Watershed (television)
Encyclopedia
In television
, the term watershed (alternatively referred to as safe harbor in the United States
, and as adult time in Venezuela
) denotes the time period in a television schedule during which programs
with adult content can air.
Much as a watershed in hydrology
refers to "the ridge or crest line dividing two drainage areas", a television watershed also serves as a dividing line – it divides the time between where content for families and/or children has to be aired, and where content aimed towards an adult audience can be aired (there is no obligation to). Examples of adult content include, but are not limited to, graphic violence
, horror, strong language
, nudity
, sexual intercourse or reference
, drug use
, and/or suggestive themes. In most countries, the same set of rules also apply to commercial advertisements (whether it be the way the commercial was produced or an advertisement for an adult product, such as condom
s).
Due to cultural differences around the world, watershed times can vary (for instance, in New Zealand
, the watershed time is at 20:30, and in Italy
, the watershed time is at 22:30). Some countries also have multiple watershed layers, where less inappropriate content than others may be allowed at an earlier time but may still be restricted. In addition, some countries may be more lenient towards subscription or pay-per-view channels than towards free-to-air channels.
and Queensland
during daylight saving in the former, and the fact that some stations broadcast into southern Queensland from northern New South Wales (specifically the Gold Coast), effectively pushed the watershed time back to 19:30 for M-rated shows, and 20:30 for shows rated MA15+. Complaints from concerned citizens forced these stations to broadcast as per local time. However, unique to Australia, M-rated shows are also allowed between 08:00 and 16:00 (no other country does this apart from New Zealand).
AV15+ is a television specific variation of the MA15+ rating indicating the program contains "Adult Violence" and programs given this rating are not allowed to be screened before 21:30. As such, most MA15+ programs generally begin after 21:30.
With the exception of subscription narrowcast channels, anything rated R18+ must not be shown on Australian television at any time, and must be edited to fit within MA15+ or AV15+ guidelines. Even on subscription narrowcast channels, the owner of the channel must ensure that its content is restricted to access by those with appropriate disabling devices.
may only be shown after 23:00.
's Duas Caras
). Self-censorship is not uncommon, such as when the head of Rede Record
edited all sex scenes in the telenovela Poder Paralelo
, which could air such scenes, once it was broadcast after 22:00. This generated controversy, since violent scenes remained untouched.
and Nelonen
Media) have agreed not to show 11 rated content before 17:00, 13 rated content before 19:00, 15 rated content before 21:00 and 18 rated content before 23:00. However, unusally for a European country, pornography can be broadcast on television in Finland, but can only air on subscription or pay-per-view channels and is only allowed between midnight and 05:00. Television channels use their own discretion to decide the ratings. However non-sexual nudity itself is not grounds for a mature rating.
There is also one additional rating that is not used in films; -10. -10 rated programs signifies content less intense than -12 rated programs. Programs and films that are rated -12 or higher must display the respective icon on-screen for the duration of the program. -10 rated programs must display the respective icon on-screen at the start and in regular intervals.
The color-coded ratings are mandatorily displayed and verbally announced at the beginning of each broadcast. These provisions are enforced by the National Radio and Television Council (ESR), an independent authority, the executive members of which are appointed by the leaders of all parliamentary parties, preferably by unanimous consent and in extremis by an 80% supermajority.
starts at 21:00 and finishes at 05:30 the next morning. On premium or pay-per-view services, the watershed starts at 20:00. There is no watershed on PIN
protected channels (such as Sky Movies
). On this type of channels, trying to view offensive material before 20:00 will require a PIN.
On RTÉ channels, with the exception of RTÉ News Now
, there is also a rating system on top of the basic watershed system. This is used to help parents, guardians and foster carers prevent children from watching anything inappropriate. The rating is displayed on-screen for 20 seconds and then disappears. However, only "MA" rated programmes are restricted, and "MA" rated programmes are legally only allowed to air between 21:00 and 05:30.
) programming rated Adults Only
is only allowed between 20:30 and 05:00. Adults Only programming is also allowed to air between midday and 15:00 on school days (this situation is probably unique to New Zealand). Sports programming and news bulletins are exempt from the system altogether, but do still carry warnings before certain stories.
The number in the age rating indicates the lowest age for which it is suitable.
, SIC and TVI) can only broadcast programs and movies rated 16 or 18 between 23:00 and 06:00. On cable TV however there are no restrictions of broadcasting, except pornography which cannot be broadcast at all without encrypted signal, requiring an IRD
to be seen.
