CTVA Code Review

CTVA Code Review

Public comments on the proposed revised Commercial TV Australia (CTVA, formerly FACTS) Code of Practice are due by 19th September 2003 (see newspapers of August 9 for advertisements).

The CTVA Code of Practice is required to be reviewed every three years, and the last such review was completed in 1999. The Australian Broadcasting Authority (ABA) has oversight of the process, and has to give approval to the new Code, having satisfied itself that there has been adequate opportunity for the public to comment on it.

Young Media Australia recommends that its supporters get actively involved in this review. From YMA's preliminary assessment there are some big changes proposed. Some are likely to upset many parents.

• Chief among these changes is the proposal to reduce G time on every day on commercial TV.
• G time is presently 6 - 8.30am, and 4 - 7.30pm weekdays, and from 6am-7.30pm on weekends.
• The proposed G time will be 6 - 8.30am and 4 - 5pm weekdays, and only 6 - 8.30am on weekends.

The rationale advanced for this radical and unwelcome change is that "the current restrictive G time zones have not kept pace with the range of viewing options available in Australian homes ... parents monitor their children's viewing ... PG level material is by definition suitable for children to watch with parental supervision ... there is community acceptance of the PG timeband during the day during school holidays ..."

The Code is said to regulate content in accordance with community standards. Where's the evidence that the community wants a change like this? The proposed Code also fails to take adequate steps to address the rising community concern about food ads to children. It also adopts the new OFLC Guidelines for the Classification of films and computer games, and intends to apply these for the classification of G, PG, M and MA programs and films for TV. While YMA believes it is useful for the same guidelines to be used by both media, there are serious inconsistencies in the OFLC Guidelines (see small screen, No. 183 & No. 184), and these ought to be remedied before being implemented for TV. And there are many more issues!
YMA's advice is to check the CTVA website for the Explanatory document and the proposed Code, and get cracking!

For further information:
Commercial Television Australia (CTVA)
http://www.ctva.com.au/