TVNZ Remove Liquor Ads During Family Movies

TVNZ Remove Liquor Ads During Family Movies

Family First is welcoming a commitment from TVNZ to remove alcohol advertising during family movies after a mother complained about an advertisement for Coruba Rum shown during a TV2 family movie Monsters Inc.

This is another victory for families after an apology from TVNZ for a recent Close Up programme which offended many families with its promotion and display of the porn industry, and which received a record number of complaints.

It also follows on from recent decisions by the Broadcasting Standards Authority against TV3’s Home and Away and TVNZ’s Hung.

“Perhaps the tide is finally starting to turn against the increasing level of offensive, violent and sexual material being pushed on television – especially during family viewing hours,” says Bob McCoskrie, National Director of Family First NZ.

In a letter from the Advertising Standards Authority to the mother who complained, it said “TVNZ confirmed that they have taken the voluntary step of withdrawing liquor advertising during the Saturday night family movie” and they “..will exercise a greater degree of editorial control in relation to the content and nature of advertisements broadcast during the Saturday night family movie.”

“This decision is more good news and will hopefully set a family-friendly precedent for advertisements shown during family viewing hours. It’s now time for the tv channels to exercise the same restraint with their promos of adult programmes,” says Mr McCoskrie.

“Parents are sick and tired of lunging for the remote to protect children from offensive and inappropriate content during family viewing hours. The tv channels are having a race to the bottom regarding standards of decency, but these cases have shown the benefit of families actually complaining and getting pro-family decisions.”

Family First has written to both the Prime Minister and the Minister of Broadcasting demanding a clean-up and stronger enforcement of broadcasting standards.

ENDS

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