, the watershed on free-to-air television in the UK is between 21:00 and 05:30, while premium or pay-per-view services are allowed to start the watershed at 20:00. Until 1 October 2011, the watershed closed at 05:30 for the premium channels just like it still does for the free-to-air channels. But on 1 October 2011, the watershed rules for the premium channels had been relaxed and it now ends at 06:00 for the premium channels. Programmes that are rated 15 cannot be shown outside this period. However, some 12-rated shows can be shown before 21:00, such as The Simpsons
, Malcolm in the Middle
, Doctor Who
, and Futurama
. There is no watershed on PIN
protected channels (such as Sky Movies
). On this type of channels, trying to view offensive material before 20:00 will require a PIN.
There should be a gentle transition to adult material, and 18-rated
content must not air until 22:00 on most channels that are without PIN protection. However, channels that are dedicated to airing adult content such as Horror Channel may be allowed to start 18-rated content at 21:00 without PIN protection. R18-rated material is not allowed at all, and must be edited to fit 18-rated content guidelines if shown on television.
A notable breach of the watershed was in 1976, during a live interview on Bill Grundy
's Today show, when members of the Sex Pistols
uttered swear words at Grundy after being provoked into doing so. A more recent breach of the watershed was during the 2007 series of Celebrity Big Brother, where alleged racist comments were made about housemate and Bollywood actress Shilpa Shetty
.
Advertisements also have to comply with the same set of rules, and can be restricted when shown outside the watershed (i.e. junk food, bingo, alcohol, condoms). Advertisements that may have an adult-related context, such as bingo, are less likely to be allowed on child-orientated channels. Some advertisements, often those for 18-rated films and video games, are not allowed before the watershed at all.
Although ratings do not have to be displayed on-screen, the channel is legally required to broadcast a verbal advisory before shows that may be unsuitable for children. Failure to do this may result in the broadcaster being given a fine.
See also: The Ofcom Broadcasting Code - Section 1
. In the U.S., the "safe harbor" for adult programming begins at 22:00 and ends at 06:00 the next morning, regardless of time zone. This "safe harbor" was established by the U.S. Supreme Court case FCC v. Pacifica
. That case distinguished "obscene" material (which is always banned by U.S. law) from the broader category of "indecent" material (which may be broadcast during safe harbor). Because the FCC's jurisdiction only covers channels broadcast on the publicly owned spectrum
and not those only available on cable, restricted-access networks (like the premium channels Cinemax
and HBO, with shows such as Sex and the City
, or adult channels Playboy TV
and Spice
using spectrum privately owned) have taken considerably more leeway in their programming.
Some American television scenes famous for "pushing the envelope" (such as limited nudity on NYPD Blue
) were aired in the 22:00 to 23:00 hour; however, these broadcasts were before the safe harbor in the Central and Mountain time zones, where programming scheduled for 22:00 EST would typically be broadcast starting at 21:00 (using a one-hour delay in Mountain time broadcast areas).
Because each U.S. time zone enters safe harbor separately (at 22:00 local time), it is possible for network affiliates who air an "indecent" program at the same moment to not all face the same penalties. Such was the case with CBS
, whose affiliates faced a proposed fine of US$3.63 million for a repeat of the episode "Our Sons and Daughters" of Without a Trace
in December 2004. The program was flagged for depicting an orgy
involving teenagers. It was televised at 22:00 in the Eastern and Pacific time zones (within the safe harbor), but at 21:00 in Central and Mountain times (outside the safe harbor). The FCC split its fine among the 111 CBS affiliates covering these time zones. After a court settlement, the network agreed to pay US$300,000 in fines.
In the 1970s, the ill-fated Family Viewing Hour
tried to make the 20:00 to 21:00 hour (19:00 to 20:00 for Central/Mountain areas) safe for family consumption, but was overturned in court due to the way it was instituted.
On July 13, 2010, in FCC v. Fox Television Stations, the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit struck down the FCC's indecency policy saying "We now hold that the FCC's policy violates the First Amendment because it is unconstitutionally vague, creating a chilling effect that goes far beyond the fleeting expletives at issue here. Thus, we grant the petition for
review and vacate the FCC's order and the indecency policy underlying it."
, political or religious intolerance, racism or xenophobia.
Legend
A green box in either the start or end time means its has multiple phases of the respective event.
Watershed rules depend solely on whether it is free-to-air or not.
