The Classification website shows how the Review Board downgraded the impact of the movie to determine the MA 15+ rating. A comparison of the two ratings:
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A bit strange how every theme has gone down a level.
I donât know how Seven are still getting away with their warnings, itâd be a breach for sure, obviously nobody has complained and staff at the network havenât noticed (which I find hard to believe). The consumer advice (white text with no opaque background) regularly gets blended into the program vision and makes it completely illegible
The bold term is a condition mandated in the ACMA Code.
Saw yet another example just before on 7flix at midday for 911. It was âprominentâ but not legible. Saw the âMâ clearly but then only saw âSome âŚâ and there was a second line too, both vanishing into the white background (think it was meant to be âSome Coarse Language, Adult Themesâ going off the TV guide classification descriptor).
By comparison, Nine, 10 and SBS all have an opaque text box, so this canât happen. And ABC of course still does full screen and V/O warnings.
In an oddity, 7mate have different versions of the same title playing-out tonight in various markets at various times:
Sydney, Melbourne and Adelaide get an edited PG Time Machine at 6:30pm, but unedited MA15 Kingsman at 8:30.
While Perth gets an edited M Kingsman at 7:30, but an unedited M Time Machine late.
And Brisbane gets the unedited Kingsman and no Time Machine.
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Wonder why Perth has the two movies switched?
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Itâll be because Kingsman is the more popular / well known one that will rate (evidenced by last nightâs ratings with a handy AFL lead-in in Perth too).
So if Syd/Mel/Ade showed something from 18:30-19:30, they would have been able to follow Perthâs lead and also have an earlier uniform schedule.
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Noticed Seven edited Ford v Ferrari tonight on 7mate, but the scene I saw they actually did a really good job, would go unnoticed to a non-fan of the movie.
About half an hour in (or a bit more on TV) at the new Ford Mustang launch [1:13 in the below video] they remove the word âfuckingâ.
But as âthatâs a fucking terrible carâ was crucial to the dialogueâs context and scene narrative, they took out the F word and placed that last Christian Bale sentence a second or two earlier, while splicing âthatâs aâ and âterrible carâ audio together, as the camera wasnât on his face, so when it came back to his face the mouthing of âfuckingâ had been cut and went straight to his face visually and audibly saying just âterrible carâ.
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What time was this broadcast? Removing the word âfuckingâ seems OTT if it was mid-evening.
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7pm, so unfortunately had to be trimmed down to PG. For whatever reason they didnât want to wait half an hour, Iâm guessing either the start time was ideal (promos and audience after Seven News wanting alternatives to the realities) or so the later movie (âTransporterâ which is actually usually a rater) wasnât blown out to almost 11pm start.
And they couldnât leave the post-7:30pm bits in tact, as Nine tried that multiple times a couple of years back and got into trouble with the ACMA.
And I agree, itâs ridiculous.
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Normally one âfuckâ through the course of the program is within PG tolerance, a surprise they did that.
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SBS documentary exceeds PG classification
An SBS documentary about the final year of World War II in Europe has been found to have breached the SBS Code of Practice after an Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) investigation found it exceeded its program classification.
The program Hitlerâs Last Year was classified by the broadcaster as PG and was broadcast on SBS at 5.30pm on 20 March 2021.
ACMA chair Nerida OâLoughlin said that SBS classified the program as PG, enabling it to be broadcast at any time of the day. However, in accordance with the SBS Code of Practice, depictions of violence in PG programs should be mild in impact and not shown in detail.
âThe classification system is an important guide for the public so they can make informed decisions about whether a program is suitable viewing for them,â Ms OâLoughlin said.
âWhile the documentary by virtue of its topic is distressing and has educational merit for children and adults alike, the depictions of violence and treatment of themes in the documentary that went to air went beyond what can be accommodated under the PG classification category.â
The ACMA found that the broadcast exceeded the PG requirements for depictions of violence to be mild in impact and not be shown in detail. The ACMA also found that the frequency, level of detail of the discussion and visual illustration of distressing themes had a cumulative impact that was not mild and may have been disturbing to some children.
As a result of the investigation, SBS will include the findings in staff training and explore ways of facilitating its audiences making better informed decisions around historical documentaries.
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SBS are airing another potential red flag tonight the 2001 Ridley Scott psychological thriller sequel Hannibal starring Anthony Hopkins and Julianne Moore (who famously replaced Jodie Foster).
It, as I believe discussed previously, received an ACMA investigation some years back, although the network (Seven) were cleared.
Itâs aired just about on every network too. Seven had edited it anyway prior to the complaint, as did Nine (who were the next network to get it - no doubt cautious after that investigation) and in the late 2000s Ten first aired it (they wouldâve definitely edited it for the below reason):
The CB originally classified it MA, then R18+ upon appeal for theatrical release, then back down to MA for Blu-Ray re-release in 2007. Clearly Seven (and Nine?) were careful and even though couldâve got away with MA unedited, still decided to edit at MA - as they told the ACMA they followed the CB review board reportâs scenes noted as being R level.
