Channel 6 to start showing "erotica"

DMC

Signs of desperation? I never thought I'd see the day where an Irish based TV station will start showing soft-core.....

Station's late-night 'erotica' to heat up airwaves
Jason O'Brien
http://www.unison.ie/irish_independent/stories.php3?ca=9&si=1817145&issue_id=15542

THE Irish small screen is set to start steaming up.

A television station has revealed that it is turning to late-night 'erotica' in a drive to woo viewers.

Channel 6, which is available in three out of four Irish homes after being launched a year ago, will start its new programming block next month.

Called '18+ Only', the programming will air on Friday nights from 12.30am to 2am. Channel 6 will be the first Irish broadcaster to fit such programmes into its regular schedule.

The programmes, which include titles such as 'Tropics of Lust' are described by Channel 6 as 'erotica'.

"Scheduled to air after midnight, we feel this block will appeal to our late-night, primarily male audience," said Michael Murphy, the founder and director of programmes at the channel.

"We have initially planned a 10-week run for this block, but we will consider extending that with additional content if it is received well."

A spokesman said the station had signed a deal with a French production company to broadcast a number of programmes. He said they had "high production values" and "good plots".

watty

Are they FTA or subscription on Sat?

If they are subscription only, then
1) They ultimately can broadcast all kinds of junk not allowed FTA or terrestrial
2) They aren't a "real" Irish station

Tv3 IMO is only marginally better. I'd rather have 2 or 3 Irish channels and 3 or 4 UK channels than the 100+ Ch* diluted junk we have today.

(*subtracting all the "+1", regional advert variation, ethnic, religious and Shopping channels from the 120 to 800 ch total depending on your platform)


If they actually had real content different from the other US reruns ion the other low viewing channels, with local interest, then someone might actually watch them.

DMC

They are subscription, watty. Dont forget they are on basic cable too.

I'm curious to hear you say that that "junk" isn't allowed FTA. So how does Playboy One do it?

My point is, they have a licence to broadcast from the BCI. The BCI hasn't been tested wrt showing soft porn as a strand or scheduled programming. Will there be a backlash from conservative types?

watty

Playboy one isn't uplinked from Ireland.

Is it really FTA, or do you need a card?

Yep I wasn't worried about cable, there is no FTA cable

It will be interesting to see what BCI or anyone thinks.

Till 1983 I lived in Norn Iron, but did have Dublin / Drogheda contacts late 60s onwards, even regular visits to someone in Dublin from 1971 onward. I'm reading a book by an American author just at the minute who lives in Ireland since early 70s and the book is set in Dublin area in early 70s. It's very recogniseably accurate to me.

I think it describes, and I personally knew an Ireland that would not be recognised by any 20 year old today.

In 1967 no one would even have considered doing this. Forty years later it may be that no-one will take any notice.

Same week that BCI licence announced for 1st Ecumenical Christian National Radio station. That boggles me just as much and while I'm basically neutral to slightly positive on it, does it mean we have to have Mormon (they have their own BYU channel on 15W), JWs, Bahai, Moslems (3 kinds), New age/Wiccan, Buddist, Jain, Hindu, Jewish, Marxist (worship the State & Mankind as God), High Catholic (Latin only Please) and Fundimentalist too?

It's probably harder to get a real Christian program (Roman or non-Rome) on an Irish channel now than Porn or near porn Celebratey mush. The new adverts for TV3's 6pm ish news "Xpose" is like a trailer for soft porn.

L1011

watty wrote:

It's probably harder to get a real Christian program (Roman or non-Rome) on an Irish channel now than Porn or near porn Celebratey mush. The new adverts for TV3's 6pm ish news "Xpose" is like a trailer for soft porn.

And thats a bad thing?

DMC

watty wrote:

Playboy one isn't uplinked from Ireland.

Is it really FTA, or do you need a card?

Yep I wasn't worried about cable, there is no FTA cable

It will be interesting to see what BCI or anyone thinks.

Playboy One is FTA, what sparked my attention was that I thought you were referring to that sort of junk wouldn't be allowed FTA and that Ofcom wouldn't allow it?

Going back to basic cable, there are no parental locks available on basic cable (or on an NTL digital box either), so therefore, its there if you have it.

I think there is still is a strong "Mary Whitehouse" type brigade out there, waiting to talk to Joe on 1850 715 815.

byte

There has been a thread about this on Television too.