Watershed rules vary depending on, but are not limited to whether it is free-to-air or not.
Television
Television is a telecommunication medium for transmitting and receiving moving images that can be monochrome or colored, with accompanying sound...
, the term watershed (alternatively referred to as safe harbor in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, and as adult time in Venezuela
Venezuela
Venezuela , officially called the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela , is a tropical country on the northern coast of South America. It borders Colombia to the west, Guyana to the east, and Brazil to the south...
) denotes the time period in a television schedule during which programs
Television program
A television program , also called television show, is a segment of content which is intended to be broadcast on television. It may be a one-time production or part of a periodically recurring series...
with adult content can air.
Much as a watershed in hydrology
Hydrology
Hydrology is the study of the movement, distribution, and quality of water on Earth and other planets, including the hydrologic cycle, water resources and environmental watershed sustainability...
refers to "the ridge or crest line dividing two drainage areas", a television watershed also serves as a dividing line – it divides the time between where content for families and/or children has to be aired, and where content aimed towards an adult audience can be aired (there is no obligation to). Examples of adult content include, but are not limited to, graphic violence
Violence
Violence is the use of physical force to apply a state to others contrary to their wishes. violence, while often a stand-alone issue, is often the culmination of other kinds of conflict, e.g...
, horror, strong language
Profanity
Profanity is a show of disrespect, or a desecration or debasement of someone or something. Profanity can take the form of words, expressions, gestures, or other social behaviors that are socially constructed or interpreted as insulting, rude, vulgar, obscene, desecrating, or other forms.The...
, nudity
Nudity
Nudity is the state of wearing no clothing. The wearing of clothing is exclusively a human characteristic. The amount of clothing worn depends on functional considerations and social considerations...
, sexual intercourse or reference
Sexual intercourse
Sexual intercourse, also known as copulation or coitus, commonly refers to the act in which a male's penis enters a female's vagina for the purposes of sexual pleasure or reproduction. The entities may be of opposite sexes, or they may be hermaphroditic, as is the case with snails...
, drug use
Drug use
Drug use may refer to any drug use; or:* Drug abuse* Drug addiction* Entheogenic drug use* Medication* Performance-enhancing drug use* Recreational drug use* Self medication...
, and/or suggestive themes. In most countries, the same set of rules also apply to commercial advertisements (whether it be the way the commercial was produced or an advertisement for an adult product, such as condom
Condom
A condom is a barrier device most commonly used during sexual intercourse to reduce the probability of pregnancy and spreading sexually transmitted diseases . It is put on a man's erect penis and physically blocks ejaculated semen from entering the body of a sexual partner...
s).
Due to cultural differences around the world, watershed times can vary (for instance, in New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
, the watershed time is at 20:30, and in Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
, the watershed time is at 22:30). Some countries also have multiple watershed layers, where less inappropriate content than others may be allowed at an earlier time but may still be restricted. In addition, some countries may be more lenient towards subscription or pay-per-view channels than towards free-to-air channels.
Argentina
According to COMFER, the watershed starts at 22:00, and finishes at 08:00 the next morning.Australia
On Australian television, programmes with a PG rating cannot be shown between 16:00 and 19:00. In addition to this, M rated programmes are not allowed to be shown before 20:00, and programmes rated MA15+ are not allowed to be shown before 21:00. However, the time difference between New South WalesNew South Wales
New South Wales is a state of :Australia, located in the east of the country. It is bordered by Queensland, Victoria and South Australia to the north, south and west respectively. To the east, the state is bordered by the Tasman Sea, which forms part of the Pacific Ocean. New South Wales...
and Queensland
Queensland
Queensland is a state of Australia, occupying the north-eastern section of the mainland continent. It is bordered by the Northern Territory, South Australia and New South Wales to the west, south-west and south respectively. To the east, Queensland is bordered by the Coral Sea and Pacific Ocean...
during daylight saving in the former, and the fact that some stations broadcast into southern Queensland from northern New South Wales (specifically the Gold Coast), effectively pushed the watershed time back to 19:30 for M-rated shows, and 20:30 for shows rated MA15+. Complaints from concerned citizens forced these stations to broadcast as per local time. However, unique to Australia, M-rated shows are also allowed between 08:00 and 16:00 (no other country does this apart from New Zealand).
AV15+ is a television specific variation of the MA15+ rating indicating the program contains "Adult Violence" and programs given this rating are not allowed to be screened before 21:30. As such, most MA15+ programs generally begin after 21:30.
