Cold shower for Big Brother
Housemates in the next series of reality TV show Big Brother will be taught how to avoid sexual harassment and bullying.
The Ten Network made the undertaking to the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) after the watchdog found a third episode of the 2005 series of Big Brother Uncut breached broadcast standards.
ACMA received two complaints from viewers about an episode aired on July 4 last year.
The viewers took their concerns to Ten initially but received an unsatisfactory response from the network.
The media watchdog found the episode went beyond the suitability of the MA (15+) classification and the network did not properly describe the episode as containing strong adult themes, sexual references, implied sexual behaviour and full frontal or partial nudity.
It followed similar breaches for Big Brother Uncut episodes aired on May 30 and June 13 last year.
In its list of undertakings to ensure it met community standards, Ten has pledged to "improve codes of conduct and housemate training to increase awareness of sexual harassment, assault and bullying".
Ten also said it had brought in a rape crisis centre manager and media studies academic to look at its "precautions to prevent sexually demeaning behaviour in the house".
Ten's production staff will also improve the way they monitor housemate behaviour from the control room, by drawing up new guidelines for behaviour.
"The control room will use the guidelines to identify risky situations and immediately refer them to production executives for advice," Ten said.
"Identifying problematic behaviour at an early stage and intervening, if necessary, will have a positive impact on the nature and context of material that is available for broadcast."
Two classifiers will also view Big Brother Uncut episodes before they are shown to ensure they meet standards and report back to ACMA every week on any complaints received.
ACMA chairman Chris Chapman said it was important that community standards were upheld.
"The classification scheme set out in the code reflects well-accepted community standards and provides safeguards against the broadcast of inappropriate material," ACMA chairman Chris Chapman said.
"It is imperative that broadcasters stay within its limits."
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