R-Classified Programs on Pay TV, 1993

Clause 10(1)(g) of Schedule 2 of the Broadcasting Services Act 1992 requires the Australian Broadcasting Authority to complete extensive, Australia-wide quantitative and qualitative research into community standards on pay TV. The data represents the quantitative stage of research on community standards of taste and decency in relation to classifications for pay TV and on what levels of violence and depiction of sex should be allowed. The questionnaire sought the following information about people's behaviour and attitudes: current video and cinema viewing habits; understanding of the R-rated classification; experience of viewing R-rated material; liklihood of self and others subscribing to pay TV; attitudes to adult viewing of R-rated material; perception of effects of R-rated material on self and others; attitudes towards a range of controls and consumer safeguards regarding R-rated material; attitudes towards parental supervision and use of access controls as opposed to the exclusion of R-rated material on pay TV; and (parental) methods of influencing children's current television viewing and likely use of access controls in relation to pay TV. Background variables included respondent's age, sex, marital status, occupation, income and level of education.