CASE NO: 09/2011 – RUNDLE AND EDELINSKI VS MULTICHOICE – CHANNEL 111 – ADVISORY

The complaints concerned the broadcasting of a film “Hond se Dinges” which was clearly not for children viewing.  The Film and Publication Board classification was 13PG but the broadcaster decided that the advisory should comprise 16SN.  However, the viewers’ advisory that the broadcaster advertised in its Electronic Programme Guide was 13PG, but again this differed from the on-screen advisory which was 16 SN.  The complaints were about this difference in advisories, about the age advisory that was too low and about the fact that the programme should have been broadcast after the watershed. The respondent admitted that the programme was broadcast too early and that the advisory published in the EPG was wrong due to human error. The Tribunal found a contravention of clauses 18 and 19 of the Code because clear and consistent information had not been provided to the respondent’s audience and the classification in its EPG had not been consistent with the on-screen advisory.  The Tribunal also found that the respondent seemingly lacked adequate procedures to comply with the Code in this regard.  The Tribunal found a contravention of the Code and upheld the complaints.