Lilith
06-22-2005, 06:50 PM
(submitted by gekkogecko)
CANBERRA (Reuters) - The nude antics of reality
television contestants on the Big Brother program
prompted Australian government politicians Tuesday to
demand a review of how much nudity can be shown on
free television down under.
The fifth Australian series of Big Brother is the
raunchiest yet seen in Australia, with the uncut
version featuring regular nudity, views of the
contestants in the shower, and a steamy hot-tub romp
by two contestants.
Government MP Trish Draper raised her concerns at a
closed meeting of government MPs and senators after
the latest uncut episode of the program, classified
for viewers 15 years and older, featured contestants
taking nude photographs of each other.
"What we basically have is pornography and full
frontal nudity on television at a time when children
are watching. These people have an aspiration to be
porn stars," Draper told Reuters.
Draper and several other government backbenchers have
asked Communications Minister Helen Coonan to brief
MPs and senators on the existing rules for
broadcasting nudity and adult material on free to air
television.
But Big Brother housemate Michelle, who took part in
the hot-tub romp and was voted off the show earlier
this month, said people should switch off their
televisions if they did not like what they were
watching.
"You put 15 sexually active people in the house who
obviously enjoy sex and are young, it is going to
happen. We are bored and we are going to do things,"
she said after being voted out.
Australia's third-ranked television broadcaster Ten
Network Holdings Ltd. has broadcast the Big Brother
series as part of its strategy to target and build up
a younger audience.
A Ten spokeswoman said the program complied with the
existing industry code of practice.
"We appreciate that it's not to everyone's taste, but
it does adhere to the code," the spokeswoman said.
Coonan said she had written to the broadcast regulator
to examine if the voluntary classification system was
adequate for reality television programs.
"The government takes very seriously the issue of
protection of children from exposure to program
material that may be unsuitable," Coonan said in a
statement.
Big Brother is a reality television show where a group
of strangers are locked in a house and gradually voted
out by the audience. Local versions of the show are
produced around the world, from Britain to South Africa.
CANBERRA (Reuters) - The nude antics of reality
television contestants on the Big Brother program
prompted Australian government politicians Tuesday to
demand a review of how much nudity can be shown on
free television down under.
The fifth Australian series of Big Brother is the
raunchiest yet seen in Australia, with the uncut
version featuring regular nudity, views of the
contestants in the shower, and a steamy hot-tub romp
by two contestants.
Government MP Trish Draper raised her concerns at a
closed meeting of government MPs and senators after
the latest uncut episode of the program, classified
for viewers 15 years and older, featured contestants
taking nude photographs of each other.
"What we basically have is pornography and full
frontal nudity on television at a time when children
are watching. These people have an aspiration to be
porn stars," Draper told Reuters.
Draper and several other government backbenchers have
asked Communications Minister Helen Coonan to brief
MPs and senators on the existing rules for
broadcasting nudity and adult material on free to air
television.
But Big Brother housemate Michelle, who took part in
the hot-tub romp and was voted off the show earlier
this month, said people should switch off their
televisions if they did not like what they were
watching.
"You put 15 sexually active people in the house who
obviously enjoy sex and are young, it is going to
happen. We are bored and we are going to do things,"
she said after being voted out.
Australia's third-ranked television broadcaster Ten
Network Holdings Ltd. has broadcast the Big Brother
series as part of its strategy to target and build up
a younger audience.
A Ten spokeswoman said the program complied with the
existing industry code of practice.
"We appreciate that it's not to everyone's taste, but
it does adhere to the code," the spokeswoman said.
Coonan said she had written to the broadcast regulator
to examine if the voluntary classification system was
adequate for reality television programs.
"The government takes very seriously the issue of
protection of children from exposure to program
material that may be unsuitable," Coonan said in a
statement.
Big Brother is a reality television show where a group
of strangers are locked in a house and gradually voted
out by the audience. Local versions of the show are
produced around the world, from Britain to South Africa.