MTRCB’s regulatory moves uphold viewers’ rights

Some viewers are gratified to see that the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB) has become more judiciously proactive of late. First to get critiqued was a comedy show, specifically for a skit that “comically” intimated self-abuse, followed by a morning show host’s “rude language and demeanor” while conducting an interview, which offended some members of the legal profession.

The cautionary moves are deemed significant, because they remind TV people that there are rules and rights that need to be followed and upheld, not the least important of which is young viewers’ right to watching TV fare that isn’t inordinately injurious to their still developing and thus vulnerable psyches.

These reminders are long overdue, because quite a number of TV workers blithely believe that they can pretty much do or say whatever they want on the occasionally aptly named boob tube.

Truth to tell, the exact opposite should be true: Because TV reaches deep into people’s homes, where children are watching practically all the time, it has to be doubly sure that most of its content is GP (General Patronage). Less than that can be intrusive and abusive, and simply won’t do.

Restriction

Alas, quite a number of on-cam and even off-cam TV people pooh-pooh that all-important limitation and restriction. They treat their programs as their personal playgrounds, where they, and not the MTRCB, set the rules.

Well, the Board’s recent reminders have served to disabuse them of that fond fantasy, and we hope that other TV talents and shows will henceforth realize that viewers’ rights, not TV people’s subjective tips and tricks, should carry the day—and rule the roost!

While reformers are at it, they should also look into the even more shocking and unprofessional antics of radio-TV announcers and commentators, some of whom behave like surly and snarly “attack dogs” on their loud and livid programs.

In the lofty name of “public service” and “defense of the underdog,” they scathingly rail against “erring” public officials for their real or imagined sins, using gutter language that children and adults should never have to hear.

It’s shocking how many public officials meekly take all that excessive abuse with nary a whimper, and don’t report these virulent “public defenders” to official regulatory bodies.

Thinking more realistically, however, we realize that their meekness is due to their sad realization that they can’t possibly win this debate, because the vicious program hosts arrogate to themselves the key roles of prosecutor, judge and jury!

Other excesses on radio-TV that should be penalized include the salacious talk and banter on late-night shows, where even female DJs love uttering slimy and smarmy sexual innuendos and outright lewd talk, to their listeners’ “delight.”

And, what about the hosts who use their shows for financial gain for favored products and services in the hollow name of “infotainment”—and get away with it?!

Finally, there are the lazy program hosts who eat up valuable airtime by dispensing “blind item” gossip, and making listeners guess whom they’re dissing. Even “award-winning” broadcasters do this to pass the time without having to think, even if they know better!