Image results in reminder

Press, 30 August 1985, Page 15

Image results in reminder

From ROBIN CHARTERIS London correspondent of “The Press” Britain’s Independent Broadcasting Authority has reminded television companies to avoid the transmission of subliminal messages, after receiving a summons from a legal campaigner, Mr Norris McWhirter. Mr McWhirter took out the summons last month after his 14-year-old nephew, using the freezeframe device on his video recorder, spotted the features of his uncle superimposed on a naked busty woman during the I.T.V. satirical series, “Spitting Image.” The authority’s directorgeneral, Mr John Whitney, has admitted that two “misjudgments” occurred and

has advised Mr McWhirter that the authority has reexamined its interpretation of the Broadcasting Act.

"The 1.8. A. has now issued further guidance to the I.T.V. companies,” said Mr Whitney. “The guidance reminds companies that the Broadcasting Act is intended to prevent the use of images of brief duration designed to convey messages or influence the minds of viewers without their being aware or fully aware of such messages or influences.

“The 1.8. A. does not believe that a rigid rule on duration is appropriate. The guidance emphasises that what must be avoided is the concealment of an out-of-context message by the use of an image or images of brief duration.”