and/or offensive language intended for adult audiences shall not be broadcast before the
watershed period.
20.

On the basis that there is a likelihood of older children forming part of the audience during
the watershed period, licensees shall adhere to the provisions of Article 32 below (audience
advisories) enabling parents to make an informed decision as to the suitability of the
programming for their family members.

21.

Promotional material and music videos which contain scenes of violence, sexually explicit
conduct and/or offensive language intended for adult audiences shall not be broadcast
before the watershed period.

22.

Some programmes broadcast outside the watershed period will not be suitable for very
young children. Licensees should provide sufficient information, in terms of regular
scheduling patterns or on-air advice, to assist parents to make appropriate viewing choices.

23.

Licensees shall be aware that with the advance of the watershed period progressively less
suitable (i.e. more adult) material may be shown and it may be that a programme will be
acceptable for example at 23h00 that would not be suitable at 21h00.

24.

Broadcasters must be particularly sensitive to the likelihood that programmes which start
during the watershed period and which run beyond it may then be viewed by children.

25.

Subscription services
25.1 Where a programme service is only available to viewers on subscription and offers a
parental control mechanism, its availability to children may be more restricted and the
watershed period may begin at 20h00.
LANGUAGE

26.

Offensive language, including profanity, blasphemy and other religiously insensitive material
shall not be used in programmes specially designed for children.

27.

No excessively and grossly offensive language should be used before the watershed period
on television or at times when large numbers of children are likely to be part of the audience
on television or radio. Its use during the periods referred to above should, where practicable,
be approved in advance by the licensee’s most senior programme executive or the
designated alternate.
SEXUAL CONDUCT

28.

Licensees shall not broadcast material, which judged within context, contains a scene or
scenes, simulated or real of any of the following:
(i) A person who, or is depicted as being under the age of 18 years, participating in,
engaging in or assisting another person to engage in sexual conduct or a lewd display of
nudity;
(ii) Explicit violent sexual conduct;
(iii) Bestiality;
(iv) Explicit sexual conduct which degrades a person in the sense that it advocates a
particular form of hatred based on gender and which constitutes incitement to cause harm.

29.

Save for 28.(i) above, the prohibition in 28. (ii) to 28 (iv) shall not be applicable to bona fide
scientific, documentary, dramatic material, which judged within context, is of such nature.
The prohibition in 28.(i) shall however be applicable to artistic material which judged within

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