M-Net says the pay TV broadcaster is aware of comments on social media platforms as well as a complaint to the Broadcasting Complaints Commission of South Africa (BCCSA) following M-Net's decision to broadcast the brilliant, yet extremely risque drama Homeland.
Homeland is filled with strong language, nudity, sex scenes and the "F" word in the opening theme in the 20:30 timeslot.
Tonight's 3rd episode of Homeland on M-Net at 20:30 will feature an intense masturbation scene by the lead character standing in front of his naked wife.
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Homeland has an age restriction of 16VSNL, although on-air promos before Homeland started, didn't contain an "N" advisory.
Compared to all the other TV shows in the 20:30 timeslot on M-Net, Homeland seems an ill fit on the schedule. Viewers reacted immediately and don't feel that Homeland on M-Net at 20:30 is appropriate for the timeslot.
"We encourage viewers to give us constant feedback on all our channels for careful consideration," says M-Net. "Homeland has an age restriction of 16VSNL and is subsequently screened after the pay-television watershed time of 20:00."
"As with all age-restricted material on our channels, the rating is clearly communicated to viewers to assist with responsible viewing. Viewers can also select the parental control functionality on their decoders," says M-Net.
A complaints regarding Homeland on M-Net was already lodged at the BCCSA, but the complaint was not upheld.
In the judgement over Homeland the BCCSA says "although this kind of material does not always fall within the taste or tolerance level of all viewers, broadcasters are, in any case legally permitted to broadcast for more mature viewers at this stage of the evening, with sufficient warnings."
According to the BCCSA the watershed is lasts from 21:00 - 05:00 for the SABC and e.tv and 20:00 - 05:00 for subscription broadcasters."
"The watershed is of course, no perfect bar to watching by children, but parents should take the necessary steps to ensure that children do not watch films/programmes after the watershed. In so far as the use of the the "F"-word is concerned, the Code does not per se prohibit offensive language, but prohibits its use only in programmes specially designed for children. In other words, adult audiences are not protected from offensive language, for they are able to make their own choices about what material to view."
The BCCSA says "subscribers also have the option to choose the soundtrack they prefer, family or original. If the complainant's decoder was set on 'family' all crude language would have been blocked."
"Subscribers have access to the parental control and parents with children younger than 16, if the parental blockout was set, would not have been able to view the movie without inserting the pin number."
The complainant has until7 May to lodge an appeal with reasons to the BCCSA, is duch an appeal is pursued.
