The Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (“ICASA”) in April 2013 permitted the Respondent, ODM (trading as STARSAT), to broadcast what is generally referred to as pornographic content on three channels during the watershed period for subscription broadcasters. Subscribers may gain entry to this service by entering  pin numbers. On 11 August 2014, an application [...]

TopTv, a subscription broadcaster, classified a film with a 13 and when a complaint was received it established that the Films and Publications Board had classified it as a 16SL. It promptly corrected the error. The Tribunal agreed that a 16SL was an appropriate classification. The broadcaster was reprimanded for the error. [2012] JOL 29192 [...]

The Registrar received a complaint concerning an insert in a news programme that, inter alia, consists of humorous and satirical perspectives of the news by way of puppets resembling the characters portrayed. Given the sensitive nature of one of the items, which satirised a recently discovered fourth-century Coptic text stating that Jesus had been married, [...]

Subscription broadcaster broadcasting film with 18 restriction before the watershed. The broadcaster conceded that it had been at fault and undertook to block out all films with an age restriction of 18 or R18.In the past only the latter category had been blocked out. In future, both categories will be blocked out and only if [...]

Alleged inappropriate promotion containing unsuitable material for children, broadcast during family viewing time when young children may be expected to be part of the audience.  Subscription broadcaster TopTv broadcasting a promotion for the following movies, The Devil’s Chair and Resident Evil, rated 18LV and 16V, respectively, before the watershed. The promotion depicted graphic scenes and [...]