'Adult content no threat to children'

Following an onslaught by concerned parents and organisations over TopTV's plan to launch three adult entertainment channels within the next two months, the pay-television provider has outlined its rhyme and reason behind the move, as well as the precautionary measures that will accompany it.

Senior VP of sales and marketing at TopTV Marius Liebenberg says the company respects the right of any person who chooses not to subscribe to the “adult pack”, but points out that “there are many people in SA who enjoy viewing adult content, and who would like to do so in the privacy of their homes. The introduction of the adult pack of channels meets a market demand.”

The pay-TV operator says the adult entertainment package that is soon to be introduced on its platform comes on the back of research that found there is a viable market for such in SA.

TopTV recently commissioned a quantitative research study, which was conducted by an independent research company among 500 adults across all population groups. TopTV says 71% of respondents agreed that an adult has the right to watch pornography in the privacy of his or her home.

Despite controversial application process issues with the Independent Authority of SA (ICASA), TopTV says it will go ahead with the launch of Playboy TV, three 24-hour pornography channels, within the next two months. “The content will only be available, however, as a completely distinct, standalone package, requiring a separate monthly subscription fee, and will not be integrated into the current TopTV bouquet of programmes and content.”

Liebenberg says: “[TopTV] has taken every precaution to ensure that the content can only be accessed by people older than 18, who have consciously made a financial decision to acquire the package; and then only on a distinct encrypted platform through a separate monthly subscription and only after entering a unique, four-digit pin to unlock the content.”

He adds that it is the right of all adults to view content of their choice in the privacy of their homes. “This is a right enshrined in the South African constitution. It is a personal choice that consenting adults are entitled to make. Adult content is already freely available on mobile telephones, the Internet, and at specialist outlets.”

As a member of the National Association of Broadcasters, TopTV operates under the code of conduct enforced by the Broadcasting Complaints Commission of SA (BCCSA). In terms of the body's code: “A subscription broadcasting licensee must, wherever practicable, implement adequate mechanisms to enable a subscriber, using a reasonably secure mechanism, such as a pin number selected by the subscriber, to block a programme, based on the classification of the programme, or a channel, included in its service.”

TopTV says it has taken “great care” and is “satisfied [it has] more than sufficient mechanisms in place to help people protect their children from accessing the adult pack”.

Director in technology, media and telecommunications at Cliffe Dekker Hofmeyr Kathleen Rice says the mechanisms employed by TopTV are in line with the BCCSA code. “The object of the code is to protect children from harmful content and to shield adults from adult content if they find such content offensive.”

Rice adds that said mechanisms are “probably safer than the situation where irresponsible parents leave DVDs in places where they can be accessed by children”.

The Film and Publication Board (FPB) and a number of its civil society partners, including the Family Policy Institute and Childline, are rallying against TopTV.

The FPI, an independent public policy think tank based on the Judeo-Christian worldview, disagrees with the purported security of the adult content and has vowed to fight the move to air pornographic material by TopTV.

In an emotive statement posted on its Web site, the FPI says: “If TopTV succeeds in launching porn channels in SA, it will open the floodgates for other broadcasters to open the sewers and release a flood of filth into our communities. Despite TopTV's assurances of parental controls, it will not stop sexually depraved adults from sexually abusing women and children. The majority of the 55 000 rapes of women and sexual abuse of 25 000 children in SA every year, are perpetrated by TopTV's target market - adult men.”