PIN number for Challenge?

[ZyloKai]

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@TimmyBGood wrote:

@xenon81 @ZyloKai 

I suspect it's a bit of both. Sky hardware has inherent PIN capability, so Sky content programmers can simply go by the official 'rating' and the system will apply MDP automatically. 

Freeview hardware generally cannot apply a PIN so channel schedulers have to make a decision based on actual content and context: there's a difference between what's considered 'appropriate' at 15:00 and 20:00, for example, though both are technically pre-watershed, and ultimately Ofcom would rule on whether they got it right.

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Key points from Ofcom: 

• Suitability of Content: Material unsuitable for children should not, in general, be shown before 9 pm or after 5:30 am. However, some 12-rated programmes may be considered suitable for broadcast before the watershed if their content is appropriate for children. [Source]
• Broadcaster Responsibility: Broadcasters must ensure that content broadcast before the watershed does not include material unsuitable for children. This includes considerations of language, violence, sexual content, and other potentially harmful material. [Source]
• Contextual Considerations: The context in which material is presented is crucial. Even if a programme is rated 12, it can be broadcast before the watershed if the content is deemed appropriate for children in the specific context it is presented. [Source]

• Freeview's Approach: Freeview does not have a built-in system for PIN protection across all devices. Instead, parental controls are managed through individual TV sets or set-top boxes, and the availability and functionality of these controls can vary between manufacturers. [Source]

• Ofcom Broadcasting Code: The Ofcom Broadcasting Code allows for films rated up to 15 by the BBFC to be broadcast during the daytime on premium subscription channels, provided they are protected by a mandatory PIN code. This form of protection is not mandated for free-to-air services like Freeview. [Source]

While Freeview does not enforce mandatory PIN protection for 12-rated programmes aired before 9 pm, it relies on broadcasters to adhere to content suitability guidelines and on viewers to utilize any available parental controls on their individual devices. 

So, IMHO, as Freeview doesn't have the means to PIN-protect before 9pm and/or it varies by device, it depends on the broadcasters to provide the correct programme for the time of day. Seems like a looophole, TBH.