The availability schedules of programs on France.tv can be confusing, particularly the fact that some of them, especially those prohibited for under 16s, are only accessible at specific times, mainly at night. This article will explore the reasons behind this restriction and highlight the necessity of protecting young audiences within public audiovisual services.
Age restrictions to respect
France.tv, as a public video on demand service, must adhere to certain legal regulations aimed at protecting young viewers. Programs classified as “not suitable for under 16s” face access restrictions similar to those applied on traditional television. Thus, during the day, between 5 a.m. and 10:30 p.m., these programs are simply unavailable.
The parallel with linear television
The current regulations are based on rules established by the Higher Council for the Audiovisual (CSA), now known as Arcom. These rules stipulate that programs advised against for under 16s can only be broadcast during limited time slots, specifically between 10:30 p.m. and 5 a.m. on TNT channels. Consequently, France.tv must apply these same rules on its platform to comply with legislative requirements.
An absence of age verification
It is important to note that no age verification system is currently in place on France.tv, despite discussions around this issue within the platform. Even though users must create an account with a date of birth, this does not prevent minors from lying about their age. Thus, the concerned programs remain invisible during the day, although they are accessible at other times.
Variations by age categories
The restriction only applies to content classified as not suitable for under 16s. Programs advised against for under 12s, on the other hand, have a slightly more flexible broadcasting clock, with access permitted from 8 p.m. or 8:30 p.m. on certain thematic channels. Thus, young viewers may have access to a wider range of content, even if this may raise concerns regarding child protection.
The position of France Télévisions
Edouard Gasnier, former program launch coordinator at France TV Slash, clarified France Télévisions’ position on this thorny issue. According to him, it is crucial “not to play with the protection of young audiences.” This approach emphasizes the responsibility that public services have in broadcasting content, aiming to prevent any inappropriate exposure for young viewers.
The implications for overseas viewers
The broadcasting rules do not only apply to the mainland. Viewers from the overseas departments and territories of France must also comply with these restrictions. They cannot therefore watch the concerned programs except between 10:30 p.m. and 5 a.m. local time. This significantly restricts their viewing options, making the program less accessible at certain times of the day.
The look towards the future
With the rise of new technologies and compliance requirements, it may be that France Télévisions reforms its systems to better harmonize access to content. The issue of protecting young people remains a subject of debate, and various stakeholders in the sector continue to explore solutions to meet both legal requirements and users’ needs. To learn more about issues related to social media and child safety, you can explore related articles on the ban on TikTok and restrictions on illegal streaming sites.
