Swearing forces BBC Alba to delay football broadcast 23/2/14
The broadcast of a football match was delayed until after well after the TV watershed because of the amount of bad language from spectators.
BBC Alba’s coverage of Saturday’s Scottish Premiership game between Ross County and St Mirren was scheduled to be transmitted at 5.30pm, shortly after full time.
But microphones in the ground at Victoria Park in Dingwall had picked up cursing and swearing amongst the crowd noise.
Producers from MNE TV who were making the programme for the Gaelic language channel took action to stop the recorded game screening at teatime as advertised.
The plan to transmit “as live” without editing immediately after the match risked viewers complaining to broadcasting regulator Ofgem as the expletives were audible through the audio feeds.
Ofgem’s code requires that “the most offensive language must not be broadcast before the watershed on TV or radio when children are particularly likely to be listening.”
Even then, the “strongest material should appear later in the evening,” demands the TV watchdog which explains why the game was not shown until last thing at night, some six hours later.
MNE boss Margot McCuaig who was supervising the production of the programme tweeted: “Unfortunately @TheStaggies v @saintmirrenfc won't transmit on #BBCALBA at 5.30pm due to bad language from crowd. Will be on at 11pm. Sorry!”
The BBC iPlayer repeat of the game comes with a content warning and requires a parental safety unlock.
To fill the two hour empty slot, a documentary about Aberdeen FC European glory in Gothenburg was shown, followed by an episode of music show Horo Gheallaidh plus a programme about fairies.
Ross County won the match with a 2-