate the practice scientifically. Recording instruments were used on all involved, and various cameras were secreted throughout the room.

Assessment
Actual demonstrations of séances are only acceptable in the context of a legitimate investigation. Which this was.

Conclusion
The programme was not in breach.