TV channel policies: children’s viewing times

The WASPA Code states that subscription services may not be promoted in media specifically targeted at children. This page provides information from various television channels to assist WASPA’s members with this requirement.

Please note that these rulings may change periodically and it is therefore suggested to check this document every time a TV campaign is planned.

Below is a detailed schedule of children viewing times across all television channels. In addition to the WASPA Code, some channels have their own policies which should also be adhered to.

If you are a representative of a television station, and you would like to notify WASPA of a change to the guidelines below, please contact us via the contact page.

SABC 1:

Monday – Friday

  • 06:00 – 07:30
  • 15:30 – 17:30

Saturday

  • 06:30 – 09:30

Sunday

  • 06:30 – 08:30

SABC 2:

Monday

  • 09:15 – 10:15
  • 16:00 – 17:15

Tuesday – Friday

  • 09:15 – 09:45
  • 16:00 – 17:15
  • 10:00 – 10:45 – Takalani Sesame, Wild Touch and youth educational programs are being aired. We do not mark these as children’s programs but generally children would be watching. No advertising will be permitted during educational programming.

Saturday

  • 06:30 – 06:30
  • 09:00 – 09:45

SABC 3:

Monday – Friday

  • 07:30 – 08:00
  • 15:30 – 16:00

Saturday

  • 05:00 – 08:30

Sunday

  • 08:30 – 09:30

DSTV & MNET

Commercial Policy regarding SMS/WASP Advertising on MNet & DStv

In order to ensure that the best interest of our subscribers, our channel partners, and our advertisers are met, Oracle Airtime Sales are updating our policy with regard to short code SMS/WASP advertising as follows:

General Issues

  • All commercial material in this category must be viewed and approved by Oracle prior to broadcast. The responsibility to supply a copy of the commercial via VHS or MPEG lies with the client. Failure to do so will mean that the commercial in question will not be broadcast.
  • The title of the commercial must be supplied to Oracle along with the flighting code in order to assist with the identification and content of the material.
  • In the first instance it is the responsibility of the client to ensure that the scheduling of the commercial is appropriate in regard to the content and the proposed channel environment, time of broadcast etc.
  • Oracle will only accept material from WASPA members and all material must be WASPA compliant. Advertisers will need to supply their WASPA membership numbers to Oracle.
  • All competitions advertised must comply with the Lotteries Act and any other South Africa law and the client agrees to indemnify Oracle and its related channel partners from any legal claims in this regard.
  • Oracle reserves the right not to broadcast any material that it believes may cause confusion or offense for any reason whatsoever, regardless of whether it complies to WASPA regulations.
  • Oracle will not broadcast material that is political or religious in nature, unless special arrangements have been made in this regard.
  • Oracle reserves the right to terminate the broadcast of any commercial that is receiving complaints from viewers for any reason whatsoever.
  • Oracle reserves the right to ban all advertising from any client that it believes is not complying with this policy.
  • Oracle reserves the right to update this policy from time to time.

Advertising to Children

  • With immediate effect the MNet children’s channels (KTV, K-All Day) will no longer accept advertising for subscription based services.
  • Other children’s channels within the DStv bouquet (Cartoon Network, Boomerang) will continue to accept advertising for subscription based advertising but may issue their own terms and conditions in this regard.
  • No PG rated content will be accepted in children’s programmes or on any children’s channels.
  • Commercials promoting nudity, violence, dating, or having sexual connotations will not be accepted in children’s programming or on children’s channels – or before 22:00 (family viewing) on any DStv channel.

Adult content

  • Commercials promoting or containing explicit adult content, will only be accepted on MNet Action during related late night adult programming.
  • Commercials which include actual or implied sex will not be accepted.
  • Advertising containing adult themes or sexual connotation may be accepted after 22.00 on selected channels on a case by case basis.

ETV:

Due to the recent concerns we have received with regards to placing SMS commercials, e.tv have had to put the following procedures in place, with immediate effect.

