CASE NO: 47/2014 – BORNMAN VS MULTICHOICE CHANNEL 182 – CHILDREN

This case concerns a complaint about the broadcasting of a promo for the horror movie “The walking dead” during the broadcasting of a family programme on Channel 182 (Nat Geo Wild).  Complainant was upset by “gruesome, shocking and frightening pictures” in the promo while watching with her children between the ages of 2 and 7.  The broadcaster conceded that the broadcasting of the promo before the watershed and during the family programme was in contravention of the Code and blamed it on human error.  The broadcaster has, in the past, regularly been held to have been in contravention of the same provision of the Subscription Code. It was also found to have been grossly negligent in the present case. A fine of R25 000 was imposed on the broadcaster.