XN000022-1993-04-30 — Page 10

FRIDAY, APRIL 30, 1993

CODES OF PRACTICE FOR SUBSCRIPTION TV ISSUED

IN ANTICIPATION OF THE GRANT OF A LICENCE FOR SUBSCRIPTION TELEVISION, THE BROADCASTING AUTHORITY HAS ISSUED CODES OF PRACTICE ON PROGRAMME AND HOME SHOPPING STANDARDS FOR SUBSCRIPTION TELEVISION.

A BROADCASTING AUTHORITY SPOKESMAN TODAY (FRIDAY) SAID THE CODES WERE MODELLED ON THOSE FOR WIRELESS TELEVISION BUT WETH SUITABLE MODIFICATIONS TO TAKE INTO ACCOUNT THE MULTI-CHANNEL NATURE OF SUBSCRIPTION TELEVISION AND ITS CAPABILITY OF BEING SECURED AGAINST UNAUTHORISED USE.

ON THE PROGRAMMING SIDE, THE CODES ENSURE THAT NO MATERIAL UNSUITABLE FOR CHILDREN CAN BE SHOWN AT ANY TIME ON CHANNELS DESIGNED FOR CHILDREN.

ON OTHER CHANNELS, PROGRAMMES UNSUITABLE FOR CHILDREN WILL HAVE TO BE CLEARLY ADVERTISED AS SUCH AND AN APPROPRIATE WARNING DISPLAYED TO THAT EFFECT ON SCREEN.

SUBJECT TO PRIOR APPROVAL BEING GIVEN BY THE BROADCASTING AUTHORITY, AND PROVIDED THAT THERE ARE SUFFICIENT SAFEGUARDS, SUCH AS LOCKABLE DEVICES, TO GUARD AGAINST ACCESS BY CHILDREN, ADULT CHANNELS MAY BE INTRODUCED.

FILMS CLASSIFIED AS CATEGORY III CAN ONLY BE SHOWN ON THE ADULT CHANNELS, AND NO OBSCENE MATERIAL MAY BE SHOWN ON ANY CHANNEL.

WITH REGARD TO HOME SHOPPING MATERIAL, THE SPOKESMAN SAID THE BROADCASTING AUTHORITY WOULD REQUIRE THE LICENSEE TO ENSURE THAT VIEWERS WERE ABLE TO PLACE A DIRECT ORDER FOR THE PRODUCT OR SERVICE PROMOTED USING A TELECOMMUNICATION NETWORK OR BY MAIL.

THIS DIRECT RESPONSE ELEMENT DISTINGUISHES HOME SHOPPING MATERIAL FROM ORDINARY ADVERTISING WHICH IS PROHIBITED ON SUBSCRIPTION TELEVISION.

UNDER THE BROADCASTING AUTHORITY'S RULES, HOME SHOPPING MATERIAL CAN ONLY BE SHOWN ON CHANNELS DEDICATED TO HOME PURPOSES OR PROGRAMME PROMOTION.

SHOPPING

THERE ARE ALSO PROVISIONS IN THE HOME SHOPPING CODE GOVERNING TRUTHFULNESS AND THE SUBSTANTIATION OF CLAIMS. THIS WOULD HELP PROTECT VIEWERS, THE SPOKESMAN SAID.

WHARF CABLE AND STAR TV WERE FULLY CONSULTED ON THE CODES. THE TELEVISION ADVISORY PANELS, COMPRISING MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC, HAVE ALSO OFFERED VALUABLE OPINIONS TO THE BROADCASTING AUTHORITY.

SEPARATELY, IN AN EFFORT ΤΟ INCREASE PUBLIC AWARENESS OF TELEVISION PROGRAMME STANDARDS, THE BROADCASTING AUTHORITY HAS PRODUCED A NEW ANNOUNCEMENT IN THE PUBLIC INTEREST (API) FOR BROADCAST ON TELEVISION.

THE SPOKESMAN SAID NOT MANY PEOPLE KNEW THAT THE BROADCASTING AUTHORITY HAD A POLICY OF FAMILY VIEWING HOURS, PROVIDING THAT BETWEEN 4 PM AND 8.30 PM EACH DAY NOTHING UNSUITABLE FOR CHILDREN IS ALLOWED TO BE BROADCAST ON WIRELESS TV, AND THAT STANDARDS ARE RELAXED GRADUALLY AFTER 8.30 PM.

/THE API

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