  • A DVD or mpeg1 of every sms commercial must be supplied to e.tv for approval before flighting. If a DVD or mpeg1 is not provided to e.tv for approval the commercial will not flight and the client will be charged a cancellation fee.
  • e.tv must be given 24 hours(1 x working day) notice for any flighting code change of existing material and 48 hours(2 x working days) notice for any flighting code change for new material.
  • Any commercials which have the word “love” or “sex” or imply anything to do with having a relationship will not be allowed to flight in children’s programmes or children’s movies.
  • Under no circumstances will e.tv flight commercials
    • with “hot babes”, sexy women, sex, etc. in daytime programmes and especially not children’s programmes.
    • that promote nudity or violence in children’s programmes.
    • subscription-based services in children’s programmes or children’s movies.
  • Non-subscription SMSs for children’s programmes must not cost higher than R10 per SMS.
  • Children’s programmes are classified as:
    • Monday – Friday: Craze block (14:30 – 16:30)
    • Saturday: Craze block (07:00 – 10:00)
    • Sunday: Craze block (08:30 – 11:00)
    • Please note that these times may change due to programme changes.
  • All political based SMS ads must be viewed and approved in advance by our legal department.
  • When flighting codes are sent to e.tv a title of the commercial must be provided at the same time. i.e. VideoTones or LoveSMS
  • e.tv will no longer flight any adult content commercials before 23h00.
  • Adult content commercials may only flight in 18+SN rated movies. If the movie has any other rating, e.g. 16 or PG or All, they may NOT be scheduled, regardless of what time the movie is being broadcast.
  • Adult content commercials rated 18+SN may flight in programmes or movies rated 16+SN only after midnight.
  • Adult content commercials rated 16+SN that only contain content of male or female in bathing costumes may flight in programmes or movies rated 16+SN ,16+S or 16+N after 23:00 only. Should the content or commercial depict someone stripping or naked with a graphic over the genital areas, the commercial will only be allowed to flight in movies or programmes rated 16+SN after midnight only.
  • e.tv will not broadcast any ads for adult services which display genital areas.
  • e.tv will not broadcast any ads which include actual or implied sex in the ads.
  • All SMS content clients need to be members of WASPA and need to abide by their code of conduct.
  • All SMS content clients need to send us their WASPA membership.
  • If you advertise or have an erotic/adult service, you MUST have an AVS in place that conforms to WASPA and/or the network’s erotic/adult AVS rules.
  • All commercials that are subscription-based must indicate such.
    • Where the WASP is in control of the billing and additional communication is required from the customer, confirming acceptance of any costs over this amount, prior to any additional costs being billed.
    • Where the WASP is not in control of the billing the member must send a notification to the customer once they have reached this limit.

SMS ads that exceed the R300 threshold per month requires that the users reply “yes” if they are willing to exceed R100 for any particular service in any month. (Effective from 1 October 2008.)

  • Use of the keyword “FREE” is banned in commercials. (Effective from 1 October 2008.)
  • All commercials must comply with the Lotteries Act and any other South African Law.
  • With regard to competitions, any competition which:
    • Charges a fee for entry, and
    • Offers a prize on a random basis, i.e. without requiring the entrant to demonstrate some skill (e.g. by answering a quiz question) may conflict with the National Lotteries Act and will not be accepted by e.tv.

A client who offers any commercial which contains a competition in which they can win a prize, will be required to demonstrate to e.tv that the competition involves a game of skill and that the prize is not funded by means of the subscription itself.

Notwithstanding e.tv’s acceptance of any commercial, it is incumbent on the client to ensure that the commercial complies with the Lotteries Act and any other applicable South African Law. In supplying its commercial to e.tv against any claim instituted against e.tv whether in a court of law or otherwise arising from non-compliance with any law, rule or regulation, which indemnity shall include an undertaking to pay all costs associated with defending such claim.

PLEASE NOTE: New commercials must comply with the above immediately. Existing commercials must be amended or withdrawn by 1 October 2008.