With the exception of subscription narrowcast channels, anything rated R18+ must not be shown on Australian television at any time, and must be edited to fit within MA15+ or AV15+ guidelines. Even on subscription narrowcast channels, the owner of the channel must ensure that its content is restricted to access by those with appropriate disabling devices.
Austria and Germany
In the main German-speaking countries, the watershed is between 22:00 and 05:30. However, programmes marked "Keine Jugendfreigabe" (not approved for minors) under FSKFreiwillige Selbstkontrolle der Filmwirtschaft
The Freiwillige Selbstkontrolle der Filmwirtschaft is a German motion picture rating system organisation run by the Spitzenorganisation der Filmwirtschaft based in Wiesbaden.- Assignment :The main tasks of the FSK are approving and rating movies and trailers, videos and DVDs, and...
may only be shown after 23:00.
Brazil
According with the new rules of the Ministry of Justice's Department of Justice, Rating, Titles and Qualification, 16-rated content is only allowed between 22:00 and 06:00, and 18-rated shows cannot be screened until 23:00. The ratings, however, are administered by the television networks themselves, which are responsible for rating their shows, which means that the department acts merely as content controller, acting after the inappropriate content for children has already been aired (as it happened with Rede GloboRede Globo
Rede Globo , or simply Globo, is a Brazilian television network, launched by media mogul Roberto Marinho on April 26, 1965. It is owned by media conglomerate Organizações Globo, being by far the largest of its holdings...
's Duas Caras
Duas Caras
Duas Caras is a Brazilian television drama that was broadcast by Rede Globo in 2007 and 2008.-Plot:Adalberto Rangel, born Juvenaldo, lived with his poor father and siblings in a favela. Having no way to sustain the family, his father sold him to Hermógenes Rangel, a thief. Some time later,...
). Self-censorship is not uncommon, such as when the head of Rede Record
Rede Record
Rede Record de Televisão is a Brazilian television network, founded in 1953 by Paulo Machado de Carvalho, also founder of Rádio Record. Currently it is owned by businessman Edir Macedo, founder and bishop of the Universal Church of the Kingdom of God. Since 2007 it is Brazil's second largest...
edited all sex scenes in the telenovela Poder Paralelo
Poder Paralelo
Poder Paralelo is a Brazilian telenovela produced by Rede Record and set to premiere on April 13, 2009. Written by Lauro César Muniz and directed by Ignácio Coqueiro, it will portray a corruption scheme involving an Italian-Brazilian family...
, which could air such scenes, once it was broadcast after 22:00. This generated controversy, since violent scenes remained untouched.
Canada
The watershed is between 21:00 and 06:00. Sexually explicit content, offensive language and other adult material is not allowed outside the watershed.Czech Republic
In Czech Republic, programmes that "can be watched by children" must air until 22:00. After 22:00, adult-orientated programmes may air.Finland
In Finland, all the major television companies (YLE, MTV3MTV3
MTV3 is a Finnish commercial television station owned by Bonnier. It had the biggest audience share of all Finnish TV channels until Finnish Broadcasting Company’s YLE1 took the lead. The letters MTV stand for Mainos-TV , due to the channel getting its revenue from running commercials...
and Nelonen
Nelonen
Nelonen is a Finnish commercial TV channel. It started out as Helsinki's local television channel PTV in 1989 on the HTV cable network, which name was changed first to PTV4 and then to Nelonen. It started on June 1, 1997. Nelonen, in Finnish, means the glyph of the number four. The channel is...
Media) have agreed not to show 11 rated content before 17:00, 13 rated content before 19:00, 15 rated content before 21:00 and 18 rated content before 23:00. However, unusally for a European country, pornography can be broadcast on television in Finland, but can only air on subscription or pay-per-view channels and is only allowed between midnight and 05:00. Television channels use their own discretion to decide the ratings. However non-sexual nudity itself is not grounds for a mature rating.
France
In France, -12 rated programs/films are not allowed before 20:00, and -16/-18 rated programs/films are not allowed before 22:00 and 22:30 respectively. -18 rated programs/films can only air via satellite and cable. The watershed for all ratings finishes at 06:00 the following morning.There is also one additional rating that is not used in films; -10. -10 rated programs signifies content less intense than -12 rated programs. Programs and films that are rated -12 or higher must display the respective icon on-screen for the duration of the program. -10 rated programs must display the respective icon on-screen at the start and in regular intervals.
