Post by CrazyGirl on Jun 13, 2004 13:34:09 GMT -5
Britney's sexy video too toxic for family
Britney Spears' latest raunchy music video proved "toxic" to one
Auckland family, who asked the Broadcasting Standards Authority to
ban it during children's programmes.
Rick and Suzanne Stancombe, who have three children aged seven to
15, were unsuccessful in their complaint but want broadcasters to
take more responsibility over the screening of sexed-up clips.
The couple alleged the Toxic clip, which features Kiwi heart-throb
Martin Henderson, breached good taste and decency and children's
interests when it screened on TV2's Coke Countdown at 9am on a
Sunday.
The video shows a scantily-clad Spears dancing suggestively and
passionately kissing several men.
The Stancombes' claim was partly based on American channel MTV's
decision to screen Toxic only late at night because of its sexual
content.
Rick Stancombe said he took the BSA complaint, his first, to make
broadcasters think harder about what young children were watching.
"When you walk past the TV and see her basically naked and
simulating sex in an aeroplane toilet you think it's all gone too
far.
"It would be nice to think children could get to at least 10 years
of age before you have to sit down and have a deep and meaningful
conversation about this sort of stuff."
Stancombe said pop stars such as Spears were role models for young
children and racy videos risked leaving the fans "confused".
"I think the music's weak, that's why they need to sell it by using
sex. What we wanted to do was make broadcasters use more discretion
about what times the videos were screened."
In their complaint the Stancombes said: "We are tired of seeing
these music videos of people half naked and simulating sex, being
played during peak times where children and families are prime
audiences.
"In a lot of the cases we enjoy the music but to have to watch the
video is a real put off."
But their concerns fell on deaf ears at TVNZ - the broadcaster's
standards committee declined to uphold the complaint saying the
video had been rated PGR (parental guidance recommended), a rating
defined as containing "material more suited for mature audiences but
not necessarily unsuitable for child viewers when subject to the
guidance of a parent or an adult."
Dissatisfied, the Stancombes went to the BSA.
TVNZ then maintained Toxic differed little from dozens of other
videos with young female stars in "skimpy" attire and featuring
sexual innuendo.
The state broadcaster told the authority: "It is the way of popular
music nowadays, and while it may scandalise some parents, it does no
more so than when a previous generation of youngsters seized upon
the suggestive lyrics and driving beat of rock'n'roll to the dismay
of their parents."
Stancombe said his family was not "scandalised" by the music - the
couple's children weren't big Britney fans either - but had taken
exception to the sexual content of the video.
TVNZ also defended the screening by noting the video contained no
nudity or offensive lyrics.
The BSA declined to uphold the complaint after viewing the music
video. The authority ruled the music video was screened within the
appropriate PGR time band and concluded TVNZ had considered the
interests of children as required.
Britney Spears' latest raunchy music video proved "toxic" to one
Auckland family, who asked the Broadcasting Standards Authority to
ban it during children's programmes.
Rick and Suzanne Stancombe, who have three children aged seven to
15, were unsuccessful in their complaint but want broadcasters to
take more responsibility over the screening of sexed-up clips.
The couple alleged the Toxic clip, which features Kiwi heart-throb
Martin Henderson, breached good taste and decency and children's
interests when it screened on TV2's Coke Countdown at 9am on a
Sunday.
The video shows a scantily-clad Spears dancing suggestively and
passionately kissing several men.
The Stancombes' claim was partly based on American channel MTV's
decision to screen Toxic only late at night because of its sexual
content.
Rick Stancombe said he took the BSA complaint, his first, to make
broadcasters think harder about what young children were watching.
"When you walk past the TV and see her basically naked and
simulating sex in an aeroplane toilet you think it's all gone too
far.
"It would be nice to think children could get to at least 10 years
of age before you have to sit down and have a deep and meaningful
conversation about this sort of stuff."
Stancombe said pop stars such as Spears were role models for young
children and racy videos risked leaving the fans "confused".
"I think the music's weak, that's why they need to sell it by using
sex. What we wanted to do was make broadcasters use more discretion
about what times the videos were screened."
In their complaint the Stancombes said: "We are tired of seeing
these music videos of people half naked and simulating sex, being
played during peak times where children and families are prime
audiences.
"In a lot of the cases we enjoy the music but to have to watch the
video is a real put off."
But their concerns fell on deaf ears at TVNZ - the broadcaster's
standards committee declined to uphold the complaint saying the
video had been rated PGR (parental guidance recommended), a rating
defined as containing "material more suited for mature audiences but
not necessarily unsuitable for child viewers when subject to the
guidance of a parent or an adult."
Dissatisfied, the Stancombes went to the BSA.
TVNZ then maintained Toxic differed little from dozens of other
videos with young female stars in "skimpy" attire and featuring
sexual innuendo.
The state broadcaster told the authority: "It is the way of popular
music nowadays, and while it may scandalise some parents, it does no
more so than when a previous generation of youngsters seized upon
the suggestive lyrics and driving beat of rock'n'roll to the dismay
of their parents."
Stancombe said his family was not "scandalised" by the music - the
couple's children weren't big Britney fans either - but had taken
exception to the sexual content of the video.
TVNZ also defended the screening by noting the video contained no
nudity or offensive lyrics.
The BSA declined to uphold the complaint after viewing the music
video. The authority ruled the music video was screened within the
appropriate PGR time band and concluded TVNZ had considered the
interests of children as required.