Anyway, after this recent investigation (and breach), wonder if SBS have edited Hannibal tonight at all, or even did so previously anyway?
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SBS World Movies is currently showing an M rated film even though itâs not 12pm yet?? Are they breaching the Codes of Practice??
SBS and ABC have different classification parameters to the commercial networks IIRC
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Thereâs a show on today on SBS at 11am rated M. That wouldnât be allowed on the commercial channels.
The classification time restrictions really are a relic of the past. Get rid of all of them.
Itâs complicated with different codes of practice for the commercials and ABC/SBS. I reckon they should just get rid the times when only certain ratings can be shown.
This is how ABC described it TV classification system in the annual report
Television Program Classification
Status of Associated Standard
This Associated Standard is approved by the ABC Board and is binding. It is for consideration by relevant editorial decision-makers when providing advice on compliance and by complaints bodies when dealing with complaints. The Associated Standard is provided to assist interpretation of or otherwise supplement the standard in the Editorial Policies to which the Associated Standard relates.
Standards:
7.3.1 Television Classifications
G â GENERAL
G programs may be shown at any time. G programs, which include programs designed for pre-school and school-aged children, are suitable for children to watch on their own.
Some G programs may be more appropriate for older children.
The G classification does not necessarily indicate that the program is one that children will enjoy. Some G programs contain themes or storylines that are not of interest to children.
Whether or not the program is intended for children, the treatment of themes and other classifiable elements will be careful and discreet.
Themes: The treatment of themes should be discreet, justified by context, and very mild in impact.
The presentation of dangerous, imitable behaviour is not permitted except in those circumstances where it is justified by context. Any depiction of such behaviour must not encourage dangerous imitation.
Violence: Violence may be very discreetly implied, but should:
⢠have a light tone, or
⢠have a very low sense of threat or menace, and
⢠be infrequent, and
⢠not be gratuitous.
Sex: Sexual activity should:
⢠only be suggested in very discreet visual or verbal references, and
⢠be infrequent, and
⢠not be gratuitous.
Artistic or cultural depictions of nudity in a sexual context may be permitted if the treatment is discreet, justified by context, and very mild in impact.
Language: Coarse language should:
⢠be very mild and infrequent, and
⢠not be gratuitous.
Drug Use: The depiction of the use of legal drugs should be handled with care. Illegal drug use should be implied only very discreetly and be justified by context.
Nudity: Nudity outside of a sexual context should be:
⢠infrequent, and
⢠not detailed, and
⢠not gratuitous.
PG â PARENTAL GUIDANCE
(Parental Guidance recommended for people under 15 years)
Subject to the Implementation Guidelines at 7.3.2, PG programs may be shown in accordance with Time Zone Charts at 7.3.5.
PG programs may contain themes and concepts which, when viewed by those under 15 years, may require the guidance of an adult. The PG classification signals to parents that material in this category contains depictions or references which could be confusing or upsetting to children without adult guidance. Material classified PG will not be harmful or disturbing to children.
Parents may choose to preview the material for their children. Some may choose to watch the material with their children. Others might find it sufficient to be accessible during or after the viewing to discuss the content.
Themes: The treatment of themes should be discreet and mild in impact. More disturbing themes are not generally dealt with at PG level. Supernatural or mild horror themes may be included.
Violence: Violence may be discreetly implied or stylised and should also be:
⢠mild in impact, and
⢠not shown in detail.
Sex: Sexual activity and nudity in a sexual context may be suggested, but should:
⢠be discreet, and
⢠be infrequent, and
⢠not be gratuitous.
Verbal references to sexual activity should be discreet.
Language: Coarse language should be mild and infrequent.
Drug Use: Discreet verbal references and mild, incidental visuals of drug use may be included, but these should not promote or encourage drug use.
Nudity: Nudity outside of a sexual context should not be detailed or gratuitous.
M â MATURE
(Recommended for people aged 15 years and over)
Subject to the Implementation Guidelines at 7.3.2, M programs may be shown in accordance with the Time Zone Charts at 7.3.5.
The M category is recommended for people aged over 15 years. Programs classified M contain material that is considered to be potentially harmful or disturbing to those under 15 years.
Depictions and references to classifiable elements may contain detail.
While most themes may be dealt with, the degree of explicitness and intensity of treatment will determine what can be accommodated in the M category â the less explicit or less intense material will be included in the M classification and the more explicit or more intense material, especially violent material, will be included in the MA15+ classification.
Themes: Most themes can be dealt with, but the treatment should be discreet and the impact should not be strong.
