The communications watchdog has found the Ten Network did not breach any broadcasting rules over a controversial incident on its reality television show Big Brother.
Communications Minister Helen Coonan said there was no breach because a hole existed in current rules governing internet broadcasts of that nature.
She said she had ordered the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) to undertake a major review of the television code with a view to extending it to the internet "Essentially what ACMA has found … is that because the internet footage was screened live as a webcast, and not stored, it isn’t technically broadcast (under the existing Broadcasting Services Act)," she told reporters in Sydney
Housemates Michael "Ashley" Cox, 20, and Michael "John" Bric, 21, were removed from the Big Brother compound on the Gold Coast following the incident involving Camilla Halliwell, 22, on Saturday.The footage was streamed on the internet to a limited audience via a paid service restricted to over 18s, and Ten’s rivals, Seven and Nine, have shown parts of it on their news programs.It showed Cox and Bric in bed with Halliwell, and appeared to show Bric holding her down while Cox rubbed his crotch in her face The men have apologised but insist it was a joke that went sour.
AAP
Imagine if this happened in the United States?
