Two Criminal Minds episodes which screened on TV One this
year were too violent for their 8.30pm time slot, the
Broadcasting Standards Authority (BSA) has found.
In decisions released today the BSA found the episodes
breached the standards relating to good taste and decency,
responsible programming, and the violence standard.
The first episode, screened at 8.30pm on January 31, about an
alzheimer's sufferer who was capturing, torturing and killing
young women, showed the killer stabbing a woman for about
five seconds.
A complaint to Television New Zealand (TVNZ) said the
killings in the episode were sexually sadistic, the programme
showed blatant violence against women, and the scheduling of
violent programmes should be reviewed.
TVNZ did not uphold the complaint and said the view was from
behind and impact wounds were not shown.
It said this type of material was acceptable in an Adults
Only 8.30pm time slot, preceded by a warning for violence.
The complaint was referred to the BSA which found the episode
was graphic and left little to the imagination.
The realistic violence and horrific encounters amounted to
"stronger material" which warranted a higher 9.30pm
classification, it said.
The second episode, which screened on February 21 at 8.30pm,
was about a man with extensive burn injuries seeking revenge
on his victims by burning them alive.
A formal complaint to TVNZ said the episode contained graphic
images and was inappropriate for broadcast at 8.30pm.
TVNZ did not uphold the complaint because it said the content
was in line with the expectations of regular viewers of an
adult only-classified programme.
However, the BSA said "the violence depicted in the episode
was extreme and graphic, and the underlying themes were
sinister and deeply disturbing".
Both episodes warranted an adult only 9.30pm classification,
the BSA said.
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