CASE NO: 19/2010 – GRIFFITHS, MOODLEY AND WHITELEY VS e.tv – PROMO DEPICTING VIOLENCE

Three complaints were lodged with the BCCSA concerning a promo that showed a scene of a man beating a woman with a belt.  According to the broadcaster this promo was broadcast to attract attention to the next episode of “Rhythm City” where the message relating to the campaign in August against women abuse was to be conveyed.  In the nature of promos, scenes that shock are often used to attract attention to the broadcasting of future programmes.   This entails the risk that such promos might be seen by children who should not be exposed to such material.  Because of the fleeting scenes in promos and their short duration, they cannot be judged in context.  Extra care should be taken in scheduling such promos because violent and/or sexual scenes and/or foul language might appear in such promos without the opportunity to correct wrong impressions on young minds.  In the present case, although the promo contains scenes that are not suitable for children’s viewing, it appears that all the broadcasts of the promo occurred at times when no or few children would have formed part of the audience. Under these circumstances no violation of the Code of Conduct was found and the complaints were not upheld.