2. BBFC- British Board of Film Classification
The British Board of Film Classification is a regulation group which regulates
films and video. They regulate all different types of films from sexually
explicit ones to parental guidance films.
The BBFC were set up in 1912 by the film industry as an independent body
who give a uniformity to the classification of film nationality.
The BBFC runs under a council membership and the current members of the
council are Graham Lee, Steve Laggs, Sonia Alleyne, Maggie Carver and
Jonathan Teckman.
The associated bodies who work with the BBFC are The Consultative Council,
The Advisory Panel on Children’s Viewing and The Video Packaging Review
Committee.
3. How does the BBFC classify films
They watch films and videos all the way through and they award an age rating and
a particular insight to each one. The reach an age rating by applying a particular
standard and criteria through their classification guidelines.
Two of their examiners view a film through theatrical release. This works through
a senior examiner who will confirm the examiners recommendation.
This process can also work for DVDs and Blu-rays and they are also seen by the
examiner.
They also look at particular issues such as discrimination, drugs, horror, dangerous
and easily imitable behaviour, language, nudity, sex and violence when they are
making decisions. They also look at the theme of the work as an important
consideration.
Their decisions on the age ratings of DVDs and Blu-rays can ocassionally be a bit
stricter than the cinema because they are looking at the higher risk of underage
viewing in the home and a greater potential for watching scenes out of context.
4. ASA- Advertising Standards Authority
Their ambition is to make advertisements responsible and to make every UK ad a responsible
ad.
They have strands of their strategy they are:
1 Understanding: We’ll be an authority on advertising and active on issues that cause
societal concern. We’ll be open to calls for regulatory change, acting purposefully and in a
timely fashion, while being fair and balanced in our assessment of the evidence and
arguments
2 Support: We’ll provide support to advertisers to help them create responsible ads. We’ll
increase, improve and better target our advice and training so every business has access to
the information and support it needs
3 Impact: We’ll spend more time on matters that make the biggest difference. Focussing on
our existing remit, we’ll spend less time tackling ads that cause little detriment to consumers
or on the vulnerable. But, where a complaint indicates that the rules have been broken, we
will always do something
4 Proactive: We’ll be proactive and work with others. We’ll use a wide range of information
to identify and tackle problems to make sure ads are responsible, even if we haven’t
officially received a complaint.
5 Awareness: We’ll increase awareness of the ASA and CAP. We will make sure that the
public, civil society and the industry know who we are and what we can do, so they can
engage with us when they need to, and have confidence in our work.
5. PEGI-Pan European Game Information
PEGI used age ratings as systems to ensure that entertainment content, such
as films, videos, DVDs and computer, games which are clearly labelled by age
according to the content they contain.
PEGI itself is owned by the Interactive Software Federation of Europe which is
now in Belgium. This organisation has been successfully established since 1998
and represents interests of the interactive software.
8. OFCOM
OFCOM is a regulator of communication within the UK. They regulate TV and
radio sectors, fixed line telecoms, mobiles, postal services and plus the
airwaves over which wireless devices operate.
They ensure that people within the UK get the best out of their
communication services and they are protected from scams and sharp
practices