Greece
Greece uses a triple-tier watershed, along with a five-tier color-coded decal scheme, displayed in the beginning and in regular intervals during all broadcasts except for news bulletins.- A white rhombus in green or a white circle in blue indicates unrestricted programming.
- A white triangle in orange indicates programming that could upset younger children, and is only allowed between 19:00 and 06:00.
- A white square in purple indicates programming that may be unsuitable for children, and is only allowed between 21:00 and 06:00.
- A white X in red indicates programming which by law must not air until midnight. Programs with foul language will typically fall into this category. Content with this rating before midnight is punishable by fine, except when used in the context of a suitably labelled movie film, theatrical play, etc.
The color-coded ratings are mandatorily displayed and verbally announced at the beginning of each broadcast. These provisions are enforced by the National Radio and Television Council (ESR), an independent authority, the executive members of which are appointed by the leaders of all parliamentary parties, preferably by unanimous consent and in extremis by an 80% supermajority.
Ireland
The watershed in IrelandRepublic of Ireland
Ireland , described as the Republic of Ireland , is a sovereign state in Europe occupying approximately five-sixths of the island of the same name. Its capital is Dublin. Ireland, which had a population of 4.58 million in 2011, is a constitutional republic governed as a parliamentary democracy,...
starts at 21:00 and finishes at 05:30 the next morning. On premium or pay-per-view services, the watershed starts at 20:00. There is no watershed on PIN
Personal identification number
A personal identification number is a secret numeric password shared between a user and a system that can be used to authenticate the user to the system. Typically, the user is required to provide a non-confidential user identifier or token and a confidential PIN to gain access to the system...
protected channels (such as Sky Movies
Sky Movies
Sky Movies is the collective name for the premium subscription television movie channels operated by Sky Television, and later British Sky Broadcasting. It has around 5 million subscribers, via satellite, cable and IPTV in the UK and Ireland...
). On this type of channels, trying to view offensive material before 20:00 will require a PIN.
On RTÉ channels, with the exception of RTÉ News Now
RTÉ News Now
RTÉ News Now is a 24-hour news television network in the Republic of Ireland operated byIrish public service broadcaster RTÉ. The channel launched as RTÉ News Now available exclusively online on June 12, 2008. The channel began broadcasting as a free-to-air channel on October 29, 2010 on...
, there is also a rating system on top of the basic watershed system. This is used to help parents, guardians and foster carers prevent children from watching anything inappropriate. The rating is displayed on-screen for 20 seconds and then disappears. However, only "MA" rated programmes are restricted, and "MA" rated programmes are legally only allowed to air between 21:00 and 05:30.
Italy
According to Codice TV e minori (Code for Children and Television, 2002), all the channels must broadcast "general audience" programmes from 07:00 to 22:30, and programmes "directed to children and adolescents" only from 16:00 to 19:00. After 22:30, +14 programmes can be aired. +18 programmes are prohibited from television altogether.New Zealand
On free-to-air channels (but not those on satelliteSKY Network Television
Sky Network Television Limited , , is a New Zealand pay television service. On 30 June 2011, Sky had 829,421 subscribers, which comprises:*808,617 digital subscribers*20,840 other subscribers...
) programming rated Adults Only
Office of Film and Literature Classification (New Zealand)
The Office of Film and Literature Classification is the government agency in New Zealand that is responsible for classification of all films, videos, publications, and some video games in New Zealand...
is only allowed between 20:30 and 05:00. Adults Only programming is also allowed to air between midday and 15:00 on school days (this situation is probably unique to New Zealand). Sports programming and news bulletins are exempt from the system altogether, but do still carry warnings before certain stories.
Poland
Poland uses a double-tier watershed system, as well as five age ratings. All age ratings must be displayed throughout the whole of the program, with the exception of commercial breaks and news bulletins. The ratings are "All" (indicated on-air by a smiling face), "7", "12", "16" and "18".- Programs that are rated "12" may contain a war theme and/or stronger violence, and are not allowed within children's schedules.
- Programs that are rated "16" may contain very strong violence, bad language and/or erotic situations, and are not allowed within children's schedules or before 20:00 on mainstream channels.
- Programs that are rated "18" may contain explicit violence, explicit situations and perhaps some racist comments, and are not allowed within children's schedules or before 23:00 on mainstream channels.
The number in the age rating indicates the lowest age for which it is suitable.
