Our beloved communications regulator, Ofcom, has fined Digital Television Production Company Limited (DTPC) £35,000 for broadcasting material, under PIN encryption on XplicitXXX, that was the equivalent of BBFC R-18 content (Hard Core Porn). Apparently, back on 13th December 2005 an impressive audience of 62 people tuned in the an episode of “Rubber Ron” which featured a “21 minute sequence showing graphic images of a woman using a dildo for vaginal self-penetration”. One person was so upset at seeing real sexual content on their porn channel that they complained to Ofcom.Under the current Broadcasting Code, channels are not permitted to transmit R18-rated material for UK facing broadcasts. This, Ofcom tells us is to protect Children. Indeed, when it decided to keep the ban on the broadcast of R-18 material in place last year it said that if future developments in technology enabled more secure protection for children, then Ofcom would consider reviewing this position.

OK, I have to admit these kind of decisions annoy me. This is a waste of Ofcom’s time. Yes, if Channel’s are broadcasting this material unencrypted, I’m more than happy for Ofcom to slap fine on them (which incidentally they did back in 2004, when they fined DTPC £50,000); but this is just stupid. It has been said before, but there has to be something wrong when we allow a regulator to ban the broadcast of a whole section of legally available films, which have been classified by the body charged with deciding if films can be legally shown in the country - our Film Classification Board. Even when you read Ofcom’s own research on this matter, it is hard to find the justification - but, don’t forget, Ofcom is an evidence based regulator, that makes it decisions on the basis of the evidence, nothing else (I am also the sugar plum fairy, but don’t tell anyone)