BSC ANNOUNCE FINDINGS ON ‘BRASS EYE’

THE BROADCASTING Standards Commission (BSC) have announced their findings on Channel 4’s and S4C’s ‘Brass Eye’ Special Programme.
The Commission, like the ITC, affirmed the right of broadcasters to produce satirical programmes, even on such sensitive topics as paedophilia. They also recognised that satire will often only achieve its purpose by shocking and offending some people.
The Commission considered that, on balance, the cumulative effect of the scenes involving children in a sexual context had generated a level of offence and distress to the viewing audience which outweighed the public interest purpose of the programme, and they upheld complaints in this area.
However, they acknowledged that Channel 4 had taken great care in relation to the welfare of the young actors and that they were not put at any risk in the making of the programme.
Lord Dubs of Battersea, Chairman of the Commission, said: "Our discussion of the ‘Brass Eye’ programme was the most extensive and detailed ever held by the Commission. This reflects the volume and range of issues raised by complainants and the sensitivity and complexity of the themes the Commission needed to address.
"While there are no absolute no-go areas for satire it does not have an unlimited licence. On balance, the Commission felt that the portrayal of children in the programme went too far".
The Commission have also received a complaint of unfairness from a contributor to the programme, which they will consider before reaching a conclusion on the standards complaints about the depiction of celebrities.
The Commission and the ITC received several hundreds of complaints against the programme, but also a large number of letters in support of the programme. (CD)