Portugal
Open channel terrestrial TV stations (RTPRádio e Televisão de Portugal
Rádio e Televisão de Portugal, S.A.,commonly known as RTP, is Portugal's public service broadcasting organization. It operates four terrestrial television channels and three national radio channels, as well as several satellite and cable offerings....
, SIC and TVI) can only broadcast programs and movies rated 16 or 18 between 23:00 and 06:00. On cable TV however there are no restrictions of broadcasting, except pornography which cannot be broadcast at all without encrypted signal, requiring an IRD
Integrated receiver/decoder
An integrated receiver/decoder is an electronic device used to pick-up a radio-frequency signal and convert digital information transmitted in it.-Consumer IRDs:...
to be seen.
South Africa
South Africa takes a very hands-on approach when it comes to what children are allowed to see on television, and the parents or guardians of the child may be fined if they are caught not following the rules. The ratings used are:- All: Suitable for all ages. The respective icon is required to be displayed on-screen for 30 seconds at the start of the program.
- PG: Suitable for all ages, but very young children must be accompanied at all times. The respective icon is required to be displayed on-screen for 1 minute at the start of the program.
- 13: Prohibited to children under the age of 13. The respective icon is required to be displayed on-screen for 2 minutes at the start of the program and after every commercial break.
- 16: Prohibited to children under the age of 16. Programs with this rating are not allowed before 21:00. The respective icon is required to be displayed on-screen for 5 minutes at the start of the program and after every commercial break.
- 18: Prohibited to children and young people under the age of 18. Programs with this rating are not allowed before 22:00. The respective icon is required to be displayed on-screen for the duration of the program. The content in programs that have an "18" rating is not restricted, as long as it does not have pornography which is prohibited altogether.
Spain
In Spain, the watershed is simpler than a lot of other countries as there is only one watershed time, but there is a quadruple-tier age rating system that is used alongside it. The ratings used in Spain are "All", "7", "13" and "18". However, only 18-rated programmes are restricted. 18-rated programmes are only allowed between 21:00 and 07:00, and are required to broadcast a verbal warning before it is shown.Switzerland
Switzerland has no watershed. However, broadcasters are required by law to avoid any confrontation of minors with unsuitable programming through the choice of transmission time.United Kingdom
According to OfcomOfcom
Ofcom is the government-approved regulatory authority for the broadcasting and telecommunications industries in the United Kingdom. Ofcom was initially established by the Office of Communications Act 2002. It received its full authority from the Communications Act 2003...
, the watershed on free-to-air television in the UK is between 21:00 and 05:30, while premium or pay-per-view services are allowed to start the watershed at 20:00. Until 1 October 2011, the watershed closed at 05:30 for the premium channels just like it still does for the free-to-air channels. But on 1 October 2011, the watershed rules for the premium channels had been relaxed and it now ends at 06:00 for the premium channels. Programmes that are rated 15 cannot be shown outside this period. However, some 12-rated shows can be shown before 21:00, such as The Simpsons
The Simpsons
The Simpsons is an American animated sitcom created by Matt Groening for the Fox Broadcasting Company. The series is a satirical parody of a middle class American lifestyle epitomized by its family of the same name, which consists of Homer, Marge, Bart, Lisa and Maggie...
, Malcolm in the Middle
Malcolm in the Middle
Malcolm in the Middle is an American television sitcom created by Linwood Boomer for the Fox Network. The series was first broadcast on January 9, 2000, and ended its six-and-a-half-year run on May 14, 2006, after seven seasons and 151 episodes...
, Doctor Who
Doctor Who
Doctor Who is a British science fiction television programme produced by the BBC. The programme depicts the adventures of a time-travelling humanoid alien known as the Doctor who explores the universe in a sentient time machine called the TARDIS that flies through time and space, whose exterior...
, and Futurama
Futurama
Futurama is an American animated science fiction sitcom created by Matt Groening and developed by Groening and David X. Cohen for the Fox Broadcasting Company. The series follows the adventures of a late 20th-century New York City pizza delivery boy, Philip J...
. There is no watershed on PIN
Personal identification number
A personal identification number is a secret numeric password shared between a user and a system that can be used to authenticate the user to the system. Typically, the user is required to provide a non-confidential user identifier or token and a confidential PIN to gain access to the system...
protected channels (such as Sky Movies
Sky Movies
Sky Movies is the collective name for the premium subscription television movie channels operated by Sky Television, and later British Sky Broadcasting. It has around 5 million subscribers, via satellite, cable and IPTV in the UK and Ireland...
