The Broadcasting Authority of Ireland (BAI) has today (June 27th) released the most recent broadcasting complaints decisions. The Compliance Committee of the BAI has upheld two complaints and rejected four. Eight complaints were resolved by the Executive Complaints Forum.
Two Complaints Upheld by BAI Compliance Committee in respect of the following programme:
- RTÉ Radio One – Liveline: 5th March 2013
Four Complaints Rejected by BAI Compliance Committee in respect of the following programmes:
- RTÉ One – Prime Time: 2nd October 2012
- RTÉ One – Prime Time: 15th November 2013
- RTÉ Radio One – Liveline: 4th February 2013
- RTÉ One – The Late Late Show: 1st February 2013
Eight Complaints Resolved by the Executive Complaints Forum in respect of the following programmes:
- Highland Radio – The Morning Show: 10th January 2013
- TV3 – The Morning Show: 8th February 2013
- 2FM – Tubridy: 6th February 2013
- RTÉ One – Love/Hate: 2nd , 9th & 16th December 2012
- RTÉ One – Coal, Frankenstein and Mirror: An Irish Nativity – 17th December 2012
- RTÉ One – Mrs. Brown’s Boys – 25th December 2012
A document outlining the complaints and decisions can be accessed here
Media Queries:
Catherine Heaney/Tony Heffernan
DHR Communications: 087 2309835/087 2399508/ 01 4200580
Note to Editors
Under the Broadcasting Act 2009, viewers and listeners can complain about broadcasting content which they believe is not in keeping with the BAI’s broadcasting codes and rules. In line with the BAI’s complaints handling process, the viewer or listener should direct their complaint to the broadcaster in the first instance. This must be done within 30 days of the date of the broadcast.
If a viewer or listener is not satisfied with the response from the broadcaster, or if the broadcaster does not respond within the timeframe specified in their Code of Practice for Complaints Handling (usually 21 days after receipt of complaint), the viewer or listener can refer the complaint to the BAI for consideration.
In assessing complaints, and having regard to its codes and rules, the BAI considers the material submitted by the relevant parties together with the broadcast material. Complaints are assessed at Executive level and/or by the Compliance Committee of the Authority.
When a complaint has been adjudicated upon:
- A copy of the decision is sent to the complainant and the broadcaster before its publication.
- The decisions of the BAI are distributed to the media and posted to the BAI’s website, unless it considers it inappropriate to do so.
- Where a programming complaint is upheld, in whole or in part, the broadcaster concerned will broadcast the Compliance Committee’s decision, if the Compliance Committee believes it appropriate to do so. This could include the name of the person who made the complaint.
- This will be done at a time and manner suitably similar or close to the timing of the original broadcast which prompted the complaint. The only exception to this will be a situation where the Compliance Committee considers it inappropriate to broadcast the decision.
When the Compliance Committee has considered the matter and issued its determination, that is the end of the process.
Full details of the complaints process, including contact details for complaints to individual broadcasters is available here.