R2OK!

gfloyd · Posted: Mon Jul 16, 2007 4:17 pm Post subject: Ofcom Gets Tough With Radio 2

Ofcom has issued a warning to broadcasters following an increase in the number of obscenities broadcast before the watershed.
Pointing to an increase in the broadcast of "unsuitable material" before the watershed, the regulator warned broadcasters to "ensure that robust procedures are in place" and said that action would be taken if compliance procedures were not rigorously followed. Ofcom sanctions can include fines and the withdrawal of broadcasting licences.

One of the programmes cited in Ofcom's latest complaints bulletin was Radio 2's Green Guide to Life. It was censured by the regulator for using the word "f**k". The broadcaster was also warned about further breaches.

Ofcom upheld two complaints about the half-hour comedy programme about modern living, which was broadcast in April and in which comedian Jack Dee was heard to use the words, "F**k off".

Ofcom pointed to a "weakness" in Radio 2's compliance procedures and warned the station that this was "not the first occasion on which inappropriate language has been transmitted on Radio 2".

========================
_________________
His name was ernie ........ and he drove the fastest milk cart in the west.....

Ian Robinson · Posted: Mon Jul 16, 2007 7:55 pm Post subject:

However, after an intensive year-long investigation by a huge team at Ofcom they have been unable to find any comedy in the Comedy Hour and have fined the BBC under the Trade Descriptions Act... Wink

Toggy tea slurper · Guest

I hope they haven't heard Janet & John Laughing

Lord Evan Elpuss · Joined: 10 Dec 2006 Posts: 3417 Location: Cloud Cuckoo Land

Plenty of inuendo etc but I don't think I've ever heard any actual bad language in them.
_________________
Lord Evan Elpuss, Your ideal job is a Lumberjack.

Toggy tea slurper · Guest

No there is never any bad language in them but they are a bit saucy. Then again it's all in the mind I suppose Laughing

SantaFefan · Posted: Mon Jul 16, 2007 8:41 pm Post subject:

I'm no prude but I really don't think there is any need what so ever for using such language on the air; at any time.
I had the misfortune to see a bit of "8 out of 10 Cats" the other night and heard f**k off used off a lot.
It's almost childish playground stuff.
Is it really necessary?

mark occomore · Joined: 07 Dec 2006 Posts: 9955 Location: UK

Sally said Blow Job. Shocked

Mark Mayhew · Joined: 11 Dec 2006 Posts: 2897

I have no problem at all with the stance taken by Ofcom.

Certainly vewers/listeners to the BBC need to have complete confidence in ethical/proper/honest behaviour. Clearly the BBC have been ignoring certain basic principles.

Will they learn from recent episodes-I doubt it.

firewirefred · Guest

pickle · Posted: Fri Jul 27, 2007 8:06 am Post subject: Ofcom get tough with Radio 2

So where the hell were they when Steve Wright expressed his homophobic views?

I got modded on the R2 boards for using the word homophobia. Their theme song should be After The Fire's 'One Rule For You, One Rule For Me'!
_________________
We made a land where crap is king and the good don't last for long.

'The Good Don't Last', Spock's Beard

SantaFefan · Posted: Fri Jul 27, 2007 8:21 am Post subject:

How did he express his homophobic views?

gfloyd · Posted: Fri Jul 27, 2007 8:22 am Post subject: Re: Ofcom get tough with Radio 2

firewirefred · Guest

mark occomore · Joined: 07 Dec 2006 Posts: 9955 Location: UK

firewirefred · Guest

Rob · Joined: 27 Feb 2007 Posts: 163 Location: Leicester

Only just catching up with some old threads, so please accept the tardy response.

The comment about broadcast radio stations having to log their output may well be right. I worked for an ILR station in the early 80s and the IBA requirement was to use a 4-track machine to record the stereo off-air FM signal (2 tracks), the AM transmission off-air (1 track) and a time stamp track. Most stations paid a silly sum of money to BT for the speaking clock, but we had an early example of a speech-synthesis clock. You pressed a button and it read you the time. We built some electronics to simulate the button being pressed every 15 seconds or so and, hey presto, royalty-free time stamps!

The reason for the logs, of course, was to allow serious complaints to be handled. What was actually transmitted could be transcribed and used in evidence, if ever a matter came to court.

I don't know how many other stations are obliged to make this sort of recording, though. The BBC may well do (I would be surprised if they didn't), but the hospital station I'm involved with certainly doesn't. However, we don't have a transmitter - we're carried by the in-hospital bedside system, so there's no broadcast licence required (though copyright issues still have to be addressed). I suspect it's only a requirement for broadcast stations.

Rob.

firewirefred · Guest

Rob · Joined: 27 Feb 2007 Posts: 163 Location: Leicester

To be honest, I can't remember whose machines we had for logging. I know the studio machines were Studers, though.

But the logging machines were certainly not rack mounted. We had a chief engineer who had some different ideas, and there was a recessed cabinet in the reception area. This had two sliding, glass doors with a lock on them, with the logging machines behind them. One would be active at any time, with the second (generally) rigged to take over. Each machine was wired to the other so that when the tape ran out on one, the other would start recording.

I seem to remember that the cabinet presented some interesting challenges over heat dissipation, but it certainly made our reception look a little more radio!

Rob.

Ian Robinson · Posted: Tue Sep 04, 2007 2:34 pm Post subject:

I think there was an instance a year or two ago when a commercial station was fined for not having the tapes for Ofcom when a complaint was made. So, I would guess they're under obligations to record some (if not all) of their output.

I know that Chorley FM have to record certain shows on a regular basis, and whenever a guest comes in.

pickle · Posted: Wed Sep 12, 2007 5:29 pm Post subject: Ofcom get tough with Radio 2

Steve Wright would always say 'seems like a nice boy' or 'let's go shopping' in a lisping voice after something by the Pet Shop Boys or Soft Cell.

He also mucked about with the Bronski Beat/Marc Almond medley of 'Love To Love You Baby/I Feel Love/Johnny Remember Me' on air.
_________________
We made a land where crap is king and the good don't last for long.

'The Good Don't Last', Spock's Beard

mcl · Posted: Wed Sep 12, 2007 11:16 pm Post subject: