Investigation Report No. 2808
ACMA file reference / ACMA2012/706Broadcaster / Australian Broadcasting Corporation
Station / ABC3, VIC
Type of Service / National Broadcasting Service (Television)
Name of Program / You’re Skitting Me
Date of Broadcast / 22 April 2012
Relevant Legislation/Code / Broadcasting Services Act 1992
- Section 151
- Standard 7.3.1 (Television Classifications – G)
Investigation conclusion
- No breach of Standard 7.3.1 (Television Classifications – G) of the
ABC Code of Practice 2011.
The complaint
On 16 May 2012, the Australian Communications and Media Authority (the ACMA) received a written complaint, via email, aboutan episode of the program You’re Skitting Me.The episode identified in the complaintwas broadcast by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) on 22 April 2012 at 5.55pm.
The complaint alleged that the G-classified program contained inappropriate sexual references.
Not satisfied with the response provided by the ABC, the complainant forwarded the matter to the ACMA for investigation.
The program
The program You’re Skitting Meis described on the ABC website[1] in the following terms:
Building on the traditions of The Late Show and Fast Forward, You're Skitting Me is a new edgy Australian sketch comedy series starring six new Australian teen actors who perform sketches about zombies, cavemen, naughty girl guides and parodies of Twilight and talent shows.
The episode of You’re Skitting Me specified by the complainant was broadcast by ABC3 on 22April2012 with a G classification. The programcontained a number of short sketch comedy segments, including a two-part sketch featuring a fictional news bulletin titled ‘Jollimont High-Witness News’. The sketch crossed between two news anchors seated behind a news desk and two ‘live’ correspondents on location at a high school. The complainant’sconcerns relate to the story about two Year 8 students ‘hooking up’ within school grounds.
Assessment
The assessment is based on a copy of the relevant broadcast provided to the ACMA by the broadcaster and submissions from the complainant and the broadcaster.
Relevant Provisions
The ABC Code of Practice 2011 (the Code) contains the following provisions that are relevant in the matters raised by the complaint:
Television Program Classification
[...]
Key Editorial Standard
7.3 Ensure all domestic television programs – with the exception of news, current affairs and sporting events – are classified and scheduled for broadcast in accordance with the ABC’s Associated Standard on Television Program Classification.
Principles:
The ABC applies the classifications listed below to the broadcast of all its domestic television programs with the exception of news, current affairs and sporting events. The ABC classifications are adapted from the Guidelines for the Classification of Films and Computer Games issued by the Classification Board made under the Classification (Publications, Films and Computer Games) Act 1995.
The guiding principle in the application of the following classifications is context. What is inappropriate and unacceptable in one context may be appropriate and acceptable in another. Factors to be taken into account include: the artistic or educational merit of the production, the purpose of a sequence, the tone, the camera work, the intensity and relevance of the material, the treatment, and the intended audience.
Standards:
7.3.1 Television Classifications
[...]
G – GENERAL
(G programs may be shown at any time)
G programs, which include programs designed for pre-school and school-aged children, are suitable for children to watch on their own. Some G programs may be more appropriate for older children.
The G classification does not necessarily indicate that the program is one that children will enjoy. Some G programs contain themes or storylines that are not of interest to children.
Whether or not the program is intended for children, the treatment of themes and other classifiable elements will be careful and discreet.
[...]
Sex: Sexual activity should:
- only be suggested in very discreet visual or verbal references, and
- be infrequent, and
- not be gratuitous.
Complainant’s submissions
In correspondence to the broadcaster, dated 23 April 2012, the complainant stated the following:
[...]
The topic which raised my hackles was a skit about a trend of boys and girls being caught together at school. I did not personally view the program, however heard the question being asked on by the reporter “So tell me, was there any tongue involved”, making reference that boys and girls had been caught kissing and its a new disease.
[...]
After several more references, I turned off the television as I thought the content was not appropriate for general viewing.
In further correspondence to the broadcaster dated 16 May 2012, later forwarded to the ACMA,the complainant stated the following:
[...]
I do disagree with your comment “The references were very discreet, were infrequent within the context of the overall program, and were not gratuitous as they were central to the humour of the sketch”. In my humble opinion the references were not discreet at all.
That type of humour does not fit in with my understanding of what would be appropriate for a target audience of 5 to 15 years old. Effectively I do not think references made to “tongue kissing” appropriate for children's TV viewing,
Broadcaster’s submissions
In correspondence to the complainant, dated 15 May 2012, the ABC stated the following:
[...]
I understand you were concerned by references to kissing in this program, and considered them to be inappropriate for general viewing.
[...]
The two-part sketch to which you refer featured a fictional news bulletin entitled ‘Jollimont High-Witness News’. It was a parody of news bulletins, with high school students presenting stories and interviews about things happening at their school.
