New Ratings System To Protect BBC Online Viewers
The BBC has announced plans to trial electronic labelling of programmes to protect viewers using its online services from inappropriate content.
The move, which comes ahead of the launch of the Corporation’s on-demand software, MyBBCPlayer, will protect those viewing online programme streams through passwords for ‘challenging’ content, featuring strong language, scenes of a sexual nature or violence.
The BBC claims the new ratings system will help deal with the realities of time-shifted programming, when viewers can watch programmes at any time of the day or night. The advance of timeshift technology, the Corporation states, means that “such challenging content can no longer be signaled by the traditional 9pm watershed.”
Under the new system a ‘G’ is placed next to post-watershed programme titles in the new software’s electronic programme guide (EPG). By clicking on the G, users can then call up more details which explain the reason for the label.
“The G label is based on research that told us people wanted a simple, easy-to-use, but information-rich, system that enabled them to make informed choices,” explained Rachel Hermer, advisor on the BBC’s editorial policy.
“It offers piece of mind to those members of our audience, particularly parents, who are concerned with what children watch, without losing the freedom offered by the on-demand environment. We’ll be using the trial to see if we’ve struck the right balance.”
The BBC’s move to enhance parental controls follows a similar move from Sky, which allowed families to choose which channels are listed via the EPG to different members of a household. The satellite giant’s new system also embraces its time-shifted content via the Sky+ Personal Video Recorder (PVR), protecting recorded programmes from unauthorised access by younger viewers.
On-demand TV provider HomeChoice also protects its viewers from potentially offensive material, requiring a pin number from the account holder to be entered to approve movie purchases, and to unlock adult or post-watershed material.
The latest trials from the BBC are designed to embrace the broadcast industry, with the Corporation pledging to share its findings with commercial rivals in order to thrash out the best method of safeguarding young viewers from unsuitable content.
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