Don’t watch ABC because I don’t like it, page-19

If the program is intended to a targeted audience then it's ok according to the ABC from a previous complaint about language.

Target audience

The ABC accepts that provocative, boundary-pushing comedy will not appeal to all potential viewers: programs of this nature are targeted at a particular and distinct audience.

Previous ACMA findings have acknowledged that understanding the expectations of the target audience for particular material is necessary to assessment of compliance with standard 7.1. As the principles make clear, it is the expectations of this target audience, and not those of the broader community, that is relevant to assessing harm and offence in context. For example:  

• Investigation Report No. 2700 concluded that coarse language in a Kanye West song on triple j would not have fallen outside the expectations of the network’s target audience, and nor would it have been offensive to that target audience;
• Investigation Report No. 2784 acknowledged as relevant the ABC’s submissions that the target audience of a program of live, stand-up comedy entitled Raw Comedy would anticipate that the broadcast would include ‘raw’ elements, take risks and push the boundaries of good taste;
• Investigation Report No. 3059 acknowledged that part of the relevant editorial context for a satirical sketch in The Elegant Gentleman’s Guide to Knife Fighting was the target audience of the program, being in this case viewers who enjoy edgy, dark and sometimes unexpected comedy;
• Investigation Report No. 3115 accepted that the editorial context for coarse language which was likely to offend in the radio program A Rational Fear was that the program was ‘a late night satirical comedy pitched to a target audience as “edgy piss-taking with social and political bite”’.

We know from the feedback we receive from our audience that viewers falling outside the target audience can find programs like The Hamster Wheel, Ja’mie Private Schoolgirl or The Elegant Gentleman’s Guide to Knife Fighting baffling, shocking and sometimes deeply offensive. But the response from target audiences is strikingly different. These target audiences value this alternative material, watching broadcasts in large numbers, seeking out these programs on iview, and talking about them on social media. Indeed, the potential for such comedy to divide audiences is central to its appeal. The deliberate challenging of broader community standards - such as by jokes targeting social taboos - consolidates and grows this target audience; they are party to ‘in-jokes’ and ‘get’ a particular brand of humour which sets them apart from the broader community.

Presenting comedy programs of this nature is in accordance with the ABC’s statutory function to provide innovative and entertaining broadcasting services. It furthers the ABC’s statutory responsibility to provide a balance between broadcasting programs of wide and specialised appeal.

These important ideas are reflected in the principles which accompany the harm and offence standards. These principles explicitly note: ’Innovation involves a willingness to take risks, invent and experiment with new ideas. This can result in challenging content which may offend some of the audience some of the time.’ The principles also clearly state: ’The ABC must be able to provide content for specific target audiences whose standards may differ from generally held community attitudes.’

The ACMA’s preliminary investigation report pays inadequate attention to the specific target audience. The report briefly acknowledges that ‘the Chaser team ... has a reputation for comedy that may be challenging and/or offensive’ and – with understatement – concedes that ‘given the program and The Chaser team’s history and reputation, the target audience was likely to expect some material that may be inappropriate or unacceptable in another context’. However, the preliminary report fails to bring critical information about the target audience to bear in assessing the relevant material in context.

The target audience for this content was adults with a mature perspective and an appreciation for provocative, irreverent, boundary-pushing comedy. Viewers in this target audience understand that they may find aspects of the program rude, offensive or even shocking. They expect to have their sensibilities challenged. Relative to others, viewers in this target audience have a high tolerance for offensive content. The MA15+ classification of the program and its late evening scheduling are two ways in which this targeting of a particular audience was signposted to viewers; promotion and publicity for the series provided further relevant information. In addition, there is long-standing audience familiarity with the Chaser team and their style of humour, having produced a variety of popular programs for the ABC since 2001.

This series of The Hamster Decides attracted an average audience of 1.3 million viewers, watched by both men and women, and viewers in urban and regional locations. It attracted viewers across the age categories. It was the second most popular ABC1 program amongst 25-34 year old viewers in 2013. This is an important audience for the ABC to connect with to ensure our continued relevance to all Australians.

It is the nature, expectations and standards of the target audience that is relevant to assessing harm and offence in context. While the ABC regrets that some community members outside this target audience may have found the segment offensive, the reactions of these members of the community do not support a conclusion that standard 7.1 was breached. An ordinary, reasonable person who was not part of the target audience would understand that the program was not intended for them.


https://www.google.com.au/url?url=h...jAv0QFghCMAg&usg=AOvVaw22IWJvsMXpuffzRevMcaBW