Film Classification committee to go hard on TV stations for continuous flouting of Film Act 935
On May 14, 2020, the National Film Authority established the film classification Committee. The twelve-member committee categorizes, classifies, standardizes, and previews viewer content. Its purview consists of movies, television programs, and music videos.
The Film Classification Committee has served notice it will in a matter of weeks, go hard on TV stations that are flouting the provisions in the Development and Classification of Film Act 935 to regulate content shown on TV.
According to FCC, it has already served notices to the TV stations. However, GIBA, which is the regulator is not monitoring its members as agreed.
It bemoaned the fact that there is a lot of content out there, that is not supposed to be on air.
“We’ve served them notices. In a few weeks, we will go hard on them because we are running out of patience. The TV stations are not being responsible at all.” he noted.
“An example is Black Sheriff’s First and Second Sermons being shown on TV. Per the guidelines, we don’t see why they are showing it at peak time. We have called the attention of the TV stations even though we are being a bit flexible for starters,” he added.
In an interview with Graphic Showbiz Socrate Safo, chairman of the Film Classification Committee indicated that even though the committee had an agreement with GIBA to ensure that the TV stations did in-house regulation of their content, that had not been the case.
“We agreed with GIBA that there should be a period when the TV stations will do an in-house regulation of the system; we thought it wise to do it with the media houses,” he noted.
On May 14, 2020, the National Film Authority established the film classification Committee. The twelve-member committee categorizes, classifies, standardizes, and previews viewer content. Its purview consists of movies, television programs, and music videos.
The committee is headed by popular film producer, Socrate Safo, who is also the Director of Creative Arts at the Commission for National Culture.
Though audiovisual materials’ classification was suspended in 2016, it was reinstated because, apart from being legally mandated, it is also important that all material for public exhibition, whether film, documentary, advert, music video, or soap opera, be classified. The NFA did not make specific references to content on online platforms.
Mr. Safo further indicated that going forward, videos will have to come through its outfit before going to the TV stations.
“This time, we have given them the option to be mindful. Now the videos will come through us before going to the TV stations. Per the classification, there is a schedule for them to be shown,” he concluded.
