Tougher standards proposed

Internet television services such as Netflix and Lightbox may be compelled to submit their programming for classification by the Film and Video Labelling Body under a proposal that the Government has put out for consultation.

Internal Affairs Minister Tracey Martin suggested a rule change could create more consistency in the way programmes were labelled as being suitable for different age groups, which would make it less confusing for parents ‘‘trying to pick something for their kids to watch’’.

Martin said the reaction to controversial Netflix show 13 Reasons Why was an example of the ‘‘public concern’’ that a new ‘‘standardised classifications system’’ would address.

Spark and former chief censor Andrew Jack had a major public falling out over the labelling of programming on Spark’s Lightbox internet television service in 2016.

That was after Spark ceased submitting material to the Film and Video Labelling Board in the wake of an opinion by the Culture and Heritage Ministry that internet television providers were not legally required to do that.

Jack had accused Spark of misleading its customers with ‘‘inaccurate’’ content warnings for programmes such as adult western Deadwood and ballet drama Flesh and Bone. Spark in turn expressed ‘‘disappointment’’ Jack had aired his concerns in the media without first addressing them to the company.

Spark spokesman Andrew Pirie said that if it did have to submit programming on Lightbox for labelling, it would not always be able to release programmes at short notice, at the same time as they aired overseas.

A discussion paper released by Internal Affairs agreed its proposed ‘‘option 1’’ of requiring new material to be classified by the Film and Video Labelling Body could put pressure on censors and delay the release of new programming.