According to the Broadcasting Complaints Commission of SA (BCCSA), MultiChoice has been handed a R10,000 fine for an advert that promoted the ‘Hannibal’ television series. The BCCSA said that on 24 April 2013, the commission received three complaints when the advert was broadcast during Masterchef Australia on M-Net.

The complaints were as follows:

Complaint number 1:

Very violent and grotesque images that is certainly not for children and should not be aired during family viewing time.

Complaint number 2:

[The advert] would imprint on anyone’s mind instantly, and are the stuff of nightmares.

Complaint number 3:

It was absolutely disgusting for an adult – but totally inappropriate for family viewing.

MultiChoice said:

Ordinarily such a promo would not have been approved by the channel for broadcast during family viewing time. However in this particular case, the promo was actually a commercial advertisement and had been paid for by a foreign channel purchasing airtime on a local channel.

The channel ceased broadcasting the promo before [the] watershed period immediately after receiving this complaint. In addition we have implemented measures to ensure that our screening and pre-approval processes are strengthened to avoid a repeat of similar.

The advert according to the BCCSA was against the subscription code as it aired material which was not suitable for younger viewers before the watershed period.