Channel 6 is trying to be the way UK's five used to be?

Mossy Monk

And that really worked well for Channel 5. This smacks of publicity stunt. Channel 6 I bet are hoping for controversy.

mike65

Whats the problem here? Its flippin' Red Shoe Diaries level stuff not Lusty Lesbo Whores Do Dagenham!

If some idiot councilor wants to get 15 mins on Joe Duffy let him/her.
The country has changed no-one will (in thier right mind) bat an eyelid.

Mike.

Ulsterman 1690

MYOB wrote:

And thats a bad thing?

What MYOB said !

Mind you Watty has some good points about the Godbothering radio station
Although

Marxist (worship the State & Mankind as God),

A tad unfair. Its only the most extreme (i.e. Loony) fringes of Marxism that would do this and even then no more so than some of their opponents worship "the market" (By that definition just about every channel on the EPG is a "religious" channel)

What about a radio station for Atheists, Agnostics, Freethinkers etc ?

In fact come to think of it what about a radio station for satanists ? Surely they have as much right to proselytise as any other crackpot

I think there is still is a strong "Mary Whitehouse" type brigade out there, waiting to talk to Joe on 1850 715 815

Thankfully hes about the only one who listens anymore

Incidently I was suprised to discover Poland (think Ireland 25 years ago*) has this kind of programming on Polonia 1 FTA and all.

* Based on what people from there have told me

watty

Ulsterman 1690 wrote:

What MYOB said !

A tad unfair. Its only the most extreme (i.e. Loony) fringes of Marxism that would do this and even then no more so than some of their opponents worship "the market" (By that definition just about every channel on the EPG is a "religious" channel)

What about a radio station for Atheists, Agnostics, Freethinkers etc ?

In fact come to think of it what about a radio station for satanists ? Surely they have as much right to proselytise as any other crackpot

Yes. I think you get the point But the genie is out of the bottle now.

Well I suppose when all the Irish Stations have soft porn after 9pm then Ch6 will do hard stuff after midnight, like is FTA on Spanish Satellite TV.

I think I'll increase my DVD library, all this stuff heralds the end of decent late night films for insomniacs.

lawhec

Not sure what rules would govern it in the Republic.

In the UK, its the case that if the material has or would be rated as 18 for video/DVD release, it can be shown freely on any FTA channel after 10pm, or 9pm on subscription.

I reckon the BCI will be waiting for the testing waters. Had an Irish channel tried this on around 10 years ago there would almost certainly have been big press coverage, and possibly large viewing figures. In this day and age where just about any sexual activity and fetish can be seen through the internet, such softcore stuff is not going to bat too many eyelids under 50 at least.

Elmo

They are doing what C4 did and Five have done. I was surpised in the early years of TV3 that they didn't try it.

Channel 6 is an entertainment channel unlike TV3 and its not a national service. C6 is a Cable Service.

I think it needs to reduce the amount of imports it has, and be more like E4 in the way the buy programming. They should have a number of new programmes that they advertise the hell out of and then cheeper shows.

I.E. they should concentrate on shows like The Closer, Heores, The Office, etc etc rather then building up their schedule with repeats of Friends, Sex and the City etc etc.

E4 tend to have 5 show that they repeat constantly, better shows then the current crop on Channel 6.

There was no reason for them to do a deal with BBC worldwide this week

DMC

Elmo wrote:

They are doing what C4 did and Five have done. I was surpised in the early years of TV3 that they didn't try it.

Because TV3 were wise enough to learn from Channel 4 and five's mistakes. They underestimated that advertisers wouldn't necessarily buy air-time during during the programming. What advertiser would want to feature mid-way through in a porn flick? How much would it be worth to them? They would fear a backlash, that's for sure, for any family friendly product. It might get an audience, more so than what its getting, but it won't pay.

mike65

I imagine they could get clients who are flogging certain mobile services for example.

Miike.

watty

Or Skype premium services

aidan_walsh

DMC wrote:

What advertiser would want to feature mid-way through in a porn flick?

flogen

mike65 wrote:

I imagine they could get clients who are flogging certain mobile services for example.

Miike.

That's what I was thinking - late night TV is full of those chatline service ads anyway, showing porn won't change that (and they won't mind advertising during it because it will hit their core audience - lonely males who have never heard of the internet).

