TV watchdog scolds Global

The Canadian Broadcast Standards Council has scolded Global Television for two broadcasts that it says breached the CAB Code of Violence and Ethics — one by making light of drunk driving, the other for failing to warn viewers about violent footage.

The first involved a drunken boating scene on the extreme sports show fatbluesky, which aired last year at 10 a.m. on a Saturday morning. It showed a man swearing and drinking beer while driving a motorboat. The man also addressed the camera directly and encouraged his younger viewers to behave like him.

The council ruled that episode, which failed to air viewer advisories, should not have aired before 9 p.m. Global has since pulled the program, which it agreed was ‘inappropriate.’

The CBSC also considered a viewer’s complaint of disturbing and violent footage seen on Entertainment Tonight in April. The segment was a tease for an upcoming ABC Primetime show on dysfunctional step-families, and contained images of violence against children.

The CBSC says Global did not violate the code by airing the segment, but noted that the net failed to warn viewers in advance of the broadcast.