Movies

The request was partially successful.

Dear Office of Communications,

While watching the movie ghosts of Mars (2000) a pivotal part of the movie was cut when ice cubes character says 'come on you mindless motherf*ckers'.

I contacted the channel (Sony movies channel) and they said it was because of UK regulations.

Please could you confirm this and can you please explain why it was cut from the film?

Yours faithfully,

richard

Ofcom Standards Team, Office of Communications

1 Attachment

Dear Richard
Thank you for your query below which has been forwarded to this team for
response.
We understand that you are querying Sony Movie Channel from cutting
material from its broadcast of Ghost of Mars recently. We note this film
was recently shown on that channel at various times after the 9pm
watershed between 14 March and 7 April 2018.
It is a condition for all Ofcom licensed broadcasters that they comply
with the Ofcom Broadcasting Code, which sets a range of editorial rules
related to the protection of under-eighteens and generally accepted
standards. Details of the Code are available here:
[1]https://www.ofcom.org.uk/tv-radio-and-on...
It would generally be prohibitive to broadcast a BBFC 15-rated film such
as Ghosts of Mars, which features a range of adult content including
strong language, before the 9pm watershed unless steps are taken by the
broadcaster to first ensure the material is suitable for the time shown.
Broadcasters can do this by either removing or editing inappropriate
content or, in the case of premium subscription film services, ensuring
there is a PIN protected system (or other equivalent protection) in place
around the broadcast. If a 15-rated film such as Ghosts of Mars was
broadcast after the watershed, as we understand was the case here, there
would be nothing in principle under our rules preventing if from being
shown in full.
In the first instance it's an editorial matter for individual broadcasters
to determine what steps to take to comply with the Code, and with this
example it would be for Sony to clarify why it chose to edit content from
a film that was nevertheless appropriately scheduled after the 9pm
watershed, and a time when the content you highlighted would not be
prohibited under the Code in principle.
We hope this clarifies Ofcom's position.
Yours sincerely
:: Standards and Audience Protection
   Content Standards, Licensing and Enforcement
   Content & Media Policy
   Email: [2][email address]
 
         
   Riverside House
   2a Southwark Bridge Road
   London SE1 9HA
   020 7981 3000
   [3]www.ofcom.org.uk
 
 
 

show quoted sections