24.03.2004

Control mechanisms for programmes containing harmful material for children to be increased

In early 2004, the Finnish Communications Regulatory Authority (FICORA) finished a survey on the effectiveness and awareness of protection of minors within television operations. Based on this survey, national broadcasters have now agreed on the so-called new self-regulation. The purpose is to increase the effectiveness of protection of minors within television operations.

FICORA is responsible for monitoring the application of provisions of the Act on Television and Radio Operations. According to the law, television programmes containing harmful material for children must be broadcast at times when children do not normally watch television. The television programme provider must inform in advance of the unsuitable content of the programmes.

More extensive self-regulation introduced in the summer of 2004

In context of the entry into force of the Act on Television and Radio Operations in 1999, national broadcasters agreed on the so-called self-regulation for the sector for the first time. According to self-regulation, television programmes containing harmful material for children are not to be broadcast before 9pm (the so-called watershed). It was also agreed that there would be an announcement informing of unsuitable programmes prior to the start of the programme and that these programmes would be marked with the symbol K in newspaper listings.

According to the new agreement made by broadcasters on 15 March 2004, self-regulation will be applied more extensively and in a better-targeted way than before. Communications on harmful programmes will be increased and systematic attention will be paid to all programmes as to what is suitable for children. The aim is to apply the watershed so that programmes classified K18 (restricted for children under 18 years) are not broadcast before 11pm, programmes classified K15 (restricted for children under 15 years) are not broadcast before 9pm and programmes classified K11 (restricted for children under 11 years) are not broadcast before 5pm on weekdays. In addition, more light will be shed on why the programmes are harmful. Information on age restrictions and why the programme is harmful will be added to the programme listings, announcements that are made prior to the start of the programme and trailers giving advance information of the programmes. The new procedures will be taken into use at the start of the summer season of 2004.

Communications authorities consider self-regulation to be sufficient until further notice

FICORA maintains that the new self-regulation is sufficient, but controls regularly its effectiveness and how it is applied. Special focus is on the 9pm watershed and, if necessary, its effectiveness can be reassessed. Similarly, special attention will be paid to the reasons why the programmes are considered to be harmful. In addition, the authority considers it critical that programmes containing pornographic scenes are not broadcast before 12pm.

Ms Leena Luhtanen, Minister of Transport and Communications, asserts that the agreed procedures are welcome. “We have long worked for self-regulation of communications content within the administrative sector of our Ministry. This is a concrete procedure to advance the status of children and young people as television viewers. It is important that the participants in the sector share the responsibility with the parents.” Minister Luhtanen also remarks that effective self-regulation is not possible without cooperation and open discussion.

Children’s television viewing is limited as to content, viewing time and the child’s age

To examine the awareness and adequacy of self-regulation, FICORA commissioned the survey for which 750 parents of children under 16 years were interviewed at national level. According to the results of the study, parents limit their children’s television viewing mainly on the basis of programme content. The viewing time and the child’s age are almost as critical restrictive factors. Children under 13 are seldom allowed to choose themselves the television programmes they watch. However, the freedom of viewing increases clearly after this age period since every third child aged 13-15 can freely choose themselves the programmes they want to watch.

The family’s television viewing patterns, family structure and for example whether there are children over 15 years in the family affect the freedom to watch television. In addition to this, the parents’ socioeconomic status makes a difference: educated and well-paid parents control their children’s television viewing more closely than parents with comprehensive or vocational school background and low income.

Low awareness of self-regulation

Less than half of the adult respondents could spontaneously identify the K labels in the listings as a mechanism that broadcasters have addressed the parents and that this has been done to make it easier for parents to control their children’s television viewing. Approximately every fourth parent was aware of the 9pm watershed and every fifth was aware of the announcements concerning the unsuitability of programmes. More than one-fourth of the parents were not able to identify self-regulation spontaneously.

The children’s parents hoped that broadcasters would provide more advance information on programme content. They also hoped that the watershed would begin later and be used more precisely. The parents thought that crime programmes and violent descriptions had the least suitable content.

Variation in practise within the EU

International reports show that the programme watershed that is based on time is the most efficient way to protect children from unsuitable programmes. The watershed is in use in almost all EU countries. Otherwise, self-regulation varies rather a lot from country to country. For example, there are television announcements in only a few other EU countries besides Finland.

Protecting children from unsuitable programmes has won special treatment in EU legislation. A confidential atmosphere is a prerequisite for the development of the audiovisual sector, protection of minors being one of its foundation pillars. Next to parental responsibilities, the obligations and responsibilities of the participants in the sector are underlined.

FICORA’s survey and comment are available on our website at www.ficora.fi/suomi/ajankoht/rajoituskeinot.htm (in Finnish).

Further information:

Rauni Hagman, Director-General, tel. +358 6966 401, +358 40 561 3499
Tiina Vainikainen, Media Specialist, tel. +358 9 6966 430, +358 40 777 4082