The document discusses several key UK laws related to broadcasting and film classification: 1) The Race Regulations Act of 1976 aimed to reduce racial discrimination in the workplace by making it illegal for employers to treat employees differently based on ethnicity. 2) The Broadcasting Act of 1990 reformed British broadcasting by replacing the Independent Broadcasting Authority with the Independent Television Commission, reducing restrictions on private channel ownership. 3) The Obscene Publications Act of 1959 prohibited publishing or broadcasting content deemed obscene as it could corrupt audiences, especially children. It relates to film ratings and restrictions on broadcasting certain content during early hours.

1. Assignment 3C
Race Regulations Act 1976
The race regulations act of 1976 was laws set to fight against racial discrimination within
a working environment. This can be anything from an employer treating another employee
in a favorable way or not employing, firing or not promoting someone because of his or
her ethnicity. This relates to the film and/or TV industry because the employees need
rights that protect them from discrimination and gives them equal opportunities. By this law
being made the amount of racial discriminations have been decreased and there are laws,
which defend people who are being treated unfairly. This law is very important in
maintaining the integrity of a peaceful and harmonized work environment. This law
prevents employers from discriminating against people purely based on their ethnicity.
Broadcasting Act 1990
The broadcasting act of 1990 was laws that were set to reform the entire structure of
British broadcasting, so that television business ownerships were less restricted and were
allowed more leniency. This is why the independent broadcasting authority was replaced
with independent television commission, which allows individuals the opportunity to own
channels and radio authority. This relates to the film and television because of the change
in the way that they are allowed to be owned, which is held by less restrictions. The
decrease in restrictions allow independent television companies access to broadcast as much
as other television companies. The independent television commission started to regulate
non-terrestrial channels, whereas the independent broadcasting authority only regulated
channel 4, ITV and British satellite broadcasting. Regulations are rules set and
maintained by a higher authority, so that television companies don’t breach the set rules.
The broadcasting act of 1990 is an important law because it caused the replacement of the
independent broadcasting authority, which allowed other independent channels to be
regulated and broadcasted.
Obscene Publications Act 1959
Obscene publications act of 1959 was a law set to stop the offence of something being
published that could ‚deprave and corrupt‛ the audience that are most likely to read, see or
hear this offensive information. This could be like a film being broadcasted at early peak
hours on a channel like BBC and showing a graphic pornographic scene. Due to the hours
of it being broadcasted there is an increased chance that children will see the offence, which
in this case is a pornographic scene, the obscene publications act of 1959 prevents this.
The obscene publications act relates to the film and TV industry because this relates to
broadcasting hours and the certificate rating of films. This relates to the broadcasting hours
because some content can’t be shown at certain hours due to the how explicit the content
and the amount of underage viewers at those times. Although some programs just aren’t

2. allowed to be broadcasted due to the disturbing nature of the events that occur through out
the series, an example of a series that had been cancelled after one episode is ‘Ford
Nation’, which was cancelled in November of 2013 because the mayor of Toronto was
allegedly smoking cocaine. This law also relates to film in a similar way, but it determines
the rating of certain films created, although certain films have to be banned due to how
explicit and disturbing the content is. An example of a film that was banned due to its
explicit and revolting content is ‘The Human Centipede‛, which had be banned, but after 30
cuts was allowed to be broadcasted under the certificate of 18. This law is important
because it protects viewers from revolting explicit scenes that shouldn’t be viewed by
accident. This law protects children from images that can make them mentally disturbed
when they are older and reduces the risk of any childish recreational behavior.
British Board of Film Classification (BBFC)
British board of film classification or BBFC are an independent, non- governmental body
that classifies cinema films, they have been doing this since 1912. Classification is the
BBFC deciding whether or not a film is suitable for a particular audience, which means
they have the final decision on what certificate a film is. The British board of film
classification have to ensure that the films receive the correct certificate so that film
companies can maximize their profit without breaching any rules of classification, which has
to stop people too young from watching explicit things and allow be of age to watch things
suitable for them. The British board of film classifications aim is to provide an accurate
age certificate so that people too sensitive to the material aren’t exposed. This means
before any footage can be broadcasted in any cinemas it has to be approved by BBFC and
then given a final verdict whether its suitable for specific audiences or any if the footage is
seen as extremely crude and vulgar. The BBFC are completely relevant to Britain’s film
industry because the BBFC is the British version of film classification and prevents
unethical films from being seen by those who wouldn’t want to see it. BBFC directly effect
what is shown in cinemas, they analyze all footage and decide whether it’s suitable to be
viewed before it can be broadcasted in cinemas. Ofcom (Of communications)- law
enforcement, ASA suggests things to Ofcom, to enforce law. This means they have the
power to decide to take down any broadcasted film or TV shows that breach rules that
have been set. Ofcom’s aim is to stop explicit footage that is unsuitable for certain
audiences to be broadcasted in a way that they can view it. Ofcom affects what we see on
TV by banning things that are unsuitable for viewers. They also allow channels to be
rebroadcasted if they are suitable to be broadcasted after specific changes. This means that
Ofcom censor viewers from footage that is seen as too explicit to be viewed.
Look back over 3A, 3B and 3C
Over the course of this assignment I have learnt a vast range of interesting things that
give me and enhanced insight of the TV and film industry. The most interesting thing that
I learnt in ‘3A’ is the policies and procedures of programs being aired. The procedures are

3. set to stop channels from breaking proto call, which means that channels wont have to be
approached by Ofcom. The most interesting thing that I learnt in ‘3B’ is the equal
opportunities, which has taught me that employers are enforced to be fair to all employees
and aren’t allowed to discriminate against anyone on and basis within the working
environment otherwise they may face prosecution. The most interesting thing about ‘3C’ is
obscene publications, which state that all creative creations that can be seen as obscene are
not allowed to be broadcasted or published due to the content that may have a negative
disturbing affect on the viewers. These are my favourite parts of this assignment because I
feel like I understand them more than the rest and the information that I have learnt from
them can be used and acknowledge when I see things that case speculation and
controversy.
Sources
http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1976/74
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Broadcasting_Act_1990
https://www.iwf.org.uk/hotline/the-laws/criminally-obscene-adult-content/obscene-p
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_television_series_canceled_after_one_episode
http://www.bbfc.co.uk/what-classification/how-does-classification-work