MultiChoice has been reprimanded for failing to warn viewers that a movie it broadcast contained foul language, the Broadcasting Complaints Commission of SA (BCCSA) said on Thursday.<\/p>\n
“It was held by the BCCSA Tribunal that the broadcaster should have provided more information so that the viewer could exercise an informed choice,” it said in a statement.<\/p>\n
The movie, “Meet the Applegates”, was broadcast in June.<\/p>\n
The complainant, Bruce Wolvaardt, charged he was misled by the broadcaster after the movie, advertised as a comedy and seemingly suitable for the whole family to watch, turned out not to be.<\/p>\n
He watched the movie with his children and found himself in an “uncomfortable situation” as phrases such as “co**sucker”, “cu**” and “fuc*”, were frequently repeated, while the movie also showed drug abuse by a minor.<\/p>\n
MultiChoice admitted the word “fuc*” was used repeatedly and that the film was broadcast during the watershed period.<\/p>\n
It said the word was “much part of the story” and was not used in a derogatory fashion but was used as an adjective in most cases.<\/p>\n
“The fact remains that foul language is foul language no matter the qualification,” the commission said in its ruling.<\/p>\n
It said not much clear and consistent information was provided to the audience about the classification taken by MultiChoice to ensure viewers were not misled about the genre of the film.<\/p>\n
“… the broadcaster’s parental control mechanism tool is a brilliant tool, but it is not enough to say that because it is available, then the viewers cannot complain of being misled and ill-advised as it appears in this case.”<\/p>\n