Program rights violations by U1 and Star TV

The Independent Complaints Authority for Radio and Television (UBI) has upheld complaints by Swiss television against U1 and Star TV. The two private broadcasters U1 and Star TV both broadcast erotic night programs after midnight. As part of these programs, commercials are shown that advertise the downloading of porn videos onto cell phones. According to a press release issued by the UBI today, these are indecent and harmful to minors.
According to the UBI's reasoning, the commercials in question showed "a one-dimensional, degrading image of sexuality that largely eliminates all other interpersonal relationships". Young people in particular are at risk, for whom such depictions can lead to "a problematic attitude of entitlement and blunting in sexual matters". The fact that the commercials are only broadcast after midnight and, in the case of Star TV, with a warning, was also not accepted by the UBI as an exoneration.
The two television stations were given a 60-day deadline within which they must submit a report detailing the countermeasures taken to remedy and prevent such infringements in the future. The UBI decision can be appealed to the Federal Supreme Court by means of an administrative appeal.
As reported by Sda, Star TV managing director Paul Grau and the two Zurich porn providers Televox and Lava will have to answer to the Zurich District Court on Tuesday, August 22. The court is investigating whether the commercials also violate the pornography provision of Art. 197 of the Swiss Criminal Code. The public prosecutor is demanding CHF 5,000 each for the porn providers and CHF 2,500 for Star TV.
The defense lawyers, on the other hand, are demanding acquittals. Grau's lawyer emphasizes that it is not up to the advertising media to check advertising for legal conformity. The porn providers' defenders accuse Swiss television of double standards: on the one hand it brought the case, on the other hand it offers such services itself on its teletext pages. Moreover, it is not the media or providers who are responsible for the young people, but the parents. This is therefore a "non-punishable sin of omission".