Classifications - free-to-air

Free-to-air TV includes the ABC, SBS, all commercial TV stations and community TV:

ABC

Who classifies the ABC’s programs?

The ABC classifies its own programs in-house, using the federal guidelines for classification.

What classification symbols does the ABC use?

The ABC uses the Guidelines for the Classification of Films and Videotapes.

SBS

Who classifies SBS programs?

The SBS classifies its own programs in-house, and its system of classification is based on the Guidelines for the Classification of Films and Videotapes.

What classification symbols does the SBS use?

The range of classifications used by SBS only includes G to MA, with the addition of an MAV classification to signify material that is unsuitable for the MA classification because of the intensity or frequency of the violence.

Commercial networks

Who classifies commercial station programs?

Each network classifies programs and movies on behalf of its member stations, using the classification criteria in the Commercial TV Industry Code of Practice.

The special quota programs for children C, and Preschool children P, are classified by the Australian Broadcasting Authority under their Children’s Television Standards.

Who classifies commercial network advertisements?

National advertising is vetted by the Free TV Australia (formerly CTVA, formerly FACTS) Commercials Advice Pty Ltd and assigned an internal "classification" which determines the time zone in which the advertisements may be shown.

Who classifies program promotions (trailers)?

Each TV station assigns an internal "classification" to the promotions or trailers for upcoming programs or movies. The criteria for these can be found in the Commercial TV Industry Code of Practice Section 3.

In general, these promotions should comply with the classification criteria of the time zones in which they appear.

In news and current affairs programs some exceptions are made.

No program classified higher than PG is to be promoted in programs mainly directed to children.

What are the classifications for programs?

• Children (C) (only available on commercial TV)
• Pre-school Children (P) (only available on commercial TV)
• General (G)
• Parental Guidance Recommended (PG)
• Mature (M)
• Mature Adult (MA)
• Adult Violent (AV)

These classifications apply in two ways:

• if a program has a particular classification, certain requirements must be met by that program
• if a time zone has a particular classification, there are restrictions on the programs and advertisements that may be screened in that time zone.

What are the requirements for each classification ?

Pre-school Children (P) and Children (C)

(These classifications are only available on commercial stations, and are assigned by the Australian Broadcasting Authority)

Requirements

Must satisfy the requirements of the Children’s Television Standards (CTS).

Time zones

• movable within bands laid down in the Children’s Television Standards
• overlap other classification zones, and have precedence over them.

General (G)

Requirements

Is not necessarily intended for children, but it must be very mild in impact and must not contain any matter likely to be unsuitable for children to watch without the supervision of a parent.

Time zones

In G zones only material classified G, C and P may be broadcast. G time zones are:

• Weekdays 6.00am – 8.30am and 4.00pm – 7.00pm
• Weekends 6.00am – 10.00am

Parental Guidance Recommended (PG)

Requirements

May contain careful presentations of adult themes or concepts but be mild in impact and must remain suitable for children to watch with supervision.

Time zones

In PG zones, only material classified PG, G, C and P may be broadcast. PG time zones are:

• Weekdays (during school term) 5.00am – 6.00am, 8.30am – 12.00 noon, 3.00pm – 4.00pm and 7.00pm – 8.30pm
• Weekdays (school holidays) 5.00am – 6.00am, 8.30am – 4.00pm and 7.00pm – 8.30pm
• Weekends 5.00am – 6.00am and 10.00am – 8.30pm

Mature (M)

Requirements

Recommended for viewing only by persons aged 15 years or over because of the matter it contains, or the way the matter is treated.

Time zones

In M zones, any material qualified for a television classification may be broadcast, except that MA and AV classified material is restricted to the times set out below:

The M time zones are :

• Weekdays (during school term): 8.30pm – 5.00am and 12.00 noon – 3.00pm (see clause 2.10.3 in the Commercial TV Industry Code of Practice)
• Weekdays (school holidays) & Weekends: 8.30pm – 5.00am

School holidays means Government primary school holidays in the State or Territory in which the service originates.

Mature Adult (MA)

Requirements

Suitable for viewing only by persons 15 years or over because of the intensity and/ or frequency of sexual depictions, or coarse language, adult themes or drug use.

Time zones

Any material which qualifies for a television classification of MA may be broadcast any days: 9:00pm–5:00am.

Adult Violence (AV)

Requirements

Suitable for viewing only by persons aged 15 years or over. It is unsuitable for MA classification because of the intensity and/or frequency of violence, or because violence is central to the theme.

Time Zones

All days between 9.30pm and 5.00 am.

Community TV

Who classifies community TV programs?

Community TV stations classify their own programs using the classification criteria in the Commercial TV Industry Code of Practice.

What classification symbols do community TV stations use

Community TV stations use the set of classification symbols used in the Commercial TV Industry Code of Practice (i.e. G to MA).