The future of the watershed

Recently there been a couple of incidents written about in the media, where broadcasters have scheduled certain programmes before the 9pm watershed. Channel 4 broadcast a Simpsons episode back in October featuring Homer hanging by a noose from a tree, receiving only two complaints but still being upheld by Ofcom; more noteworthy was ITV's now-cancelled Jekyll and Hyde which received over 800 complaints after it went out at 6.30pm on Sunday evenings.

As far as I know, Sky Movies have long used PIN protection when broadcasting 12 or above rated films during the daytime. Now that all broadcast TV viewing is over digital, could this kind of system be implemented in order for terrestial broadcasters to show films or TV episodes uncut during the daytime, and possibly allow them to schedule things like Jekyll and Hyde at earlier times without the risk of exposing children to potentially upsetting images? Or would this kind of system be technically and financially unfeasible?

I'm not expecting Channel 4 to start PIN protecting The Simpsons for example, as I imagine that commands a high audience of children for them, even if you don't consider it a kids show. But it could perhaps help broadcasters be less limited when it comes to showing certain films or TV programmes before 9pm.

Apparently some very recent content on BT's AMC channel transmitted in the 1900 - 2100 slot has been presented with the mandatory pin screen offered on both the BTTV and Sky platforms

Although the system works quite well for a premium subscription channel like Sky Movies, I can't imagine too many broadcasters would want to PIN-protect if the option was given. A lot of channels still get a lot of viewers from people flipping past and stumbling across something to watch, and a lot of viewers would keep on flipping rather than go to the bother of entering their PIN.

I can see it working on a channel like Sky Atlantic (and AMC as mentioned above) but not too many others.

I've noticed that the PIN requirement on Sky is determined by the time of day you download a programme from iPlayer, ITV Hub, Sky Movies etc, rather than when you intend to watch it. Which I always thought rather strange.

Is there a facility to PIN protect specific programmes on Freeview as they are broadcast (regardless of time of day). Is there even a rating attached to the broadcast that would facilitate this on the average £10 STB or iDTV from 10 years ago?

It varies from manufacturer to manufacturer but I'm pretty sure I can put certain channels behind a PIN and recordings too, but not specific programmes.

This is what I suspected, so it would tend to suggest that broadcasting post-watershed programmes before 9pm isn't really possible. It's restricted to those using catch-up services.

Likewise Virgin insists on a PIN if I want to play back a recording of X Factor. Why?!

Because Simon Cowell's face causes nightmares.

Can't say I've noticed this, as I've always had to enter a PIN for post watershed TV content regardless of when it was downloaded.

On the subject as a whole, Sky has the facility to PIN protect entire channels all the time or after 8pm which then works in the same way as Sky Movies showing 15 rated movies during the day.



It should be possible I would have thought; if Sky Movies can do it on a per film basis it should be possible in theory on any channel for any programme. The thing with ITV (and other commercial channels) though it may result in lost advertising revenue, which may not apply to Sky Movies as you pay extra for it (on top of the basic package).

I can't see the five PSB channels doing this any time soon as it could be argued until Freeview has a standard box for everybody (similar to everybody has near enough the same Sky+ box or Tivo box) such a system is unenforceable.

Also, it would require the channels to go from Free-to-Air to Free-to-View (i.e., encrypted).

Really random, but when was the watershed introduced? And what was the regulations like during the 70s? I tried to search this up.

Places like America don't seem to worry about the watershed. I've seen films on TV during the day when I've been over there where f-bombs were dropped and not edited out.