The busy soap box

The Cineplex service and Video On Demand bring greater variety to domestic entertainment, but there is a ‘two-edged’ sword

by Sherrie Wong


Even though stock television programmes may have lost their charm, the soap box redeems its magic with "pay-per-view" television. Now people can enjoy new movies on television simply by dialling a phone number. But that is not the end: In the near future, users will be able to shop from the television set as well.

Diversification of the use of television is enhanced by the Cineplex channel provided by Wharf Cable Television Limited and Video On Demand service introduced by Hong Kong Telecom.

Mr. Rawdon Tsui Sing Kei, business director of the Wharf Cable Television Limited, said that the idea of Cineplex channel originated in Britain and the United States, where it was developed by cable networks. In Hong Kong, the service provides four channels of movies — Chinese, Western, animated and adult movies.

Another new communication technology is the Video On Demand service. Provided by Hongkong Telecom, it is in its trial period. It has been approved by the Office of the Telecommunications Authority for 400 households in six to nine months.

In Video On Demand, television pictures are passed digitally down the telephone line, providing the audience with a choice of films, entertainment, home shopping, games and other facilities. Viewers then pay according to what they chose.

The spokesman of Hongkong Telecom denied that the service is a kind of broadcasting or pay television; rather, it is a kind of interactive medium both information and entertainment. Users have autonomy in determining what and when they like to see the programs.

What the two services have in common is that they both provide easy access to entertainment, but worries also arise from both - pornography and violence will be delivered to homes more easily. Therefore, the problem of regulation and control is drawing concern.

According to Mr. Tsui of the Wharf Cable, Cineplex films are selected in accordance with their popularity.

"We only broadcast those which have not been broadcast by any TV station. Western movies mainly come from the eight main distributors in Hong Kong. Chinese movies with attractive box office sales are considered first. It is more or less the same on the adult channel."

Though some people commented that the adult channel provides easy access to pornography, Mr. Tsui said he does not worry about the bad effects this may bring.

"It is not a problem as society is progressing. People's attitudes towards sex are much more open now. In fact, these movies are also available in cinemas and video rental shops. The Cineplex channel only provides viewers with a convenient service," said Mr. Tsui.

Whether the channel helps promote pornography is controversial. But it is a fact that Cineplex is the most popular service provided by Wharf Cable. The subscription rate for Cineplex is 60 percent of regular cable TV subscribers and 25 percent of overseas subscribers.

Viewers registered for the adult film service must be over 18. According to the Broadcasting Division of the Cultural and Recreation Department, the adult channel of cable TV is regulated by a particular code.

The Code of Practice on Programme Standards for Subscription states that such adult channels are permitted by the Broadcasting Authority as long as there are sufficient safeguards to prevent children from being exposed to materials which could be harmful to them.

The responsibility of preventing children at home from watching the adult house in the Cineplex channel lies with the parents themselves. In the reception box, a pass code is installed to lock off the adult channel and the parents can keep their children from knowing it.

A subscriber of the Cineplex channel, Mr. Allen Chan of Sham Shui Po, said that the pass code is useful to prevent children from watching adult movies. But he also said that some movies in the non-adult services also contain unhealthy messages, like scenes of violence and sexual intercourse.

But Mr. Tsui explained it is difficult to judge what are unhealthy messages. Different people define it differently. "We are not the only channel broadcasting movies containing scenes of intercourse and violence. The two local stations also play these films," he said.

In fact, some requirements must be met by the adult channel regarding obscene materials, including violence, depravity and compulsiveness. Violence may be portrayed only where it is justified by the context. Moreover, it must not be unduly bloody, sadistic or horrific. Great care must be exercised in cases where women or children are victim of acts of violence.

Portrayals of nudity may be justified and intimate sexual activity can be simulated, but explicit ones are prohibited. Occasional use of offensive language is justified but obscene and profane language which is likely to offend a substantial portion of the audience is prohibited.

According to information provided by the Secretariat Press Office, Video On Demand is subject to the basic moral standards specified under the Control of Obscene and Indecent Articles ordinance which is enforced by the police and the Customs and Excise Department. The Television and Entertainment Licensing Authority is responsible for monitoring.

The ordinance states that there are no mandatory requirements for the articles to be submitted for classification. Submission for classification is voluntary. However, the ordinance states that operators should exercise self- regulation and take appropriate measures to comply with the law.

As Video On Demand has not yet been formally introduced to the market, it is still unknown whether the programmes of the Video on Demand will be classified in this way. A spokesman of the Hongkong Telecom said that pornographic films will not be a main feature of Video on Demand's service.

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