CASE NUMBER: 41/2003 – MCNAMARA,VAN DER MERWE, VEGTER VS etv – WATERSHED

One complaint each was received against the broadcast of “Pulp Fiction” and “The Crow” at 20:00, an hour before the watershed for free-to-air tv broadcasters. Both were classified as 18 and due warning was placed on the screen at the commencement of the broadcast and after ad breaks. 

A Complaint was also received about the screening of “Tango & Cash” which has a 16 age restriction. on a Sunday at 11:00. 

The Commission held that Pulp and Crow both fell foul of the watershed rule in that the first film contained offensive language and violence and second contained violence as described in the Broadcasting Code and for which screening after the watershed of 21:00 is prescribed by the Code. In the case of Tango, a large number of children was likely to still have been in the audience at 11:00 on a Sunday morning, since the children’s time had just come to an end before 11:00.  

The Complaints were accordingly upheld.