The Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) found the documentary Hitler’s Last Year to have breached the SBS Code of Practice.
Following an investigation by the regulatory body, the documentary about the final year of World War II in Europe was found it exceeded its program classification.
The program was classified by the broadcaster as PG and was broadcast on SBS at 5.30pm on 20 March 2021.
ACMA chair Nerida O’Loughlin said that SBS classified the program as PG, enabling it to be broadcast at any time of the day.
However, in accordance with the SBS Code of Practice, depictions of violence in PG programs should be mild in impact and not shown in detail.
O’Loughlin said: “The classification system is an important guide for the public so they can make informed decisions about whether a program is suitable viewing for them.”
“While the documentary by virtue of its topic is distressing and has educational merit for children and adults alike, the depictions of violence and treatment of themes in the documentary that went to air went beyond what can be accommodated under the PG classification category.”
The ACMA found that the broadcast exceeded the PG requirements for depictions of violence to be mild in impact and not be shown in detail.
The ACMA also found that the frequency, level of detail of the discussion and visual illustration of distressing themes had a cumulative impact that was not mild and may have been disturbing to some children.
As a result of the investigation, SBS will include the findings in staff training and explore ways of facilitating its audiences making better informed decisions around historical documentaries.
This comes after the ACMA recently found New South Wales-based radio station Myall Coast Radio Incorporated to have breached a licence condition.
The ACMA investigation found that Myall Coast Radio FM was broadcasting a mix of content, including live-hosted and automated music programs, and news and weather bulletins that would likely appeal to a general audience in the broadcast area.
These licenses are issued for the purpose of niche broadcasting and by law must be limited in some way, such as being targeted to special interest groups, providing programs of limited appeal or being provided for a limited period of time or for a special event.
See also: ACMA finds Myall Coast radio station breached licence conditions