However, the fact that some parents report otherwise should cause broadcasters concern. BBC audience research (BBC, 2009) shows that the views of the general audience (not just parents) are often offended by programming too (Figure 3).
Figure 3: BBC audience views on taste and standards
- 46 per cent of the viewing audience surveyed thought that morality, values or standards of behaviour in TV programmes have been getting worse in recent years.
- Issues of top concern were strong language, violence and sexual content on TV.
- 50 per cent said they 'personally see or hear things on television which you find offensive'.
- 40 per cent of the audience reported they had seen or heard something on TV in the last 12 months that they felt should not have been broadcast.
Source: BBC, 2009
What is more, the broadcasters we spoke to accept that, to a certain extent, the watershed really only serves to protect younger children, typically those of primary school age, and that once children are old enough to be able to choose the programmes they watch, then they are also mature enough to enjoy stronger content in the later part of the pre—watershed period and just after it:
"There are variations in how the watershed is used to regulate children's television viewing. The watershed plays a crucial role for parents with children aged 5-8, and the trust in pre-watershed programming, particularly that leading up to 7. 30pm, forms an essential part of parents' regulation and control of children's viewing. However, by the time children reach their teens, parents believe that 'they know it already' and that it is no longer appropriate to protect them too much. While violence was the type of content identified by viewers as the type of content which caused most concern, they were most likely to nominate programmes with sex and swearing as those they did not want their children to watch."
Broadcaster, Call for Evidence response
The broadcasters contributing to the Review also reported that parents often welcome the opportunities to talk to their children that arise from the storylines in popular dramas: they can discuss the difficult social or moral issues raised by the plots and characterisations with their children but without having to make the discussion personal. There was also a view that the audience 'understood' that if a programme was broadcast on a particular channel, or had a certain kind of presenter or guests, they would expect a certain 'edginess' and would be prepared accordingly. Broadcasters also shared the view that, since they do not want viewers to change channel or switch off their television if they see something they do not like, there is no incentive to produce offensive material.