). On this type of channels, trying to view offensive material before 20:00 will require a PIN.
There should be a gentle transition to adult material, and 18-rated
British Board of Film Classification
The British Board of Film Classification , originally British Board of Film Censors, is a non-governmental organisation, funded by the film industry and responsible for the national classification of films within the United Kingdom...
content must not air until 22:00 on most channels that are without PIN protection. However, channels that are dedicated to airing adult content such as Horror Channel may be allowed to start 18-rated content at 21:00 without PIN protection. R18-rated material is not allowed at all, and must be edited to fit 18-rated content guidelines if shown on television.
A notable breach of the watershed was in 1976, during a live interview on Bill Grundy
Bill Grundy
William "Bill" Grundy was an English television presenter and former host of Today, a regional news programme broadcast on Thames Television...
's Today show, when members of the Sex Pistols
Sex Pistols
The Sex Pistols were an English punk rock band that formed in London in 1975. They were responsible for initiating the punk movement in the United Kingdom and inspiring many later punk and alternative rock musicians...
uttered swear words at Grundy after being provoked into doing so. A more recent breach of the watershed was during the 2007 series of Celebrity Big Brother, where alleged racist comments were made about housemate and Bollywood actress Shilpa Shetty
Shilpa Shetty
Shilpa Shetty is an Indian film actress and model. Since making her debut in the film Baazigar , she has appeared in nearly 40 Bollywood, Tamil, Telugu and Kannada films, her first leading role being in the 1994 Aag. Although she has been through years of decline during her career, Shetty has been...
.
Advertisements also have to comply with the same set of rules, and can be restricted when shown outside the watershed (i.e. junk food, bingo, alcohol, condoms). Advertisements that may have an adult-related context, such as bingo, are less likely to be allowed on child-orientated channels. Some advertisements, often those for 18-rated films and video games, are not allowed before the watershed at all.
Although ratings do not have to be displayed on-screen, the channel is legally required to broadcast a verbal advisory before shows that may be unsuitable for children. Failure to do this may result in the broadcaster being given a fine.
See also: The Ofcom Broadcasting Code - Section 1
United States
The term "watershed" is not used in this context in the United StatesUnited States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. In the U.S., the "safe harbor" for adult programming begins at 22:00 and ends at 06:00 the next morning, regardless of time zone. This "safe harbor" was established by the U.S. Supreme Court case FCC v. Pacifica
Federal Communications Commission v. Pacifica Foundation
Federal Communications Commission v. Pacifica Foundation, 438 U.S. 726 is a landmark United States Supreme Court decision that defined the power of the Federal Communications Commission over indecent material as applied to broadcasting...
. That case distinguished "obscene" material (which is always banned by U.S. law) from the broader category of "indecent" material (which may be broadcast during safe harbor). Because the FCC's jurisdiction only covers channels broadcast on the publicly owned spectrum
Terrestrial television
Terrestrial television is a mode of television broadcasting which does not involve satellite transmission or cables — typically using radio waves through transmitting and receiving antennas or television antenna aerials...
and not those only available on cable, restricted-access networks (like the premium channels Cinemax
Cinemax
Cinemax, sometimes abbreviated as simply "Max", is a collection of premium television networks that broadcasts primarily feature films, along with softcore erotica, original action series, documentaries and special behind-the-scenes features. Cinemax is operated by Home Box Office, Inc., a...
and HBO, with shows such as Sex and the City
Sex and the City
Sex and the City is an American television comedy-drama series created by Darren Star and produced by HBO. Broadcast from 1998 until 2004, the original run of the show had a total of ninety-four episodes...
, or adult channels Playboy TV
Playboy TV
Playboy TV is a premium monthly subscription television channel. Since its launch in 1982 in partnership with Cablevision which eventually sold their share back to Playboy, Playboy TV has become a leading entertainment channel for adult entertainment...
and Spice
Spice Network
The Spice Networks is a group of pornographic pay-per-view channels available via cable, IPTV and satellite services, and available in more than 72 countries including the United States and New Zealand...
using spectrum privately owned) have taken considerably more leeway in their programming.
Some American television scenes famous for "pushing the envelope" (such as limited nudity on NYPD Blue
NYPD Blue
NYPD Blue is an American television police drama set in New York City, exploring the internal and external struggles of the fictional 15th precinct of Manhattan...
