The ITC Programme Code

SECTION ONE
Family Viewing Policy, Offence to Good Taste and Decency, Portrayal of
Violence and Respect for Human Dignity

1.1 General Requirement

Section 6(1) of the the Broadcasting Act 1990 requires that the ITC does all it can to secure that every licensed service includes nothing in its programmes which offends against good taste or decency.

Section 7(1)(a) required ITC to draw up a code giving guidance as to the rules to be observed with respect to the showing of violence

Programme services are free to deal appropriately with all elements of the human experience but should avoid gratuitous offence by providing information and guidance to audiences, bearing in mind the expectations of those watching.

Decisions on programme content will vary according to the time of day, nature of the channel and the likely audience. This is true not only in respect of children but for audiences in general. Viewers are more likely to experience distress or offence as a result of strong material if they are taken unawares.