Violence: Generally, depictions of violence should:
⢠not contain a lot of detail, and
⢠not be prolonged.
In realistic treatments, depictions of violence that contain detail should:
⢠be infrequent, and
⢠not have a strong impact, and
⢠not be gratuitous
In stylised treatments, depictions of violence may contain more detail and be more frequent if this does not increase the impact.
Verbal and visual references to sexual violence may only be included if they are:
⢠discreet and infrequent, and
⢠strongly justified by the narrative or documentary context.
Sex: Sexual activity may be discreetly implied.
Nudity in a sexual context should not contain a lot of detail or be prolonged.
Verbal references to sexual activity may be more detailed than depictions if this does not increase the impact.
Language: Coarse language may be used.
Generally, coarse language that is stronger, detailed or very aggressive should:
⢠be infrequent, and
⢠not be gratuitous.
Drug Use: Drug use may be discreetly shown.
Drug use should not be promoted or encouraged.
Nudity: Nudity outside of a sexual context may be shown but depictions that contain any detail should not be gratuitous.
MA15+ â MATURE AUDIENCE
(Not suitable for people under 15 years)
Subject to the Implementation Guidelines at 7.3.2, MA15+ programs may be shown in accordance with the Time Zone Charts at 7.3.5.
MA15+ programs, because of the matter they contain or because of the way it is treated, are not suitable for people aged under 15 years.
Material classified MA15+ deals with issues or contains depictions which require a more mature perspective. This is because the impact of individual elements or a combination of elements is considered likely to be harmful or disturbing to viewers under 15 years of age. While most themes may be dealt with, the degree of explicitness and intensity of treatment will determine what can be accommodated in the MA15+ category â the more explicit or more intense material, especially violent material, will be included in the MA15+ classification and the less explicit or less intense material will be included in the M classification.
Themes: The treatment of themes with a high degree of intensity should not be gratuitous.
Violence: Generally, depictions of violence should not have a high impact.
In realistic treatments, detailed depictions of violence with a strong impact should:
⢠be infrequent, and
⢠not be prolonged, and
⢠not be gratuitous.
Depictions of violence in stylised treatments may be more detailed and more frequent if this does not increase the impact.
Depictions of sexual violence are permitted only if they are not frequent, prolonged, gratuitous or exploitative.
Sex: Sexual activity may be implied.
Depictions of nudity in a sexual context which contain detail should not be exploitative.
Verbal references may be more detailed than depictions if this does not increase the impact.
Language: Coarse language may be used.
Coarse language that is very strong, aggressive or detailed should not be gratuitous.
Drug Use: Drug use may be shown but should not be promoted or encouraged.
More detailed depictions should not have a high degree of impact.
Nudity: Nudity should be justified by context.
7.3.2 Implementation Guidelines
The time zones for each program classification are guides to the most likely placement of programs within that classification. They are not hard and fast rules and there will be occasions on which programs or segments of programs appear in other time zones.
There must be sound reasons for any departure from the time zone for a program classification. Possible reasons might include, for example, the need to schedule programs which are serious presentations of moral, social or cultural issues, in timeslots most suitable for their target audiences.
Programs, including those having a particular classification under the Classification Boardâs Guidelines for the Classification of Films and Computer Games, may be modified so that they are suitable for broadcast or suitable for broadcast at particular times.
Broken Hill in New South Wales shares a time zone with South Australia but ordinarily receives the ABCâs New South Wales TV services. Given the time zone difference, some programs are broadcast outside their classification time zone.
7.3.3 Television Classification Symbols
The classification symbol of the PG, M or MA15+ program (except for news, current affairs or sporting events) being shown will be displayed at the beginning of the program.
The classification symbol of the PG, M or MA15+ program (except for news, current affairs or sporting events) being promoted will be displayed during the promotion.
7.3.4 Consumer Advice
Audio and visual consumer advice on the reasons for an M or MA15+ classification will be given prior to the beginning of an M or MA15+ program.
7.3.5 Classification of Live Content
Many live programs fall into the classification exemption categories (news, current affairs and sporting events). Some, such as live music or comedy programs, do not fall into the exemption categories and pose a particular challenge to classify accurately. The ABC makes reasonable efforts to classify these programs accurately by reviewing scripts, lyrics, outlines, and any pre-recorded material, and briefing program makers and talent as required.
A failure to provide an accurate classification symbol or consumer advice prior to a live (or as-live) program will not be regarded as a breach of standards as long as reasonable efforts were made to classify it and appropriate steps are taken to mitigate any harm or offence.
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Interestingly, last weekâs unedited ep, which is used as the âencoreâ late at night later in the week, was still only M (previous weekâs was MA), suggesting that it was the same as the first run and didnt exceed that level to require editing. Appears to be an intentionally less âfull onâ series comapred to Ramsays, even thought it shares the same title and premise.