rollobot Posted October 11, 2008 Posted October 11, 2008 Foxtel is broadcasting Rambo on Foxtel Box Office. Rambo is rated R but when it eventually finds its way to Showtime or Movie One it will be rated MA and will have been cut to get that rating. The reason for this is that, before he retired from political office, former senator Brian Harradine got a law passed that makes it illegal for Foxtel to broadcast R-rated movies intact on its Showtime and Movie One networks. But here's where it gets interesting. Although Foxtel can't show R-rated movies and TV programs like Rome and Masters of Horror uncut on the aforementioned networks, it can screen unsullied R-rated fare on World Movies, the Comedy Channel, and of course Foxtel Box office -- although up until about a year ago, R-rated movies were "modified" to get an MA rating on Box Office. I remember years ago, when first I subscribed to Movie One, a voiceover announcement would always precede a formerly R-rated movie, which would inform the viewer that Foxtel, in all its wonderful benevolence, had toned the film's content down somewhat so as not to offend more sensitive viewers. However, this was a load of old cobblers employed to explain away missing portions of the film to those who may have seen the uncut version on DVD/VHS or at the cinema and who wanted to know what happened to the missing portions. It's just annoying that despite the sizeable amount of money we have to outlay to get a HDTV, Foxtel IQ/PVR/DVD recorder, and to subscribe to Foxtel itself, we're still being shortchanged by not being able to watch uncensored adult content. I think it's high-time the law was changed.
wapping Posted October 11, 2008 Posted October 11, 2008 Foxtel is broadcasting Rambo on Foxtel Box Office. Rambo is rated R but when it eventually finds its way to Showtime or Movie One it will be rated MA and will have been cut to get that rating. The reason for this is that, before he retired from political office, former senator Brian Harradine got a law passed that makes it illegal for Foxtel to broadcast R-rated movies intact on its Showtime and Movie One networks. But here's where it gets interesting. Although Foxtel can't show R-rated movies and TV programs like Rome and Masters of Horror uncut on the aforementioned networks, it can screen unsullied R-rated fare on World Movies, the Comedy Channel, and of course Foxtel Box office -- although up until about a year ago, R-rated movies were "modified" to get an MA rating on Box Office. I remember years ago, when first I subscribed to Movie One, a voiceover announcement would always precede a formerly R-rated movie, which would inform the viewer that Foxtel, in all its wonderful benevolence, had toned the film's content down somewhat so as not to offend more sensitive viewers. However, this was a load of old cobblers employed to explain away missing portions of the film to those who may have seen the uncut version on DVD/VHS or at the cinema and who wanted to know what happened to the missing portions. It's just annoying that despite the sizeable amount of money we have to outlay to get a HDTV, Foxtel IQ/PVR/DVD recorder, and to subscribe to Foxtel itself, we're still being shortchanged by not being able to watch uncensored adult content. I think it's high-time the law was changed. I think we say we are lucky the way we see movies over here. I read in the paper that sky tv was fined for showing a movie during the day that had the F word in. So i looked into this and all morning and afternoon the movies shown in the UK are light stuff untill after 9pm. So that means if you are a shift worker and want to see that gangster movie shown last night you cant as you have Mary Poppins in the afternoon.
emibel Posted October 11, 2008 Posted October 11, 2008 It's just annoying that despite the sizeable amount of money we have to outlay to get a HDTV, Foxtel IQ/PVR/DVD recorder, and to subscribe to Foxtel itself, we're still being shortchanged by not being able to watch uncensored adult content. But you just implied you can watch it uncensored (on FBO). Of course, that means paying more money if you haven't got Platinum.
rollobot Posted October 12, 2008 Author Posted October 12, 2008 (edited) But you just implied you can watch it uncensored (on FBO). Of course, that means paying more money if you haven't got Platinum. Why on earth should I have to pay extra to watch an uncensored movie??? I'm already paying a lot of money to subscribe to Foxtel. Uncut movies ought to be part of the deal. Edited October 12, 2008 by rollobot
rollobot Posted October 12, 2008 Author Posted October 12, 2008 I think we say we are lucky the way we see movies over here.I read in the paper that sky tv was fined for showing a movie during the day that had the F word in. So i looked into this and all morning and afternoon the movies shown in the UK are light stuff untill after 9pm. So that means if you are a shift worker and want to see that gangster movie shown last night you cant as you have Mary Poppins in the afternoon. So you think we're lucky that we can watch censored movies here? Give me a break!
Tri_ad Posted October 12, 2008 Posted October 12, 2008 Maybe Foxtel could put some sort of Parental control on the 'R' rated movies, whereby the user has to go into the menu and put in a four digit code or the like to watch the movie. Not sure if it's possible but if we can block channels using parental control surely the technology could be reversed to unblock certain movies/shows etc.
