Bye Bye Mumbo-Jumbo BSA
The Broadcasting Standards Authority (BSA) – you know, the organisation tasked to protect broadcasting “standards”, but which has allowed them to slip to the point where we don’t actually even think that broadcasters let alone the BSA have any standards at all – yeah, them – they’re hopefully about to be scrapped. All because of some mumbo jumbo. Literally. They were more concerned about the phrase “mumbo jumbo” than they were about the blatantly obvious increase in the level of sexual and offensive material on free-to-air television. A spectacular own goal. And the potential demise of the BSA comes not a moment too soon. We take a look back at some of their decisions.
Show Script:
Bye Bye Mumbo-Jumbo BSA
The Broadcasting Standards Authority – you know, the organisation tasked to protect broadcasting “standards” which has allowed them to slip to the point where we don’t actually even think that broadcasters let alone the BSA have any standards at all – yeah, them, they’re hopefully about to be scrapped.
All because of some mumbo jumbo. Literally.
They were more concerned about the phrase “mumbo jumbo” than they were about the blatantly obvious increase in the level of sexual and offensive material on free-to-air television.
A spectacular own goal.
And the potential demise of the BSA comes not a moment too soon.
As far back as 2006, The Broadcasting Standards Authority (BSA), in releasing its decision on the South Park “Bl***y Mary” episode, proved that it was unable to represent the community as a whole, and is more interested in the rights of a few to offend. The controversial episode of the animated television show South Park featured a menstruating Virgin Mary spraying menstrual blood on one of the programme’s characters as well as a cardinal and the Pope, and was rightly labeled “tasteless, crass and ugly”, according to the New Zealand’s Catholic bishops.
The BSA said the cartoon was of such a farcical, absurd and unrealistic nature that it did not breach standards of good taste and decency in the context in which it was offered. The BSA said to uphold the complaints would be an unreasonable limitation on the broadcaster’s right to free speech which included the right to satirise religious issues.
Well, specifically Christian. I’ll come back to that one.
In 2008 despite twelve companies withdrawing their advertising, an increasing concern about the level of sexual and offensive material on free-to-air television, and an acknowledgement by the Broadcasting Standards Authority itself that the programme contained ‘challenging content’ and ‘challenging language’, they failed to uphold complaints made against the highly offensive TV3 series of Californication.
The first 2 episodes alone featured explicit sex scenes including an explicit sex act with a nun, drug use, explicit sexual talk and innuendo, and the use of the ‘f’ word almost every minute (on average). Yet the BSA tried to excuse this objectionable content with lame and bizarre excuses such as the ‘sexual encounters were often more bizarre than satisfying’, ‘the scenes were matter-of-fact rather than titillating’, ‘the programme was preceded by a verbal and written warning’, the title of the programme indicated ‘challenging content’, and the ‘oral sex was implied’.”
In fact, in the same year, a Family First investigation of 15 programmes on four free-to-air channels between 6pm and 8.30pm in 2008 found a saturation of foul language and sexual innuendo.
Words featured during supposed ‘family viewing’ times included – well, I’d prefer to maintain standards on McBlog – but you can see the words in the image. Don’t spend too much time looking at them. You get the gist.
Among the worst offenders was Two And A Half Men which screens on TV2 at 7.30pm. Another programme of huge concern was Just Shoot Me which screens on TV2 at 6pm every weekday night and had constant sexual themes and innuendo throughout.
Also of huge concern was the number of programmes which are rated for Adult viewing only screening well after the watershed time of 8.30, yet were promoted between 6pm and 8.30pm. Examples included promos during TV1’s 6pm News for Virgin School screened at 9.30pm and Mistresses screened at 8.30pm, a promo on TV3 before 8.30 for Outrageous Fortune at 9.30pm including scenes of a strip show, and a promo for Playboy Mansion on C4 at 7pm.
Another area of huge concern for parents is the number of programmes which are rated for Adult viewing only screening well after the watershed time of 8.30, yet were promoted between 6pm and 8.30pm.
In 2010, TV3’s Nightline featured naked men in training for the annual nude rugby game in Dunedin. Images were full-frontal nudity, and there was no attempt to pixellate them. All okay says the BSA.
Also in 2010, a radio presenter read out the list of the 30 most offensive words as determined by the BSA. When a listener quite rightly complained, the BSA said that because the employer RadioWorks had apologised to the listener offended, that was sufficient. The Authority even noted that there was a clear intention to offend.
The clear message to broadcasters is ‘go for your life – be offensive – but just say sorry’
Which they did.
The 2010 promo for the documentary Penis Envy featured brief clips showing the subject matter of the upcoming program, which explored the male obsession with penis size, and was promoted at 8.10pm. When children would still be watching. The Broadcasting Standards Authority (BSA) did not uphold the complaint.
In 2011, a Prime TV programme on the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra included references to nudity, sexual activity and bodily functions where the complainants requested name suppression but were refused by the BSA. The BSA said “While we acknowledge that some of [Jeremy] Wells’ comments were clearly designed to shock and may have been unexpected for viewers unfamiliar with his style, in our view, overall, he was duly respectful towards the programme and towards the NZSO.” The programme screened at 8.35 pm (outside children’s viewing times – apparently)
The BSA also deliberately named the complainant – despite a request for anonymity. Of course the intention of the BSA was clear. By naming the complainants, families will be less inclined to speak up if they know they will have their name splashed across the media, and especially where they are complaining about what they consider a moral issue which they feel strongly about. The issue is not who complained, but whether the complaint was warranted. This is no different to Crimestoppers, CYF, the Department of Labour, and the IRD – all which allow for anonymous complaints.
In a story which got international attention, this coverage is from Nine News in Australia and it was also covered in The Australian newspaper, it’s OK to show close-up shots of vaginas undergoing surgery on television at 8.30pm, according to the BSA. An episode of Embarrassing Bodies, which showed nude shots of women and surgical operations, prompted a complaint from one viewer, who said it was “too much” for that time of the evening. The BSA acknowledged that some viewers would have found parts of the show unpleasant to watch. You think?
