I like to have a look through the regular Ofcom Broadcast Bulletin. This fortnightly missive contains all the details about programme complaints. As such, it is the go-to publication for finding out which broadcasters have been doing rudes and naughties.
The latest edition (PDF) is particularly well crafted. Ofcom may have many faults, but they certainly seem to have a sense of humour when it comes to skewering a broadcaster.
The second item in the Broadcast Bulletin is about 50 Super Epic TV Moments, broadcast by E! Entertainment at 11am on 7 September 2011. This morning clip show contained a series of sexual incidents, including:
…a scene in which a “reality show” participant apparently masturbated using a wine bottle…
a woman on an American talent show smashing soft drink cans with her breasts…
a woman capable of achieving orgasm only by stimulating herself with the corner of a laundry basket…
a woman apparently masturbating a man beneath a dinner table…
a survival expert performing an enema on himself…
All jolly good fun of course, but maybe not what you expect to see at 11am.
Ofcom’s verdict is measured:
Ofcom acknowledges the Licensee’s apologies in this case and its intention to improve its compliance arrangements. Nonetheless, these were clear and serious breaches of the Code and Ofcom does not expect any similar compliance failures by E Entertainment in future.
The very next item in the broadcast bulletin is a further compliance failure by E! Entertainment (eff-bombs at midday, in case you were wondering).
Ofcom’s approach is rather more hardline than it was on the previous page.