Watchdog upholds Xposé complaint

IRELAND’S broadcasting watchdog has upheld a complaint about the use of the term “OMFG” by the presenter of TV3’s celebrity gossip programme Xposé.

Freddie Symmons told the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland (BAI) he was shocked and disgusted at the use of the term at 6.10pm in the evening.

He said his four-year-old daughter asked him the meaning of the term used by presenter, Karen Koster, when making a point last July.

TV3 said it regretted the use of the term “OMFG” but as the programme was aimed at an adult audience and the full obscenity was not used, it was within context.

It also pointed out that in live programming, colloquial language was often used as presenters had reasonable freedom to be spontaneous.

“There is some ambiguity as to what the ‘F’ in OMFG denotes. It is often used to signify the word ‘flipping’, so Mr Symmons’ version of the meaning of the acronym is debatable,” the broadcaster stated.

BAI’s compliance committee found that TV3 had not exercised due care to be permitting the term to be used.

It also found it likely that children could have been watching the programme.

Another complaint from Fiona O’Shea about sponsorship arrangements for an episode of TV3’s The Apprentice last September, was upheld in part by the BAI.

Part of the complaint upheld was the reference made to prices for a gift card but a brief reference to one of the programme’s sponsors, was not.

The BAI decided that there was no evidence of unfairness in the way RTÉ’s Liveline presenter Joe Duffy interviewed Cllr Louise Minihan after she threw paint at former health minister Mary Harney last November.

Vivion Herra complained Mr Duffy referred to Ms Minihan as a sniper, associated her with Sinn Féin and referred to them as terrorists.

Mr Herra said he did not agree with someone throwing paint over a minister but felt that the programme was unfair as Ms Minihan was no longer associated with Sinn Féin and that Mr Duffy used her former membership of the party as an excuse to criticise it.

Rejecting the complaint, the BAI’s compliance committee said there was no evidence of unfairness or editorial bias in the broadcast.

Daniel Reynolds complained about a children’s programme broadcast by RTÉ One that showed a young boy slash a man across the neck with a dagger.

Mr Reynolds said he was watching a rugby match with his 11-year-old daughter last November. After switching channels they were horrified by the stabbing depicted on the children’s programme Legend of the Seeker.

RTÉ said many parents would have regarded the programme as suitable for their children as the violence depicted was highly fantasised.

The BAI’s compliance committee said the fantasy was one that was unsuitable for young children. It found the broadcaster did not exercise sufficient care when scheduling the episode.