Broadcasting standards consultation likely in early July
I contacted Ofcom recently seeking clarification over the timing of the promised broadcasting standards consultation which they have promised for the “summer of 2004″.

Fran O’Brien from Ofcom’s content and standards group reported back that Ofcom were planning to run the consultation through July, August and at least the first half of September. As Ofcom normally allow 10 weeks for consultations this would point to a start date in early July.

However Ms O’Brien also reported that this timetable was “tight”, which would tend to imply that a further delay is likely. Hopefully the exact date will become clear when Ofcom eventually get round to updating their work schedule for 2004. The Ofcom calendar published on their website is listed as “currently under review”.

Ofcom extend complaints process to cover all complaints
It’s good to see that Ofcom have now posted a more detailed complaints procedure that covers all complaints:
www.ofcom.org.uk/about_ofcom/gov_accountability/complaint/

“If your complaint does not qualify for attention under any of these guidelines (standards, fairness or privacy), then of course we still want to hear from you”. The new policy allows for complaints to be addressed at all levels within Ofcom from general staff contacts through senior management to the CEO and Chairman and should cover complaints about the standard code itself - the very issue I raised with them last month.

Broadcasting Standards for adult services change by reinterpretation of the code
Despite the fact that there has been no official change in policy, no reissuing of the programme code and no comment from Ofcom, broadcasting standards for adult content on subscription only services have changed noticeably in the last year. This has been possible because the existing code is vague and contradictory and some of the adult service broadcasters feel less intimidated by Ofcom than they did of the ITC.

The old ITC rules state that free-to-air services are permitted to broadcast 18-certificate material late at night and that subscription services can show material that is of �a more adult kind� than is permitted on free-to-air services. But the rules also state that R18 content is prohibited on all channels at all times (R18 content has restricted availability from licensed sex shops).

The ITC had previously managed this paradox by a private arrangement telling broadcasters what was or was not acceptable. When Ofcom took over in 2004 they appeared to be much more interested in public service broadcasting and mega TV mergers than in the micro management of satellite porn, so some of the adult service providers have reinterpreted the code. What was previously slightly stronger than “18″ is now slightly weaker than “R18″. More than softcore but less than hardcore� firmcore perhaps?

Further frank discussion of the details of the changes can be found here:
www.ofwatch.org.uk