MTRCB Suspends Pinoy Big Brother
Thursday, September 22, 2005 7:41 PM
The Movie Television Review & Classification Board has ordered the suspension of the hit reality show Pinoy Big Brother for exhibiting scenes that the board deemed beyond the parental guidance classification of the show. Pinoy Big Brother will not air on Sunday, September 25, due to the suspension issued by MTRCB.
In an official letter sent to ABS-CBN, MTRCB Chairman Maria Consoliza Laguardia stated that the September 19 (Monday) episode of Pinoy Big Brother contained scenes that were not suitable for TV Broadcast’s PG Rating despite previous verbal warnings issued against the show.
“Despite verbal warnings and instructions to tone down sexually suggestive language, actuations and skimpy clothing and to edit the subject program to fall within the parameters of Parental Guidance “PG” rating for television broadcast, the board has monitored and determined that the episode broadcast on September 19, 2005, to contain scenes, such as but not limited to, kissing scene between housemates Chx and Sam, gyrating dances in skimpy bikini, double entendre dialogue and use of skimpy bikini, to be beyond the parental guidance classification and not suitable for television viewing in violation of Presidential Decree No. 1986 and its implementing rules and regulations,” the order stated.
The board also claimed that the explanations given by ABS-CBN on this matter were insufficient to justify the airing of the said scenes. “The Board, thru the adjudication committee, has considered and evaluated your manifestations and explanations given in the conference/hearing held on September 21, 2005 at 4:00 o’ clock in the afternoon. However, the Board is not convinced.”
ABS-CBN Broadcasting Corporation will comply with the MTRCB’s suspension order and issued the following statement regarding this matter:
“The MTRCB, through its chairperson, Ms. Consoliza Laguardia and its adjudication committee, ordered the suspension of ABS-CBN’s Pinoy Big Brother for 1 episode, as penalty for airing certain scenes that the Board deemed beyond the parental guidance classification of the TV show.
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In our opinion, we in Pinoy Big Brother have operated within the parameters agreed upon with the Board in the first meeting held last Aug 26, 2005. However, after a discussion with the board last September 21, 2005. the committee decided to proceed with the suspension.
We will comply with the MTRCB Decision.
We understand that Pinoy Big Brother represents a new, unprecedented expression of Filipino reality, a microcosm of human behavior that opens valuable studies and insights into social interaction, relationships and discipline.
We will continue to work in partnership with the MTRCB in producing well-screened episodes given the inherently free-form genre of reality TV. We remain committed in offering the best presentations of Pinoy Big Brother to the Filipino Audience that embraced it as their nightly favorite in television viewing.”
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