Adult only household - why is Daytime Protection PIN enforced?

[davey-lad]

I've read multiple threads on the OFCOM / Daytime Protection PIN rules and I've concluded it's just a load of old (Removed) for a lot of people.

As an adult only household there is literally no benefit in having this PIN enforced.  It's pure annoyance for annoyance sake.

Imagine walking into your local pub and being asked for your Age ID everytime you want a pint.. when you're a grey haired 50 something!! It's not a lot different.

Sky should have the option to register as an adult only household which allows permanent disablement of this nonsense.

I'd love a Sky response to this that doesn't quote OFCOM 

Moderator note: Removed inappropriate language

[SKY1992bf · Accepted solution]

@davey-lad  You won't get a response from sky if you don't want to blame ofcom blame the government because it's the law as it currently stands simple as that and ofcom are responsible for enforcing it and sky are legally responsible for applying it along with any other broadcaster wishing to show age restricted content pre watershed 

[daveNOS]

@davey-lad The only response you will get is that it is an OfCom requirement and Sky have to abide by that requirement.

[davey-lad]

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@SKY1992bf wrote:

@davey-lad  You won't get a response from sky if you don't want to blame ofcom blame the government because it's the law as it currently stands simple as that and ofcom are responsible for enforcing it and sky are legally responsible for applying it 

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I wasn't expecting one tbh... but I'd love one all the same

[Daniel0210]

@davey-lad 

You won't get one. Sky would get in lots of trouble for allowing what you're suggesting. If it's that big an issue change your pin to something simple like 1111 or write to your MP. 

[TimmyBGood]

@davey-lad 

The Ofcom Broadcasting Code (“the Code”) allows for films rated up to ‘15’ by the BBFC (British Board of Film Classification) to be broadcast during the daytime on premium subscription channels and up to ‘18’ on pay per view film channels, provided that they are protected by a mandatory PIN code. This form of protection is called mandatory daytime protection (“MDP”) and cannot be removed or bypassed by viewers.

Following our consultation in March 2018, this document sets out Ofcom’s decision to extend the application of the MDP rules in the Code to permit scheduled television channels to show programmes, which can currently only be shown after the 9pm watershed, before this time, but only if mandatory daytime protection is in place.

https://www.ofcom.org.uk/tv-radio-and-on-demand/broadcast-standards/mandatory-daytime-protection/ 

[TimmyBGood]

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@davey-lad wrote:

Imagine walking into your local pub and being asked for your Age ID everytime you want a pint.. when you're a grey haired 50 something!! It's not a lot different.

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At last, a genuine use for the Sky Live camera on the Glass television set ; )

[davey-lad]

Yes, I've read all that.. and it's nanny state nonsense at its finest 

What's worse is that there was zero pushback by any organisation they asked for responses from.

OFCOM are every bit as bad as the FCA. 

Power to the people

Makes me feel like marching to London waving my fist 

[best+of+the+best]

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@davey-lad wrote:

I've read multiple threads on the OFCOM / Daytime Protection PIN rules and I've concluded it's just a load of old (Removed) for a lot of people.

As an adult only household there is literally no benefit in having this PIN enforced.  It's pure annoyance for annoyance sake.

Imagine walking into your local pub and being asked for your Age ID everytime you want a pint.. when you're a grey haired 50 something!! It's not a lot different.

It's a legal requirement serving underage drinkers comes with a hefty fine for the pub involved 

Sky should have the option to register as an adult only household which allows permanent disablement of this nonsense.
Not really nonsense what if your bank removed the need to enter a pin on your contactless card after a few card payments.

I wouldn't like to lose my card for somebody to have unlimited purchase access because someone like you doesn't like entering a pin.
I'd love a Sky response to this that doesn't quote OFCOM 

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Moderator note: Removed inappropriate language

[davey-lad]

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@best+of+the+best wrote:

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@davey-lad wrote:

I've read multiple threads on the OFCOM / Daytime Protection PIN rules and I've concluded it's just a load of old (Removed) for a lot of people.

As an adult only household there is literally no benefit in having this PIN enforced.  It's pure annoyance for annoyance sake.

Imagine walking into your local pub and being asked for your Age ID everytime you want a pint.. when you're a grey haired 50 something!! It's not a lot different.

It's a legal requirement serving underage drinkers comes with a hefty fine for the pub involved 

Sky should have the option to register as an adult only household which allows permanent disablement of this nonsense.
Not really nonsense what if your bank removed the need to enter a pin on your contactless card after a few card payments.

I wouldn't like to lose my card for somebody to have unlimited purchase access because someone like you doesn't like entering a pin.
I'd love a Sky response to this that doesn't quote OFCOM 

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Your responses make no sense. 

Why would you ID someone in a pub who is clearly a 50+ yo bloke because you're worried about prosecution ? You wouldn't! 

And why would you want Banks to remove a security feature that clearly stops you losing all your money? You wouldn't! 

I'm proposing a user choice, where the worst that could happen is someone breaking into my house and watching Law and Order Organised Crime before 9pm

Moderator note: Removed inappropriate language

[Daniel0210]

@davey-lad 

Propose it to your MP as we've already said. Sky can't change it. 

[TimmyBGood]

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@davey-lad wrote:

Yes, I've read all that.. and it's nanny state nonsense at its finest 

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In this context states exist to 'nanny' their citizens (ie monitor and control what media they consume 'for their own good') : it's been a basic function since states began emerging around 10,000BCE

As far as I'm aware there has never been a place and time where a state said ' go ahead, publish, distribute and consume whatever you want ' 

You may well not like that, and as a philosophical point it's entirely valid to disagree, but history is against you.

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@davey-lad wrote:

Makes me feel like marching to London waving my fist 

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Don't march too slowly or wave it too aggressively: that's basically illegal now...

[TimmyBGood]

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@davey-lad wrote:

Sky should have the option to register as an adult only household which allows permanent disablement of this nonsense.

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Incidentally, permitting users to remove MDP is not permitted because the 'visiting grandchild' scenario was raised back when the moral panic about 'foreign-owned' satellite television first emerged back in the late 1980s.

[davey-lad]

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As far as I'm aware there has never been a place and time where a state said ' go ahead, publish, distribute and consume whatever you want ' 

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Just after the option to stop nagging before I watch what has already been published and distributed.

Don't march too slowly or wave it too aggressively: that's basically illegal now...

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Duly noted

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Incidentally, permitting users to remove MDP is not permitted because the 'visiting grandchild' scenario was raised back when the moral panic about 'foreign-owned' satellite television first emerged back in the late 1980s.

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Ah.. the grandchild we don't have. Makes sense.

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Anyway, if anything this thread highlights how a blanket "solution" is nonsense to some, likely many.  I mean, there is no policing of people who let their kids watch after 9pm anyway - it's left entirely up to parents.  

Probably time to draw a close to the conversation... and I won't be writing to my MP about this.  

Yet