MEDIA RELEASE
5 November 2007

Family First Calls for Boycott of TV3’s Californication Advertisers

Family First is calling for families to boycott companies advertising during TV3’s first episode of the drug, sex and vomit-laden Californication this Thursday night.

“Television programmers are simply using shock tactics to increase their ratings but families are sick and tired of this offensive type of programming,” says Bob McCoskrie, National Director of Family First NZ. “If companies are concerned about declining standards in our communities, they should not be associated with this show.”

Episodes of Californication include explicit sex scenes - one involving violence and rape - nudity, teenage drug use and constant foul language, the inclusion of a child who is exposed to the worst effects of her father's sexual antics, and an episode depicting two characters smoking marijuana and having sex before one vomits.

“It’s time we linked some of the increase in sexual offences, the degrading treatment of women, drug use, and disrespect and abusive language in our communities with these types of programmes, attempting to be passed as so-called entertainment.”

“The BSA and the Censorship Board have failed dismally to protect our communities and children from this type of offensive and pornographic material,” says Mr McCoskrie. “Yet the Codes of Broadcasting Standards say that broadcasters must take into consideration ‘current norms of decency and taste in language and behaviour’ and acknowledge that ‘violent material, material of a sexual nature, coarse language or other content’ is likely to offend a significant number of adult viewers.”

“This programme scores a spectacular ‘F’ on all those standards,” says Mr McCoskrie.

Family First will be publishing the names of companies who advertise during the programme and asking families to boycott these companies and go to their competitors. A number of other family groups have also expressed their support for the boycott.

Family First will also contact the companies directly, informing them of the boycott.

ENDS

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