The main story featured in the first part of the sketch was a report of a “major incident" at the school, whereby two Year 8 students were alleged to have kissed (or “hooked up“) in the school playground. A reporter on the scene interviewed a witness (both students), and one of her questions was, “Look, I understand that this is upsetting for you, but can you tell us, was there any tongue?”; in response, the visibly upset witness nodded.
This led to several further references to tongue: the reporter said, “Those reports of tongue are bound to send everyone in the school community into a frenzy”; one of the anchors referred to “early reports of a simple kiss now being linked to the usage of tongue”; and then in the second part of the sketch, a short time later, the science correspondent (another student) referred to “tongue-on-tongue contact” in his explanation of the transmission of “girl germs”. His explanation was accompanied by a cartoon visual showing germs running across a girl's tongue onto a boy's tongue and causing him to become sick.
On review, Audience & Consumer Affairs considers that the verbal references to the use of tongue in a kiss, the related verbal references (such as the word “kiss” and the phrase “hooked up”), and the visual depiction of two cartoon tongues touching in the second part of the sketch, were all consistent with the G classification guidelines. The references were very discreet, were infrequent within the context of the overall program, and were not gratuitous as they were central to the humour of the sketch. While we acknowledge your view that the content was not appropriate for general viewing, we are satisfied that the program was correctly classified G and was appropriate for broadcast in the 5:55pm Sunday evening timeslot on ABC3.
Nonetheless, please be assured that your comments have been noted and conveyed to the ABC Children's Television Department so that relevant staff are aware of your concerns about the content of the program.
Finding
The ACMA finds that the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, in broadcasting You’re Skitting Me on 22 April 2012, did not breach Standard 7.3.1 of the ABC Code of Practice 2011.
Reasons
The Code states that sexual activity may only be suggested in very discreet visual or verbal references. Depictions of sexual activity should also be infrequent and not be gratuitous.
The episode of You’re Skitting Me broadcast at 5.55 pm on 22 April 2012 contained some visual and verbal sexual references, including the following notable examples:
Scene at 00:15 minutes
The news segment titled ‘Jollimont High-Witness News’ commences with two news anchors, ‘Jenny Hills’ and ‘Travis Coins’, introducing the news item from a news room. They describe the item as a ‘major incident’ and they cross over to a ‘live’ correspondent, ‘Ruby’, who appears in a high school playground. Ruby explains it has ‘been alleged that a Year 8 boy has hooked up with a Year 8 girl’.
The parody continues with a witness, ‘Lily’,who appears to be visibly upset, describing the incident as ‘he was leaning into her, and they hooked up, it was so, so gross’. Ruby further questions the witness asking, ‘I understand this must be upsetting for you, but was there any tongue?’. Lily nods, holds her hand to her face in disgust and sobs. Using an exaggerated tone of voice, Ruby further comments, ‘Well things down here at the playground are a lot more serious than we first thought. Those reports of tongue are bound to send everyone in the school community into a frenzy’.
Travis, the news anchor, concludes the first part of the sketch comedy segment by stating, ‘With those earlier reports of a simple kiss now being linked to the usage of tongue there’s grave concern that this incident could blow out to become something much more sinister’.
Scene at 00:17 minutes
The news anchor, Jenny Hills, crosses over to another ‘live’ correspondent, ‘Lucas Blackmore’, who is depicted wearing a white coat whilst standing in a laboratory. Jenny questions Lucas about the incident. He responds stating that it concerns a transmission of ‘girl germs’, referred to as a ‘pathogenic bacteria’. He further states that the germs are rarely spread through casual contact unless the male is involved in the ‘handling of skipping ropes or Barbie dolls’. A short animation is shown depicting a boy and girl facing each other with their eyes closed. The voice over by Lucas explains, ‘girls germs are often spread by so-called hook up sessions’. Associated sound-effects are used simulating a ‘kissing’ noise and the animated characters are depicted opening their mouths to kiss, with their tongues meeting. A small succession of ‘girl germs’ are depicted leaving the girl’s mouth and entering the boy’s. Upon entering the boy’s mouth, pimples suddenly appear on his face, he gags and his hair grows into a pony-tail. The boy, described as a ‘victim’ by Lucas, then falls over. Lucas further describesthe ‘symptoms of an infection of girl germs’ as ‘fever, diarrhoea and wanting to rent the entire series box sets of Glee’.
The reference to a passionate kiss between two high school students has been suggested through the use of very discreet visual and verbal references. The verbal references,including the terms ‘hooking up’, ‘kiss’ and ‘tongue’, are reserved and lack detail and are therefore considered to be very discreet. The visual reference as depicted in the short-animation sequence is also considered to be very discreet due to the highly stylised nature of the depiction. The references in the context of a sketch comedy program are infrequent and are not considered to be gratuitous.
The program complies with the provisions of the Code that sexual activity only be suggested in very discreet visual or verbal references, and be infrequent and not be gratuitous at a G classification.
ACMA Investigation Report – You’re Skitting Me broadcast by ABC3on 22 April 20121
[1] [accessed on 28 May 2012]