MEDIA RELEASE: Sweeping cuts proposed to G time on TV

Barbara Biggins, Hon. Executive Officer of the Australian Council for Children and the Media, trading as Young Media Australia (YMA), today reacted angrily to sweeping changes proposed by commercial television stations in their review of the CTVA (Commercial Television Australia, formerly FACTS) Code of Practice announced this week. One of the most drastic changes proposed is for G programming time over a week, to be effectively halved. G time will finish at 5 o'clock every week day afternoon, not 7:30pm as it does currently.

Weekend cuts are even more severe, with G programming time being reduced from 6am to 7:30pm to two and a half hours only, from 6am to 8:30am.

Ms Biggins said "the Code is supposed to be regulating content on TV in accordance with community standards. Whereís the evidence that the community wants a change like this, that will expose children to more adult-type content, ads and trailers?"

YMA Vice-President Elizabeth Handsley said that: "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, guidelines which are still being evaluated and which YMA believes are inadequate."

YMA President Jane Roberts stated that "The proposed changes will seriously erode hard fought for protections for children and must not be allowed to proceed. YMA calls on childrenís professionals and concerned parents to act in the best interests of Australian children and lodge strong protests to the review."

The CTVA Code of Practice is a voluntary code, under which commercial television stations undertake to monitor their own standards in relation to broadcasting issues. The Code is required to be reviewed every three years, and the last such review was completed in 1999. Submissions to the current review are due by 19 September. Details about how to submit to the review can be found on the CTVA website (www.ctva.com.au), the YMA website (www.youngmedia.org.au) or by phoning the YMA Helpline on 1800 700 357.

YMA is committed to promoting better choices and providing stronger voices in children's media. It is Australiaís only national advocacy organisation representing the interests of children and young people in relation to print, electronic and screen-based media, and provides a valuable resource for legislators, regulators and the media. The Young Media Australia Helpline (1800 700 357) is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week for parents and caregivers who wish to discuss any aspect of the impact of the media on children.

For more information or to arrange an interview, please call
Barbara Biggins (SA) on 08 8234 9396, or
Jane Roberts (WA) on 0410 509 685, or
Elizabeth Handsley (SA) on 08 8201 5256.

E-mail: info@youngmedia.org.au
Hon. Executive Officer: Barbara Biggins OAM
Web: www.youngmedia.org.au Patron: Steve Biddulph