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Ofcom: Most Haunted "not a legitimate investigation"
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http://www.ofcom.org.uk/tv/obb/prog_cb/pcb46/
As if anyone ever thought Host Haunted offered any scientific insight into the paranormal, Ofcom have finally ruled that the programme is not a legitimate investigation.
The standards body recently announced that the programme is not in breach of its broadcasting code, because the show does not actually contain any proper scientific procedures, so the question of whether they fabricate parts of the programme is not relevant. The show is purely for entertainment.
However, they seem to be assuming that most of the programme's viewers are aware that the show is not to be taken seriously. They cite "signposts" such as the fact that Living TV is an entertainment channel, and the fact that there is a live audience. Viewers are supposed to take these indicators as clues that they are simply being entertained, not informed.
I think it's fairly clear after reading the posts on the MH and DS forums that Ofcom are giving MH's viewers entirely too much credit. Maybe they should have asked some of the fans if they thought the programme was scientific?
Anyway. It's legal because it's just fluff.
End, as they say, of.
As if anyone ever thought Host Haunted offered any scientific insight into the paranormal, Ofcom have finally ruled that the programme is not a legitimate investigation.
The standards body recently announced that the programme is not in breach of its broadcasting code, because the show does not actually contain any proper scientific procedures, so the question of whether they fabricate parts of the programme is not relevant. The show is purely for entertainment.
However, they seem to be assuming that most of the programme's viewers are aware that the show is not to be taken seriously. They cite "signposts" such as the fact that Living TV is an entertainment channel, and the fact that there is a live audience. Viewers are supposed to take these indicators as clues that they are simply being entertained, not informed.
I think it's fairly clear after reading the posts on the MH and DS forums that Ofcom are giving MH's viewers entirely too much credit. Maybe they should have asked some of the fans if they thought the programme was scientific?
Anyway. It's legal because it's just fluff.
End, as they say, of.
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Comments
Really? They only sent it to me this morning.
Yes, the date on the release is the 5th.........
Perhaps your email is possessed.......
I posted a link months ago about "paranormal" programming in general, being treated as entertainment by OFCOM.
Anyway they are entitled to put whatever slant they like on the programme. It doesn't alter my view of it.
Nothing at all has changed. I have always claimed that MH was tv fluff, with no scientific merit whatsoever. What annoys me is that the programme is not presented as such. Ofcom seem to assume that MH viewers are able to make the distinction between real science and entertainment. A read through the fan sites would indicate the exact opposite. If viewers really thought that MH was just for fun, they would not speak about it in such credulous terms.
The programme should contain a disclaimer to the effect that they are not doing a serious investigation. They should drop all pretences at being scientific. Proper scientists should not associate themselves with the programme. At the moment, Most Haunted is misleading its audience. Ofcom are giving the viewing public too much credit.
They go to a place which is reputedly haunted for 24 hours, and they walk round with cameras filming what happens. People tune in to see 'what happens', they are disappointed if nothing exciting happens, and alternatley are excited if something does happen ... be that Yvette screaming the place down or K + S having stuff thown at them.
People can make what they like of the show, that is their perogative. It not for you to say they are idiots, which is what you are basically saying for either watching the show or for taking it for more than it is.
They don't need to. Their facade of doing "experiments" and measuring temperatures and EM fields is an attempt to pretend that they are doing an investigation. You only have to read the credulous posts by believers to know that many people have well and truly fallen for it.
If people are misled by a programme, it is misleading.
"Its a sodding housefly! You can see its wings for gods sake!"
"There is no acting that goes on in this programme, none whatsoever. Everything that you see and you hear is real. It's not made up; it's not acted."
...said the actor Yvette Fielding
That's absolutely right Tandi. They don't make a big thing about being "seriously scientific" or whatever. They don't even insist that the anomalies are definitely paranormal. They just let the viewers come to their own conclusions. Also, twice in recent weeks, Ciaron has been unable to logically explain away phenomenon as being naturally occurring.
They've even got rid of the guy who was not what he touted himself to be ~ who was set up by Ciaron himself. Still, people complain. Some folk are never happy
Of course. To do otherwise would mean being taken off air for being fraudulent.
They don't have to make an overt claim of being scientific. They know that their audience will put 2 and 2 together and make 7. :rolleyes:
Someone else, stegair, has been fooled into thinking that what goes on in Most Haunted is real. Ofcom, are you taking note?