ITC PROGRAMME CODE-OFCOM

Ofcom creat specific rules and regulations on TV that suit and satisfy the audiences and their morales, ages etc. In brief form, their rules are:

1. Section One: Family Viewing Policy, Offence to Good Taste and Decency, Portrayal of Violence and Respect for Human Dignity

1.1 General Requirment

Section 6 (1) Requires that the ITC does all it can to
secure that every licensed service includes nothing in its programmes which offends
against good taste or decency or is likely to encourage or incite to crime or lead to
disorder or be offensive to public feeling.

Section 7 (1)(a) Requires the ITC create a code as guidance to the suitability of the showing of violence, particularly when children and young people may be expected to be wacthing their prorammes. to ensure freedom from complaints they provide guidance and warnings to ensure the audience are aware of the potential unneccessary material boradcasted in their programmes

1.2 Family Viewing Policy and the Watershed


Material unsuitable for children must not be transmitted at times when large numbers
of children may be expected to be watching.
However the ITC accepts that, even though some children are always likely to be
present in the audience, the likelihood varies according to the time, subject matter and
channel. The ITC's Family Viewing Policy usually reccomends 9pm is the fixed time up to which licensees are responsible for ensuring that nothing is shown that is unsuitable for children. The
earlier in the evening a programme is shown, the greater the care required.
"Children" are classed as up to 15, whereas young persons are considered 16 to 17

1.3 Information, Advice and Warnings


Licensees should consider whether any elements of programming might disturb
viewers, in particular younger children. Appropriate information should be provided
at the start of any programme, or news report, which might disturb younger children. Although these may be inappropriate before the watershed, clear and specific warnings should be
clear and specific warnings should be employed where there is the liklehood that some viewers may find the programme disturbing or offensive


1.4 Feature Films and Other Acquired Material
Where a British Board of Film Classification (BBFC) Classification exists for the
version of a film or programme proposed for transmission, it should be used as a guide
to scheduling. A BBFC video classification, rather than the cinema classification,
should always be the guide where one exists.


1.5 Bad Language
There is no absolute ban on the use of bad language. But many people are offended,
some of them deeply, by the use of bad language, including expletives with a religious
(and not only Christian) association. Offence is most likely if the language is contrary
to audience expectation. Bad language must be defensible in terms of context and
scheduling with warnings where appropriate.