Free TV, the free-to-air television industry body is proposing changes to the Commercial Television Industry Code of Practice to allow M-rated material from 7.30pm in the evening.

Under the proposed draft code, M-rated material will be moved forward by an hour to 7:30pm and MA-rated material to 8:30pm.

The Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) will make a final decision on the proposed changes in the next few months. Until then, members of the public are invited to make submissions.

Free TV Australia claims their draft code has been created to “reflect Australia’s modern digital media landscape, uphold community standards and ensure appropriate viewer safeguards”.

It says the changes are in line with ACMA’s own research, which indicates time zones were not one of the top three methods used by parents and carers to manage their children’s viewing. They also argue that there are other ways parents can control what their children watch.

Family Voice Australia, a Christian lobby group interested in family, faith and freedom is unhappy with the proposed changes. Spokesperson Ros Phillips says an hour might not seem like much but it hits prime time family viewing.

“Among families I know, 8pm is the typical bedtime for children. So to say we’ll start having M-rated programmes at 7:30, there’s no justification for that at all.”

The Australian Christian Lobby agrees.

“[The proposed time] is during highest rating shows like The Block and Masterchef, both of which have a high child and adolescent audience.

“The connection between alcohol advertising and underage drinking has been clearly demonstrated. Allowing these ads to air during extremely popular family timeslots is not a constructive message to send to our future generations.”

Currently, alcohol ads are banned before 8.30pm except during live sporting broadcasts which occur at any time of the day, something also of concern to Family Voice Australia and the ACL.

Family Voice says it’s not confident ACMA will reject the changes, and is expecting them to come to a compromise, like moving M-rated content to 8pm.

“I reckon this is an ambit claim by Free TV Australia. [When they compromise] people will think, ah, we’ve won. And just you wait, the next code review they’ll bring it back to 7:30pm,” says Phillips.

“I think we have to make a very big outcry, not just to Free TV, but the Government as well.”

She recommends concerned people email Malcolm Turnbull, Minister for Communications and their Federal MP as well as making a submission to the review.

The closing date for public comment is Friday, April 3. Submissions can be made to: [email protected]

Image credit: Al Ibrahim via Flickr