Carlton, BSkyB And Tyne Tees Receive Formal Warnings

The ITC has issued a formal warning to Carlton Television for significant breaches to the programme code. This warning was issued in relation to Now We’re Talking, broadcast in December 1996. The Commission decided that there were several breaches of the programme code and the code of programme sponsorship. The Commission felt that BT Talkworks was not an appropriate sponsor for a programme with this theme. In addition, the break bumpers for the programme were 14 seconds long, in excess of the 10 seconds maximum permitted by the sponsorship code. The programme also broke the code on a third count, the ITC has ruled that the brochure offered at the end of the programme was a corporate publication; it did not meet the requirements for programme support material as defined by the sponsorship code.

BSkyB has also just received a warning, an episode of Real TV UK on Sky One was found to infringe the taste and decency requirements of the programme code. This show consists of incidents being caught on camera that range from the comic to the tragic. This particular episode was broadcast before the watershed and contained two separate stories in which victims suffered ordeals. One individual was trapped in his burning car and the other was attacked by a shark. It was considered that the programme dwelt on the plight of those involved far longer than was necessary, encouraging viewers to be entertained by the sight of people in life threatening experiences.

The third broadcaster to come under attack was Tyne Tees Television. Tyne Tees Tonight, broadcast on January 16, was found to be in clear breach of the programme code relating to the protection of children in sex cases. The Commission considered that the news report seriously jeopardised the identity of a boy who was alleged to have been a victim of sexual abuse. Moreover, the film had not been properly reviewed to ensure compliance with the code prior to transmission.

Although Carlton has received a warning before *ITC Issues Warning Against Carlton, this is the first occasion that the other two broadcasters mentioned have been cautioned.

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ITC: 0171 235 3000