The Seven Network’s Today Tonight received the highest number of viewer complaints in the 12 months to June this year according to a report from industry peak body Free TV.
The current affairs show fronted by Anna Coren received a total of 83 complaints mostly concerning perceived bias and or inaccuracy in reporting. Ten’s Australian Idol was second, with 53 concerning perceived discrimination, sexual references and inappropriate language.
The commercial TV industry’s Annual Code Complaints report found that from 1 July 2006 to 30 June 2007, there were 914 written complaints made to stations, 17% less than the 1109 made in the previous 12 month period.
The largest number of complaints, 67%, related to the classification of programme items, the next most common category of complaints concerned issues of discrimination, 16%, with bias and inaccuracy in news and current affairs programmes in third at 7%.
Of the 914 complaints, TV stations upheld 18 of them relating to nine broadcast items, compared to 38 upheld in the previous year.
The Australian Communications and Media Authority considered 61 code complaints which had been assessed by stations but not upheld and referred by the viewer to ACAM. It upheld 11 of those complaints.
The code of practice was crated by Free TV to self-regulate the industry.
David Leckie, chairman of Free TV Australia said: “These figures very clearly demonstrate that the code is working well. Only 914 complaints over a 12 month period is a very small number when one considers there are 55 commercial television stations around the country broadcasting all day every day of the year. A 17 per cent decrease in complaints compared to the previous year, is a great achievement.”
Programmes receiving the highest number of complaints:
Today Tonight, 83
Seven
Relating to perceived bias, inaccuracy and inappropriate material for the time of broadcast
Australian Idol, 51
Ten
Discrimination, sexual references, language
The Ronnie Jones Half Hour, 45
Ten
Discrimination and language
New Years Eve 200, 39
Ten
Inappropriate sexual references
The Biggest Loser, 21
Ten
Inappropriate language
Sunrise, 21
Seven
Offensive content, discrimination and inappropriate language
