Another set of OfCom listener / viewer complaint reports are out - and fun reading as always.
Manchester radio station Key 103 got rapped for broadcasting 'offensive' text messages relating to that tragedy in Morecambe Bay that caused the death of 21 Chinese cockle pickers. OfCom said late night presenter James Stannage should have aired more caution before reading out the listener comments - especially relating to the use of the word "chink".
Less serious, more amusing, is the complaint upheld against Children BBC regarding the hidden camera show Stitch Up. During one of its sequences a Greek tourist could be heard in the distance mouthing off in his native language - those that understood the lingo heard him say: "I'm going to fuck your virginal mother". Although the Beeb claimed the sequence was inaudible and incomprehensible, OfCom upheld the complaint.
Also quite amusing was an upheld complaint against MTV. The staff member who was monitoring the text dedications coming into the network's The Message Factory one night failed to see messages containing the word "fuck" and "shit" sneaking through the system and going out on air (or perhaps they thought it was funny to let them be broadcast). Either way MTV has apologised and fired said staff member.
Complaints were also upheld against ITV for some on screen text - some viewers objected to the word 'fuck' appearing in the subtitles to 50 Cent's performance at the televised Brit Awards.