Viewers say graphic violence is now the ‘norm’ on post-watershed TV, but they believe the portrayal of sex on TV has become fairer for women, a new study has found.
Findings from an Ofcom survey into audience attitudes revealed that viewers believe violent scenes have become ‘more intense’, ‘more frequent’ and ’embedded’ in programs broadcast after 9pm.
Meanwhile, the rise of services such as Netflix was seen to have ‘significantly increased the amount and extent of graphic material available’, with audiences feeling that other broadcasters may have come under ‘indirect pressure’ to ‘dial in’ their own adult content ‘ to compete. .
Bosses at the media regulator said there was a “greater feeling” as some post-watershed series, such as the BBC’s Peaky Blinders and Sky’s Game of Thrones, were “highly violent”.
But the study suggested that when it came to showing sex on screen, this had been ‘improved’ and ‘modernised’ in recent years, with less of an ‘exclusively’ male perspective and ‘greater focus on female sexual empowerment’.
Bosses at Ofcom said there was a ‘greater feeling’ now that some post-watershed series such as the BBC’s Peaky Blinders (pictured) and Sky’s Game of Thrones were ‘very violent’
The review even quoted the hit BBC show Normal People, saying viewers appreciated the show for portraying “realistic and healthy, consensual sex” and felt the sex scenes showed the “warm and loving nature of the relationship.”
However, viewers also felt that shows like Love Island were contributing to a ‘new form of sexualised entertainment content’, which was part of a ‘major shift’. There were concerns that program makers were ‘pushing the boundaries of acceptability’ to win viewers.
Ofcom’s report, entitled Audience Attitudes to Violence and Sexual Content on Television, also found that TV soap operas could no longer be relied upon for safe family viewing.
It said that these types of programmes, which also include Coronation Street and EastEnders, ‘followed the general trend of increasing violence and sexual content’.
When it came to the portrayal of violence on television, the report said: ‘There was a sense that violent content was now the norm and embedded in mainstream post-watershed programming.
The review even quoted the hit BBC show Normal People (pictured) and said viewers appreciated the show for portraying ‘realistic and healthy, consensual sex’ and felt the sex scenes showed the ‘warm and loving nature of the relationship’.
‘The violence shown also became more explicit, intense and realistic.’
But the perceived improvement in the portrayal of sexual relationships was reflected in the way they were seen as ‘less likely to contain stereotypes or uncritical examples of objectification or exploitation’ than in the past.
The report says: ‘In addition, participants felt that the lens through which sexual scenes were portrayed was less likely to be exclusively male, with an increasing concern for consent and a greater focus on female sexual empowerment.
‘More modern content could also promote body positivity and encourage positive conversations about sexual relationships.’