United Kingdom

[GB] Broadcasting Standards Council publishes annual monitoring survey

IRIS 1996-7:1/20

David Goldberg

deeJgee Research/Consultancy

The Broadcasting Standards Council, the body established under the 1990 Broadcasting Act to monitor the portrayal of violence, sex and matters related to taste and decency in television, cable, radio and satellite services, has just published its fourth annual monitoring survey. The findings relate to three areas: violence, sexual activity and 'bad language'. The key issue of audience concern remains the depiction of violence. However, the first significant change in the proportion of those registering a concern about this issue is recorded in this annual report (for 1995) - 57% saying that there is 'too much violence' which is down from 66%. As regards 'bad language', whilst the proportion registering concern remains consistent (around 57%), specific concern is expressed at the time at which such language is transmitted - specifically, before the so-called 'watershed'. As in the previous year's report, the same proportion of respondents - around 58%thought there to be the 'right amount' of sexual activity on television.