Broadcast News

Bookmark and Share
02/06/2003

ITC rules on paranormal programmes on Living TV

The Independent Television Commission (ITC) have ruled that two programmes on the Living TV channel were in breach of the ITC Programme Code, primarily because they were not clearly presented as entertainment.
Editions of the series, 'Crossing Over' and '6ixth Sense', in which mediums purported to be making contact with the spirit world and passing on messages to members of the studio audience, were ruled to be in breach of section 1.10 of the ITC Programme Code, which states: "Actual demonstrations of exorcisms and occult practices, such as those involving supposed contact with spirits or the dead, are not acceptable in factual programming except in the context of a legitimate investigation. They should not, in any case, be shown before the watershed.
"Horoscopes, palmistry and similar 'psychic' practices are only acceptable where they are presented as entertainment or are the subject of legitimate investigation. They should not include specific advice to particular contributors or viewers about health or medical matters or about personal finance. They should not be included at times when large numbers of children are expected to be watching."
The Commission judged that the programmes were in breach of the Code since they were not clearly presented as entertainment, with no acknowledgement made of the existence of differing opinions as to the true nature of clairaudience and clairvoyance.
However, Living TV, the Commission judged, should be permitted to continue showing such programmes provided that additional safeguards are put in place, including announcements before and after each programme. The nature of these safeguards must be approved in advance with the ITC.
In arriving at their decision, the Commission agreed that section 1.10 of the ITC Programme Code should be clarified. The revised Code, Members decided, should include details of what kind of "supposed contact with the dead" should be considered occult and what kind of scheduling restrictions on terrestrial and other channels should be made to protect children.
Proposed revisions to the Code will be put out for consultation in due course.
(GB)
Solidmate Ltd Memory Card Hire London

Top Related Stories
Click here for the latest broadcast news stories.

23/05/2023
ACT Entertainment To Offer Lighting Controllers From Visual Productions
ACT Entertainment is to begin offering lighting controllers from Amsterdam-based manufacturer Visual Productions to customers in the United States. Th
18/04/2023
TrackIt Achieves AWS Media & Entertainment Competancy Status
TrackIt has announced that it is one of the first partners to achieve the AWS Media & Entertainment Competency status. This latest recognition confirm
22/03/2023
Antenna Entertainment Migrates To Imagine Communications' Cloud Managed Services
When major media organization Antenna Group, based in the Netherlands, acquired Sony Pictures Television's network portfolio in Central and Eastern Eu
27/02/2024
Narrative Entertainment Makes Two Key Appointments
Narrative Entertainment has appointed a new Marketing Director Kate Gartland and Digital Director Jacob Ahlin. Gartland will oversee the Narrative Ent
06/02/2024
9 Story Media Group Acquires Portfolio Entertainment's Slate
9 Story Media Group has acquired Portfolio Entertainment's library, production slate and development projects. Portfolio Entertainment was founded in
08/09/2023
AWS Unveils AWS For Media & Entertainment
Amazon Web Services (AWS) is launching an AWS for Media & Entertainment (AWS for M&E) solution area focused on monetization. Through a combination of
11/08/2023
Narrative Entertainment Acquires Exclusive UK Rights To Wild West Chronicles
UK broadcaster Narrative Entertainment has acquired exclusive UK rights to Wild West Chronicles seasons 2 and 3 for its GREAT! action channel. Narrati
21/02/2023
65Thirty Events & Entertainment Uses liant Technologies MicroCom 900XR Wireless Intercom
When Lane and Candice Place, owners of Pro AV rental house 65Thirty Events & Entertainment in Western Australia were seeking to upgrade the company's
07/12/2023
ACT Entertainment Expands Its Reach In The AV Technology Sector
ACT Entertainment continues to expand its reach in the AV technology sector with the acquisition of tvONE, a leading video processing, signal distribu
06/12/2023
ITV Studios Appoints Jaye Entertainment
ITV Studios has appointed Jaye Entertainment as its new distribution agent in South Korea. The exclusive two year deal which commences in 2024, will s
06/12/2023
DIAGNAL Announces Technology Partnership With Celestial Tiger Entertainment
DIAGNAL has announced a technology partnership with Celestial Tiger Entertainment (CTE) for the development and launch of CTE's new Chinese movies str
23/11/2023
ITV Announces Deal With Disney Entertainment
ITV has confirmed an agreement with Disney Entertainment making ITV the free-to-air home of the critically acclaimed drama Under the Banner of Heaven
21/11/2023
Eureka Entertainment To Release SLAUGHTER IN SAN FRANCISCO
Eureka Entertainment to release SLAUGHTER IN SAN FRANCISCO, the fast-paced bone-crunching action-adventure, featuring the martial arts superstar Chuck
03/11/2023
Zygi Kamasa To Launch True Brit Entertainment
Veteran British film executive Zygi Kamasa is to launch new UK theatrical distributor True Brit Entertainment dedicated exclusively to British films w
22/06/2023
A+E Networks Expands Distrinution Of Its Factual Entertainment Channels
A+E Networks has expanded the distribution of its factual entertainment channels HISTORY Channel, Crime+Investigation and HISTORY2 in Poland with a la