In this article:
Note: Programme Classifications and Audience Advisories may only remain available for up to 48 hours on the New Sky Box if your internet goes down.
Pay Television
The programme classifications and audience advisories for Pay TV are as follows. Classifications should be broadcast on all content except for news, current affairs and live content.
The Pay Television Code of Broadcasting Practice does not differentiate between the time that content is broadcast. We have filtering technology in place to protect younger viewers at any time of the day.
Our parental control system enables subscribers to block programmes (based on their classification) or entire channels with a personal PIN. To manage or set up parental control on your Sky box, click here.
| Classifications |
|---|
| G | Approved for General viewing |
| PG | Parental Guidance recommended for young viewers |
| M | Suitable for Mature audiences 16 years and over |
| 16 | People under 16 years should not view |
| 18 | People under 18 years should not view |
| Audience Advisories |
|---|
| C | Content may offend |
| L | Language may offend |
| V | Contains violence |
| S | Sexual content may offend |
Free-to-air Television
Changes to classification labels and timebands
Changes to classification labels and timebands take effect on 1 May 2020 across free-to-air TV channels in New Zealand, including Sky's free-to-air channel Sky Open. The PGR and AO labels are being replaced with G, PG, M, 16 and 18 labels, bringing consistency with Pay TV. There are also changes to some of the timebands which dictate when different programmes can be shown.
To help you decide what you and your family watch, we will also be increasing the use of classification labels, and you will see advisory symbols (L, V, C and S) to indicate the content of some programmes.
To give you more control, parental lock features are available to help manage what children in your care watch.
For more information, and some useful tips about how to keep your kids safe when watching TV, go to www.safeviewing.co.nz.
Free-To-Air Television Programme Classifications and Audience Advisories (from 1 May 2020)
For the purposes of these classifications a child means a person under the age of 14 years.
| Classifications |
|---|
| G | Approved for General viewing. Programmes which exclude material likely to be unsuitable for children. Programmes may not necessarily be designed for child viewers but should not contain material likely to alarm or distress them. G programmes may be screened at any time. |
| PG | Parental Guidance recommended for younger viewers. Programmes containing material more suited for mature audiences but not necessarily unsuitable for child viewers when subject to the guidance of a parent or an adult. PG programmes may be screened at any time. |
| M | Suitable for mature audiences 16 years and over. The M classification means the programme might contain violence, sexual material, offensive language, adult themes, nudity, or other content that some children and parents find challenging. The programme may contain content with a moderate impact and themes that require a mature outlook. On free-to-air television, M programmes may be screened between 9am and 3pm on weekdays (except during school and public holidays, as designated by the Ministry of Education) and after 7.30pm until 5am. |
| 16 | People under 16 years should not view. Programmes classified 16 contain stronger material or special elements which are outside the M classification. These programmes may contain a greater degree of sexual material, offensive language, realistic violence, and stronger adult themes. On free-to-air television 16 programmes may be screened after 8.30pm until 5am. |
| 18 | People under 18 years should not view. Programmes classified 18 contain themes which may be challenging or offensive even to some adult viewers. On free-to-air television 18 programmes may be screened after 9.30pm until 5am. |
| Unclassified Programming | News, current affairs, sports and live content is not, because of its distinct nature, subject to classification. However, broadcasters must be mindful of children’s interests (Standard 3) and other broadcasting standards and include audience advisories (i.e. a warning) where appropriate. If a programme is likely to disturb or offend a significant number of viewers, or progamme content is likely to be outside audience expectations, an appropriate written, or written and verbal, on-screen audience advisory (warning) should also be broadcast. |
| Audience Advisories |
|---|
| C | Content may offend |
| L | Language may offend |
| V | Contains violence |
| S | Sexual content may offend |
