THE EDITOR, Sir:
THE BROADCASTING Commission would like to allay the concern expressed by one of your readers, a cable subscriber, about the blocking of a specific programme by her cable operator.
Existing content standards do not require cable operators to block individual programmes on any channel. The complaint by Ms. Lisa Robinson, which was published as a letter to the Editor on April 17, 2003, does not reflect the facts about how subscriber television operators are to treat programming intended for adult audiences. This includes the programme to which she refers, "Queer as Folk", a dramatic series that graphically depicts practising male and female homosexuals.
With the implementation of the Children's Code for Programming in January of this year, no subscriber television provider needs to resort to blocking specific programmes, such as "Queer as Folk" in order to comply with the law.
Under the Code, subscriber television providers are to apply prescribed ratings to each of the channels that are transmitted on their services. These ratings are based on evaluation of the range of material transmitted on the channel. Channels that attract an "A" (for adult) rating, such as Show Time, on which "Queer As Folk" is aired, transmit programmes suitable for adult audiences only at times when they might be available to child audiences.
The Code requires that cable operators provide channels rated "A" only at subscribers' specific request, so that this programming is only delivered to the audience that wants to have it in their homes. However, once subscribers have made it known that they have access to the A-rated channels, cable operators have no legal obligation to filter individual programmes. The specific standards in the Code can be reviewed on the Commission's website www.broadcom.org.
The requirements in law do not prevent cable operators implementing their own additional programming standards. In such a case an operator may take a decision to further limit the type of programming transmitted on any channel. However, Section 22 of the Television and Sound Broadcasting Regulations places the operator under an obligation to inform subscribers of any such policies.
I urge Ms. Robinson and all other cable subscribers who may have similar concerns to discuss the matter directly with their subscriber television providers.
Where operators fail to address concerns satisfactorily, subscribers may bring the matter to the attention of the Broadcasting Commission by calling (toll-free) 1-888-99-CABLE or by emailing broadcom@cwjamaica.com
I am, etc.,
CORDEL GREEN
53 Knutsford Boulevard
Kingston 5
