MTV have been slapped with a £255,000 fine by broadcasting watchdog Ofcom for "persistently" transmitting offensive language before the 9pm watershed. The fine was handed down after the network aired unedited repeats of reality shows containing swearing and unsuitable music videos during the day. Silly fuckers (I’m assuming you’ll be reading this post-watershed).
Amongst the numerous breaches of the rules were a trailer for 'Totally Jodie Marsh', which contained the phrase "I just don’t want you settling down with some fucking wanker from a modelling agency", which apparently was even more offensive than Jodie Marsh being on TV to start with. There were also repeated use of the words "motherfucker", "fuck you" and "fuck" in Aphex Twin's 'Windowlicker' video, excerpts from the film 'Superbad', broadcast at 9am, which contained the phrases "what the fuck", "hold his fucking hand... fucking hold my hand", and "give me a fucking warning before you do that", and a text message-based show on MTV Hits called 'Mr Know It All', which explained to viewers the meaning of the word "Spunkbelly".
In a statement, Ofcom said: "Pop video and entertainment channels like those controlled by MTV Networks attract large numbers of viewers under 15. They have a responsibility to these children and their parents to ensure their compliance arrangements are robust and effective".
A spokesman for MTV said: "We take this sanction and fine very fucking seriously. [We have taken] a series of steps to minimise as much as possible the chances of the wankers who work here making any breaches in the future". Well, they said some of that.