Classification
The primary responsibility for ensuring that TV programs reflect community standards rests with TV channels themselves under a system of industry-developed codes of practice.
Under section 123 of the Broadcasting Services Act 1992, ASTRA has developed such codes of practice in consultation with the federal government regulator, the Australian Communications Media Authority (ACMA). Code 3 of the Subscription Television Codes of Practice deals with program classification.
Guidelines for the Classification of Films and Computer Games
The Guidelines are a tool used by Classifiers to classify TV programs. They contain descriptions of each of the categories, indicating the most suitable audience. Each classification category contains a list of the criteria (classifiable elements) used by Classifiers when making classification decisions. These Guidelines are also used by the Classification Board, the Commonwealth body responsible for the classification of theatrical films, DVDs, video, computer games and certain publications.
Classification markings are the coloured classification symbols and words that represent each of the classifications: G, PG, M, MA 15+ and R 18+. Electronic copies of the classification marking are available to download from the Classification Board website.
Classification Training
The Classifications Operations Branch (COB), part of the Attorney General’s Department, provides a content assessment training course which covers general classification training for content under Schedule 7 of the Broadcasting Services Act 1992. Information on the Trained Content Assessors course can be found here.
FOXTEL has worked with the COB to tailor the Trained Content Assessor (TCA) Course for STV employees. The tailored course is titled the TCA-TV course.
All STV employees who are involved with the production and scheduling of programs and program promotions should attend the TCA-TV course. The upcoming dates for the one day course are:
20 April 2010
18 May 2010
15 June 2010
13 July 2010
17 August 2010
22 September 2010
For more information please contact the COB on (02) 9289 7100 or email training@classification.gov.au
