Greece

New Greek classification system of TV programmes

IRIS 2020-1:1/8

Olga Garoufalia

National Council of Radio and Television

The Ministry of Digital Policy, Telecomunications and Information has issued a new classification system for TV programmes with its Decision No. 106/12.6.2019. This decision was the result of the National Council for Radio and Television's (NCRTV) relevant draft proposal, which was submitted to the Ministry, and a public consultation which ended on 30 April.

The new system for the classification of TV programmes is based on their content as well as on the age of viewers. In particular, the classification of programmes depends on how likely they are to impair the moral, physical, psychological or mental development of minors. The classification of a programme is based, in particular, on qualitative and quantitative criteria, such as the editorial justification, the context and the genre, the frequency, the repeatability, the intensity and the duration of the broadcasting of unsuitable scenes.  

Programmes are classified by the broadcaster and, in particular, by a special committee consisting of experts such as psychologists, teachers, lawyers and media experts in specific categories. These categories are linked to the timeframes during which a programme can be broadcast.

The age classification of programmes is set out in the following 5 categories:

- K: represents programmes suitable for everyone

- 8: represents programmes suitable for minors over eight years old

- 12: represents programmes suitable for minors over twelve years old

- 16: represents programmes suitable for minors over sixteen years old

- 18: represents programmes suitable for viewers over eighteen years old.

These visual symbols (K, 8, 12, 16, 18) appear throughout the duration of the programme and throughout the duration of its trailer.

A verbal explanation of the symbols appears at the beginning of the programme and after an advertisement break of 30 seconds for the “8” and “12” categories and of one minute for the “16” and “18” categories. For the “K” category, it is the broadcaster that decides how long the showing of the verbal explanation should last.

Programmes classified in the “K” category can be broadcast at any time. Programmes classified in the “8” category cannot be broadcast during the children’s programme zone and 30 minutes before or after such a zone. Programmes classified in the “12” category can be broadcast between 9 p.m. and 6 a.m., and after 10 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays, and on the eve of or during school holidays. Programmes classified in the “16” category can be broadcast between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. Programmes classified in the “18” category can be broadcast between midnight and 6 a.m.

The content classification of programmes is set out in the following 4 categories:

- Violence: meaning that the programme includes violent scenes

- Sex: meaning that the programme includes sexual scenes

- Use of substances: meaning that the programme includes scenes of use of drugs and other addictive substances

- Improper speech: meaning that the programme includes improper use of language

These verbal symbols and their explanation appear at the beginning of the programme and after an advertisement break of 30 seconds.