Broadcasting Standards Commission Report

The BSC has published its 5^th annual monitoring report of public opinion of taste and decency issues. The report shows that TV violence is of most concern to viewers (62%) who believe that there is too much violence on television (64%).

Bad language was found in two out of five terrestrial programmes monitored and in three quarters of satellite programmes with a lot of mild bad language occurring before the nine o’clock watershed.

The report says that viewers are less concerned about the depiction of sexual activity than violence or bad language and that broadcasters were adhering to the watershed in this area.

75% of respondents believed that the prime responsibility for children’s viewing should come from parents.

Commenting on the report Lady Howe, chairman of the BSC, said: “It’s clear that whilst the viewing public believe broadcasters act responsibly in most matters, there is some concern about perceived levels of violence on television.” The Commission is to publish a revised code on and taste decency next year.

Broadcasting Standards Commission: 0171 233 0397