KEY POINTS:
New Zealanders are more disapproving of sex and nudity before the television watershed than they were five years ago, according to new research.
The findings come from the Broadcasting Standards Authority's five-yearly survey of 500 adults and a number of focus groups nationwide.
The BSA said the survey showed people were more concerned than ever to protect children from unsuitable broadcast content.
Under the Broadcasting Act, broadcasters are required to consider children's interests during their normally accepted viewing times - usually up until 8.30pm.
BSA chair Joanne Morris said: "The 8.30pm watershed is seen as a critical tool to help caregivers monitor children's viewing."
The survey also found 90 per cent of respondents thought caregivers should be primarily responsible for what their children watch on television.
But the BSA added that awareness of the classification system for programmes was not as high as the BSA would like.
Chief Executive Jane Wrightson told nzherald.co.nz: "A very large percentage of people who don't have children never refer to [the classifications] at all.
"There's a degree of confusion between TV ratings and cinema ratings," she added.
Ms Morris said the survey also suggested attitudes to bad language could be softening.
"Provided the language is in the Adults Only zone after 8.30pm, New Zealanders appear to be a little more accepting of various words, especially if there are warnings provided.
"But strongly abusive language continues to be considered highly offensive to many people."
Ms Morris said screen violence was still listed as a key concern - though the BSA received very few complaints about violence on television.
"Perhaps this means those who dislike violent programmes wisely avoid them," she said.
The new research, Freedoms and Fetters, is being launched in Auckland this evening.
-HERALD ONLINE STAFF
