XN000022-1995-05-12 — Page 9

New provisions to the Code of Practice

At its meeting held on May 11, the Broadcasting Authority (BA) decided to add new provisions to the Code of Practice on Programme Standards to regulate the presentation of hypnotism and superstition on television and radio.

The BA spokesman explained that these changes arose from the mid-term review of the commercial television licences conducted in 1994.

"A similar provision already exists in the code for subscription television. On equity grounds, the same provision should be made to apply to terrestrial and satellite television," she continued. "The Broadcasting Authority wants licensees to be careful when dealing with the subject of hypnotism and to avoid causing any possible adverse impact on the audience," she said.

Another new provision, which will be introduced across the board to television and radio alike, concerns the promotion of harmful superstition and supernatural beliefs.

"Broadcasters are advised not to encourage people to treat psychic or occult practices as commonly accepted appraisals of life or exact sciences in broadcasting. They must exercise due care to avoid causing undesirable emotional disturbances in children and young people," the spokesman cautioned.

She said the amendments to the Codes of Practice will take effect from May 15.

The BA considered a total of 72 complaints at the meeting.

Metro Broadcasts was seriously warned for including indirect advertising elements for a property exhibition in its programme "Enjoy Yourself This Morning" broadcast on FM Select. The offer of a guaranteed percentage of return in investment in property or a guaranteed rental return was also in breach of the advertising code.

The BA issued two serious warnings to ATV for the broadcast of a programme promo for "Just Wanna Have Fun" and the film "A Moment of Romance II" on the Home service during the family viewing hours.

The promo contained some nudity and material of an adult-nature and the film. featured some prolonged and excessively violent sequences which constituted unsuitable material for children's viewing and should not have been broadcast on television between 4 pm and 8.30 pm.