I'm sure C6 would love it if Joe Duffy took this up, but frankly this kind of "erotica" is no more explicit than a sex scene in any 15s movie, it's just in this case the two actors rubbing off each other is the central premise of the show, not just an added extra to amuse and entertain.

Thankfully these shows will have "high production values" and "good plots", which as every porn-fan knows is an absolute must. FFS.

I don wonder if a non-encrypted channel could legally show hardcore in Ireland though - there's probably some forgotten law banning it.

DMC

aidan_walsh wrote:

Hand clap, front foot stomp.

Ulsterman 1690

What advertiser would want to feature mid-way through in a porn flick? How much would it be worth to them? They would fear a backlash, that's for sure, for any family friendly product. It might get an audience, more so than what its getting, but it won't pay.

So youre telling me you have never seen advertisers using sex to flog their tacky crap ?????

Im a bit curious as to why youre posting on ICDG since you obviously dont own a television set !

DMC

Ulsterman 1690 wrote:

So youre telling me you have never seen advertisers using sex to flog their tacky crap ?????

They might use sex or sell something as sexy, glamour if you will, but they wouldn't want their brand to be associated with actual porn, unless their brand is for that market. For example, I don't think Durex are allowed to advertise on Irish TV.

The last bit's pure troll baiting

lawhec

aidan_walsh wrote:

Not to mention...

1huge1

aidan_walsh wrote:

haha absolutly brilliant, seriously though im sure a lot of companies would advertise during this type of programme e.g tabloid newspapers

DMC

The only one that would, would be the Star. Richard Desmond, owner of the Express group of newspapers, is a peddler of porn.

The Star over here, on the other hand, Independent Star Ltd, which is jointly owned and operated by Express group and Independent News and Media.

Ulsterman 1690

I don't think Durex are allowed to advertise on Irish TV

Im pretty sure Ive heard ads for them on Irish radio so I cant think of any reason why it wouldnt be allowed on TV

Especially when any responsible government* should be doing everything it can to promote the use of such products

* (Then again if you come across any country which has one let me know)

Richard "traditional values" Desmond, owner of the Express group of newspapers, is a peddler of porn.

Not to mention vile racist fear and hate

DMC

There have been ads on TV and radio for Think Contraception, and I'm pretty sure I heard ads for Condompower, a sex shop in Dublin City centre, on FM104's Adrian Kennedy phone show before.

Elmo

Think Contraception is a Helth Education add rather then an add for a specific produce, it's a government run add.

I think I have heard Condom power adds on the radio.

icdg

According to the Irish Times today, this plan is now more-or-less off. Not due to the BCI apparently, but a shareholder revolt. Seems C6 forgot who some of their shareholders are related to - Fine Gael TD Deirdre Clune is part of the Barry dynasty who run Barry's Tea, and there are some other political connections in there who were quite uneasy at the prospect of C6 running this type of programming.

The Herald today quoted a C6 spokesperson as saying that no decision had been made, but it looks like a dead duck now.

Elmo

As report in the times, as report by RTE.ie :rolleyes: and now posted by me
________________________________________________________________
CHANNEL 6 TO SCRAP SOFT-PORN PLAN - The Irish Times reports that the management of Irish television station Channel 6 is expected to abandon plans to screen pornography after objections from some board members and investors.

The paper says the controversial move was the main topic of discussion at a board meeting of the company in Dublin yesterday. It is understood that it was agreed the soft pornography programming should not now be aired by the entertainment channel, which is aimed at 15- to 34-year-olds.

Channel 6 is backed by a number of prominent local investors, including the Barry's Tea family in Cork and Senator Feargal Quinn.

AdvertisementThe paper says reports that the channel planned to show such movies are understood to have embarrassed both Mr Quinn and Deirdre Clune, Peter Barry's daughter. Ms Clune is a Fine Gael councillor and is contesting the general election in the Cork South Central constituency

DMC

http://www.rte.ie/business/2007/0424/presswatch.html

mike65

Outrageous! A letter writing campiagn for pron on 6!

Mike.

Ulsterman 1690

Ms Clune is a Fine Gael councillor and is contesting the general election in the Cork South Central constituency

What has that got to do with anything ?

I mean didnt the Italians elect a pornstar to their senate onetime

watty

They did. Though I never heard how good an MP she was, compared to Berscelloni

Ulsterman 1690

I was going to say she could hardly have been much worse but then I remembered Musollini's granddaughter :rolleyes: :eek: