Q: How can I protect my children from viewing upsetting and harmful material?
A: The BCCSA codes have built-in protection for children. All TV broadcasters are required to adhere to the “watershed” rule, which permits the broadcast of adult material during times when children are unlikely to form part of the audience: for free-to-air broadcasters this is from 21h00 to 5h00, and for subscription broadcasters from 20h00 to 5h00 (subscription broadcasters are given leeway because parental/caregiver control can be exercised through decoders or private pin numbers).
In terms of the codes of conduct, broadcasters are obliged to inform viewers of the nature of the programmes via classification: parental guidance required (PG) with an age restriction (10 or 13); a general age restriction of 16 or 18 years. Warnings as to content are indicated by means of symbols: nudity (N), sex (S), violence (V) and coarse language (L). Such information must be displayed onscreen before the programme concerned commences and must also be published in the electronic programming guide (EPG). Broadcasters may use classification symbols issued by the Film and Publication Board.
Broadcasters are permitted to broadcast material with a 16 age restriction before the watershed, provided that adequate advisories are published on-screen and on the EPG regarding such material. However material with an 18 restriction may not be broadcast before 20:00.