Hosko Posted October 13, 2008 Posted October 13, 2008 Maybe Foxtel could put some sort of Parental control on the 'R' rated movies, whereby the user has to go into the menu and put in a four digit code or the like to watch the movie.Not sure if it's possible but if we can block channels using parental control surely the technology could be reversed to unblock certain movies/shows etc. You can already block by rating. I'm certain Foxtel boxes come stand by requiring the PIN to watch MA rated shows.
Freak Posted October 13, 2008 Posted October 13, 2008 It's just annoying that despite the sizeable amount of money we have to outlay to get a HDTV, Foxtel IQ/PVR/DVD recorder, and to subscribe to Foxtel itself, we're still being shortchanged by not being able to watch uncensored adult content. I think it's high-time the law was changed. I agree the topic has been discussed before, i brought it up a year or so back with the same issue when Wolf Creek was shown on FBO as R rated, but on Showtime as MA. I believe it comes down to the narrowcast licensing arrangements, Showtime would have to apply for one (so I'm led to believe) if they wanted to do what World Movies currently does, and show R rated shows. When i live in Canberra and XXX rated materials are legal less than 1Km from my house, obviously the idea of watering down an R rating to MA, seems a little silly to me too.. Luckily in this case i already have Rambo on a BDRIP from the Internet, and thus don't have to be concerned with Foxtels ratings shortcomings any longer.
loony Posted October 13, 2008 Posted October 13, 2008 You can already block by rating. I'm certain Foxtel boxes come stand by requiring the PIN to watch MA rated shows. I have never had a STB delivered to me which has a pin by default or any parental control settings enabled.
DansDans Posted October 13, 2008 Posted October 13, 2008 (edited) I have never had a STB delivered to me which has a pin by default or any parental control settings enabled. Well you should have because R-rated programs is always blocked by default. Always has been - and I assume it always will be. FBO have been showing R-rated movies for over 3 years, so whoever made the comment about a year is incorrect. The first movie they showed in R-rating on FBO was The Brown Bunny and Inside Deep Throat - and both had blowjob scenes! Go figure. Although I never saw them on FBO so I dont know if they were in deed uncut. Since when does Comedy Channel show R-rated material? The only channel with the authority to show R-rated guff is World Movies - and that pathetic adults only service (and now FBO). Also, since when has Showtime censored movies? I dont think I've ever seen a movie that has been modified before? Does anyone have examples? You can also include examples of optical censorship as well Edit because i said Also too much Edited October 13, 2008 by DansDans
policrat Posted December 1, 2008 Posted December 1, 2008 (edited) This is a subject that's vexed me for a long time. Someone explain to me the inconsistency between World Movies and Showtime/Movie Network, now that the former has been packaged in with the latter. I mean, World Movies got away with screening R rated material due to its special subscription status, but that's no longer the case for them; yet they get away with it (with a 9pm caveat). Why aren't Showtime/Movie Network taking it upon themselves to run R movies? Furthermore, I read somewhere that pay-tv channels are free to rate however way they like, so long as the material hasn't been rated R by the OFLC first. This raises the question of whether they're actually showing R rated material but simply labelling it MA. I write this half an hour before Rome starts on Showtime. They claim MA. The DVDs are rated R. Edited December 1, 2008 by policrat
dax Posted December 1, 2008 Posted December 1, 2008 Furthermore, I read somewhere that pay-tv channels are free to rate however way they like The FTA networks do the same - they rate their own material. They can get in trouble if there are complaints and its found they havent followed the rating guidelines (but the punishment is usually a warning!)
policrat Posted December 1, 2008 Posted December 1, 2008 It seems World Movies shuffled into a convenient grey area of compromise that nobody - industry or regulator - is willing to rectify. It pisses me off because either Showtime/Movie Network are still and needlessly presenting damaged goods, or else they're fudging down the classification system on unfettered R rated material, and somehow being allowed to. Either way they aren't telling anyone. Of course the latter case is preferable. It'd be even better to know for a fact, rather than my having to go out and rent the thing, or sit and swallow my suspicions about being ripped off. As it stands, World Movies has something of an inexplicable racket going on (albeit a 9pm one), that ought to be horned in on by Showtime/Movie Network. On a positive note, it's good to see Showtime aren't so keen to perpetuate pan-and-scan like the Movie Network (16:9 cropping of 2.35:1 material). But the latter are awful in general, which is why I shitcanned them last week finally.
BangBangCan Posted December 1, 2008 Posted December 1, 2008 (edited) Well you should have because R-rated programs is always blocked by default. Always has been - and I assume it always will be.FBO have been showing R-rated movies for over 3 years, so whoever made the comment about a year is incorrect. The first movie they showed in R-rating on FBO was The Brown Bunny and Inside Deep Throat - and both had blowjob scenes! Go figure. Although I never saw them on FBO so I dont know if they were in deed uncut. Inside Deep Thoat, which screened on FBO for the first time in May 2006, was UNCUT(blowjob scene was shown IN FULL). IDT is a R Rated Film. Also, IDT has since been shown, also UNCUT on world movies. Edited December 1, 2008 by BangBangCan
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