Invitation to Africa Young Voices (AYV) Television in connection with Complaints received from the Public Regarding indecent and pornographic contents shown on the House Mates Season 3 programme on the Television Station.
The Independent Media Commission, based on complaints received from various members of the public regarding the House Mate Salon 3 reality TV show presently ongoing on AYV TV, invited AYV TV to appear before the Complaints Committee to have a conversation regarding same.
During the meeting, the Chairman of the Complaints Committee, Commissioner Emmanuel Saffa Abdulai informed the team from AYV that they were invited to face the Complaints Committee based on complaints received from prominent personalities and other concerned members of the public. He told them that several people, including parents and teachers have called the IMC Chairman and the Executive Secretary to complain that the TV station was airing indecent and pornographic contents on the reality TV show. He reminded them that one of the functions of the IMC is to ensure a liberal media landscape for everyone. He added that the Commission does not sensor what the media does but when a media house crosses the line, then it becomes the business of the Commission. He said people have complained about the use of vulgar language by the Housemates, which is not controlled; pornography, house mates having sexual intercourse on TV, etc.
He said fortunately, and unfortunately, because of his busy schedule this year, he has not watched the show, but that some of his colleague Board Members at the IMC have witnessed the issues that are being complained about and have confirmed that indeed the complaints were not just frivolous. The Chairman noted that many people appreciate the diversity and richness of the programme, but that except the channel is controlled they cannot air ponorgraphy before 11:00 pm, because it breaches the Media Code of Practice. He said the IMC saw it fit to have this conversation because this sort of behavior violates the Media Code of Practice.
The Chairman said there has to be some amount of responsibility to control because one might not know whose child might be watching the programme. He said it was prohibited to air indecent contents, vulgar languages, etc. as it violates the Media Code of Practice. Therefore, he advised that they should apply a great amount of professionalism.
Responding, John Konteh, Producer of House Mate Salon 3 asked members of theCommittee whether they have seen the evidence of the content that the public was complaining about. In response the Chairman told him that two or three members of the Committee have said that they have watched the progrmme and confirmed same.
John Konteh reiterated that the progrmme House Mate Salon is an adult show. That means content is controlled throughout the day. He said some of the complaints might be people’s reaction to societal setting as in something that they are not used to seeing on TV. He said on screen, it is indicated clearly that it is an adult content, which means there could be restriction as to who should watch based on their setting. He said they were also conscious of what could be shown before 10:00pm, 11:00pm and onwards.
Mr Konteh also stated that he was certain that if one sees the content that people were circulating purported to be pornography, it could clearly see that there was nothing like that. He stated further that if such contents were aired at all, then it must have been aired during the watershed period. That in as much as they want to be professionals in what they do, they take into consideration the Media Code of Practice so that they do not offend majority of their viewers and do not breach the Media Code of Practice. He denied of persistently airing ponorgraphy or vulgarity. He said that was why he asked whether members of the Committee have seen the content that members of the public were complaining about.
He also said that what people were circulating were contents that were on night vision camera. That at 12 midnight they switch off the light; anything that is in night vision will have a completely different contrast on what the image will look like. He said whatever was circulated was not the content that they consciously circulated.
COMMITTEE’S FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS
FINDINGS
During deliberations, the Committee found out that:
- AYV were invited by the Commission based on reports received from the general public and IMC Monitoring report with no video evidence of what they complained about.
- The AYV representatives argued that the show is restricted, and it is an adult show; and that it is clearly indicated on screen. The Commission disagreed with this, because the Commission noted that the channel is not restricted as it could be accessed on facebook and other social media platforms by the public, including the underaged.
RECOMMENDATIONS
The Board of the Independent Media Commission at its meeting held on Wenesday 26th October 2022 adopted the recommendations of the Complaints Committee as follows:
- That the Africa Young Voices (AYV) TV be warned to refrain from showing anything indecent and/or pornographic on the show especially during the day
- That Africa Young Voices (AYV) should do a lot of orientation with the House Mates and also orientate and sensitize the general public about the programme.
