Watchdog censures 'Brother'

Oz skein breaches Code of Practice

By PAUL CHAI

SYDNEY -- Network Ten has been given a slap on the wrist by industry watchdog the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) after its latenight show "Big Brother Uncut" was deemed too rude.

ACMA ruled that the risque "Big Brother" spinoff twice breached the Mature Audience classification of the Commercial Television Industry Code of Practice, once for full frontal male nudity and once for excessively coarse language.

"MA classified material is the strongest permitted on free-to-air television and because of this, broadcasters are obliged to exercise particular care in selecting material," said ACMA topper Lyn Maddock.

Ten, already conducting a review of the program's production process, accepted the watchdog's decision.

The web also apologized for the male housemates' bad attitude toward women and said it had provided ACMA with draft undertakings to prevent a recurrence.

Fifth series of the reality juggernaut was labeled "Big Brothel" by some critics' of the housemates' lifestyles.

But the controversy didn't hurt aud figures. Skein started with an aud of 1.55 million, down on 2004's 1.72 million, but it tracked well with the target aud of 16- to 39-year-olds drawing 45% of that demo for last month's finale.