@TimmyBGood wrote:
@Marlu-Nyu wrote:
I cannot stress this enough. Ofcom does not enforce a mandatory PIN for programmes from 5:30am to 9:00pm with a 12, 15, or 18 rating on any platform.
Statement published 5 November 2018
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.
Ofcom has carefully considered all consultation responses in reaching this decision and this statement concludes the review. The revisions to the relevant rules to extend MDP beyond premium film content will come into force on 1 January 2019.
https://www.ofcom.org.uk/tv-radio-and-on-demand/broadcast-standards/mandatory-daytime-protection
Yes, this is for FILMS, like on Sky Cinema. This do not apply for non-movie content like The Crystal Maze, or Bruce Forsyth's The Generation Game, Caught on Dashcam, The Simpsons, etc. when they receive a 12 or 15 rating. This is why Sky Cinema cannot be on Freeview or Freesat.
Ofcom states:
5:18:
Some responses to the Call for Inputs highlighted that additional metadata would be
required on post-9pm watershed programmes to trigger mandatory daytime protection,
and that currently the use of programme metadata is not standardised across the industry:
• Freesat saw the provision of metadata as a key obstacle. It suggested that only some
broadcasters provided the metadata that STBs use to prevent access to on-demand
content pre-watershed. Channels wishing to use mandatory daytime protection would
need to provide additional metadata to the STBs in a standard form that the STBs could
interpret. Freesat cited that this may present a barrier to smaller channel providers
who may not be in a position to provide this additional metadata.
• Youview explained that its devices also need to receive metadata in a recognisable
format to implement a PIN protection. YouView stated that it would be likely to need
to make changes to its business-to-business and business-to-consumer interfaces to
communicate any new metadata to STBs.
• There are two ways which broadcasters can restrict access to channels on the Sky
Platform:
- a watershed PIN system (currently used for film channels). This requires
broadcasters to provide a parental rating in the programme metadata used to
populate the Sky EPG; or
- a content access PIN system (currently used for adult channels). For this type a
technical change would be required to the broadcaster’s scheduling system to add
a piece of meta-data to explicitly identify post-9pm watershed content before the
9pm watershed. This change would need to be made before schedules are
provided to TV platforms to trigger a mandatory PIN.
Sky have informed Ofcom that if the Code was changed in this area, they would work
closely with third party pay TV broadcasters to ensure they could make use of the
relevant PIN functionality on Sky’s platforms. Sky have stated their commitment to
continue to take steps to check the meta-data received from channels.
5.19 It is the responsibility of broadcasters (channels) to ensure that content is scheduled and
coded correctly, with additional metadata to identify the need to enable PIN protection.
Just as, at present, channels are ultimately responsible for the mandatory PIN protection of
film and adult services on pay TV platforms, not the platform they are available on.
5.20 However, Ofcom would expect broadcasters and platforms to work together (through
contractual agreements where necessary) to ensure the correct and consistent labelling,
and checking, of content before transmission.
5.21 For some broadcasters wishing to use mandatory daytime protection, this could be readily
incorporated within current processes for scheduling, transmission and encryption of
content. For others, more work might need to be done to ensure programmes had the
correct metadata which could be interpreted by all relevant STBs. Ofcom is interested in
hearing from broadcasters [...]
Virgin media pin needed