) were aired in the 22:00 to 23:00 hour; however, these broadcasts were before the safe harbor in the Central and Mountain time zones, where programming scheduled for 22:00 EST would typically be broadcast starting at 21:00 (using a one-hour delay in Mountain time broadcast areas).
Because each U.S. time zone enters safe harbor separately (at 22:00 local time), it is possible for network affiliates who air an "indecent" program at the same moment to not all face the same penalties. Such was the case with CBS
CBS
CBS Broadcasting Inc. is a major US commercial broadcasting television network, which started as a radio network. The name is derived from the initials of the network's former name, Columbia Broadcasting System. The network is sometimes referred to as the "Eye Network" in reference to the shape of...
, whose affiliates faced a proposed fine of US$3.63 million for a repeat of the episode "Our Sons and Daughters" of Without a Trace
Without a Trace
Without a Trace is an American television drama which originally ran on CBS from September 26, 2002 to May 19, 2009. The series was set in New York City and concerned a fictitious FBI Missing Persons Unit.-Premise:...
in December 2004. The program was flagged for depicting an orgy
Group sex
Group sex is sexual behavior involving more than two participants. Group sex can occur amongst people of all sexual orientations and genders...
involving teenagers. It was televised at 22:00 in the Eastern and Pacific time zones (within the safe harbor), but at 21:00 in Central and Mountain times (outside the safe harbor). The FCC split its fine among the 111 CBS affiliates covering these time zones. After a court settlement, the network agreed to pay US$300,000 in fines.
In the 1970s, the ill-fated Family Viewing Hour
Family Viewing Hour
The Family Viewing Hour was a policy established by the United States Federal Communications Commission in 1975. Under the policy, each television network in the U.S. had a responsibility to air "family-friendly" programming in the first hour of the prime time lineup...
tried to make the 20:00 to 21:00 hour (19:00 to 20:00 for Central/Mountain areas) safe for family consumption, but was overturned in court due to the way it was instituted.
On July 13, 2010, in FCC v. Fox Television Stations, the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit struck down the FCC's indecency policy saying "We now hold that the FCC's policy violates the First Amendment because it is unconstitutionally vague, creating a chilling effect that goes far beyond the fleeting expletives at issue here. Thus, we grant the petition for
review and vacate the FCC's order and the indecency policy underlying it."
Venezuela
In Venezuela the watershed begins at 23:00 and ends at 05:00 in the following morning and is called "Adult time" according to Article 7 of the Law on Social Responsibility on Radio, Television and Electronic Media. During this block adult-oriented programs may be transmitted as long as they do not contain hardcore pornographyHardcore pornography
Hardcore pornography is a form of pornography that features explicit sexual acts. The term was coined in the second half of the 20th century to distinguish it from softcore pornography. It usually takes the form of photographs, often displayed in magazines or on the Internet, or films. It can also...
, political or religious intolerance, racism or xenophobia.
Watersheds by time
This is a list of watershed times in each country, starting with the earliest and ending with the latest. Please note that this only includes the last phase of the watershed to start (i.e. in Australia, MA15+ shows are not allowed until 21:00, and AV15+ shows are not allowed until 21:30. The one for AV15+ shows would be the only one included in the table). Similarly, this table only includes the first phase of the watershed to end. Some countries may share the same last phase watershed time, in which case, the conficting boxes will be sorted by the end time.Legend
A green box in either the start or end time means its has multiple phases of the respective event.
Watershed rules depend solely on whether it is free-to-air or not.
Watershed rules vary depending on, but are not limited to whether it is free-to-air or not.
| Country | Start | 18:00 | 20:00 | 22:00 | 00:00 | 02:00 | 04:00 | 06:00 | 08:00 | End | ||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New Zealand | 20:30 | 05:00 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Ireland | 05:30 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Canada | 21:00 | 06:00 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Spain | 21:00 | 07:00 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Australia | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| South Africa | 04:30 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| United Kingdom | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Czech Republic | 22:00 | 06:00 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| United States | 22:00 | 06:00 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Argentina | 22:00 | 08:00 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| France | 06:00 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Italy | 22:30 | 07:00 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Venezuela | 23:00 | 05:00 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Austria | 05:30 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Germany | 05:30 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Brazil | 06:00 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Poland | 06:00 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Portugal | 23:00 | 06:00 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Finland | 05:00 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Greece | 06:00 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||