Greek quiz show banned for intimate confessions
Agamemnon
TV channel which aired risqu� game show considers legal action over 'extreme
censorship' by regulator
a.. James Robinson
b.. guardian.co.uk, Wednesday 24 June 2009 18.29 BST
A Greek quiz show that encouraged contestants to divulge intimate details of
their private lives in return for prizes has been ordered off the air on
taste and decency grounds in a row that could end up in the European court.
The Moment of Truth, made by Rupert Murdoch's daughter Elisabeth's
production company, has been banned completely by the Greek regulator after
a series of excruciating on-screen confessions. Antenna, the commercial
channel that screens it, is considering taking the case to the European
commission, accusing the regulator of "extreme censorship".
The format, which is owned by Shine Reveille, has been sold to 24 countries,
and it is currently in production in Spain and France. It ran on Sky for two
series in the UK. On the show, contestants can win six-figure sums for
giving truthful answers to a series of embarrassing questions while hooked
up to a lie detector.
The interrogation habitually elicits graphic details about contestants' sex
lives, in front of friends and family members.
The show debuted in October and has become one of Greece's most popular
series, winning a 30% audience share in its 11pm slot.
The Greek National Council for Radio and Television, which regulates the
industry, had repeatedly warned Antenna, the country's largest commercial
broadcaster, about the contents of the show and has twice imposed fines
totalling $230,000 (�195,000).
The ban followed three episodes featuring risqu� exchanges between
contestants and quizmaster. In the first, broadcast in February, a mother
was asked - in the presence of her daughter and son-in-law - if she wished
her daughter had married a richer man. In March, another episode featured a
female guest who was asked if she had ever had sex for money, or slept with
a man and a woman at the same time.
The following month, a male player admitted he had fantasised about his
sister's partner.
That proved too much for the regulator, which chastised Antenna for
encouraging members of the public to "humiliate themselves for a reward",
with "no regard for the players' decency and the effects on the social lives
of their families".
In its ruling, it cited broadcasting regulations which oblige TV channels to
"ensure the quality level dictated by social task of television and the
country's cultural growth [and] respect the value of the human being".
The show was promptly "terminated" and the final episode aired earlier this
month, provoking a furious response from Antenna, which said the regulator
was guilty of "extreme censorship". Its lawyers are now considering making a
complaint to the European commission.
George Levendis, a former Sony executive who runs the company, said: "We are
looking at what is the best action to take and exploring several legal
channels. This is an extremely popular programme which is being shown in 30
countries."
Antenna's lawyers confirmed they might take the case to the European court
of human rights. If they do so, it could set a legal precedent. The EU has
ruled on advertisements and the rules around broadcasting sporting events
before, but it has never issued judgments on the content of television
shows, preferring to leave those decision to local regulators in member
states.
A spokesman for Shine said: "The Moment of Truth has been created in over 20
territories around the world and this has been the only case of this kind.
The show's premise is simple, yet controversial by nature, and we work
closely with our partners and contestants to ensure it is both produced and
broadcast responsibly."
The show's creator, the US television executive Howard Schulz, has written
to the Greek regulator explaining why the show should be restored, quoting
the new testament in support of his creation. "The truth sets people free,
as John the Apostle states in the new testament," he wrote.
Levendis said the company had no choice but to pull the show because it
feared it would have its licence revoked if it did not comply with the
decision. That decision may now be taken by the European courts.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/jun/24/greek-quiz-show-confessions-banned
Mr.Smartypants
> Greek quiz show banned for intimate confessions
> censorship' by regulator
>
> a.. James Robinson
> b.. guardian.co.uk, Wednesday 24 June 2009 18.29 BST
>
> A Greek quiz show that encouraged contestants to divulge intimate details of
> their private lives in return for prizes has been ordered off the air on
> taste and decency grounds in a row that could end up in the European court.
>
> The Moment of Truth, made by Rupert Murdoch's daughter Elisabeth's
> production company, has been banned completely by the Greek regulator after
> a series of excruciating on-screen confessions. Antenna, the commercial
> channel that screens it, is considering taking the case to the European
> commission, accusing the regulator of "extreme censorship".
>
> The format, which is owned by Shine Reveille, has been sold to 24 countries,
> and it is currently in production in Spain and France. It ran on Sky for two
> series in the UK. On the show, contestants can win six-figure sums for
> giving truthful answers to a series of embarrassing questions while hooked
> up to a lie detector.
>
> The interrogation habitually elicits graphic details about contestants' sex
> lives, in front of friends and family members.
Aggy, you could make a lot of money talking about
your ......er......relationships with pussycats.
Mitsos
> On Jun 25, 9:36 am, "Agamemnon" <agamem...@hello.to.NO_SPAM> wrote:
>> Greek quiz show banned for intimate confessions
>> censorship' by regulator
>>
>> a.. James Robinson
>> b.. guardian.co.uk, Wednesday 24 June 2009 18.29 BST
>>
>> A Greek quiz show that encouraged contestants to divulge intimate details of
>> their private lives in return for prizes has been ordered off the air on
>> taste and decency grounds in a row that could end up in the European court.
>>
>> The Moment of Truth, made by Rupert Murdoch's daughter Elisabeth's
>> production company, has been banned completely by the Greek regulator after
>> a series of excruciating on-screen confessions. Antenna, the commercial
>> channel that screens it, is considering taking the case to the European
>> commission, accusing the regulator of "extreme censorship".
>>
>> The format, which is owned by Shine Reveille, has been sold to 24 countries,
>> and it is currently in production in Spain and France. It ran on Sky for two
>> series in the UK. On the show, contestants can win six-figure sums for
>> giving truthful answers to a series of embarrassing questions while hooked
>> up to a lie detector.
>>
>> The interrogation habitually elicits graphic details about contestants' sex
>> lives, in front of friends and family members.
>
>
>
> Aggy, you could make a lot of money talking about
> your ......er......relationships with pussycats.
>
>
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