THE Broadcasting Commission of Jamaica (BCJ) last week read the riot act to the heads of television, radio and cable entities about an increasing number of breaches in content standards, copyright compliance and service coverage.

BCJ Chairman Dr Hopeton Dunn said the Commission was signalling its concerns way ahead of time, to give licensees an opportunity to address the infringements through self-regulation, training and disciplinary measures.

The Commission shared with media heads examples of problematic song lyrics, movies, and music videos which had resulted in several findings of breach since January 2011. These included transmissions of the ‘F-word’, and salacious and explicit sexual content, several of which were transmitted in the morning and afternoon hours on radio and television.

BCJ recalled its landmark 2009 directives which shook up the broadcasting and entertainment industries, resulting in the dismissal of some on-air personnel and near suspension of broadcast licences. It warned it could resort to similar action.

The radio, television and cable executives were also warned against the carriage of unauthorised cable channels and the transmission of music and other programming content without the requisite licences.

Professor Dunn referred to the 2012 United States Trade Representative’s Report which indicated that Jamaica remained on the US Watch List for copyright infringements, in relation to failure to compensate performing rights organisations for the public performances of music and the offering of unauthorised programming, by some cable operators.

The executives were urged to immediately cease the carriage of unauthorised cable channels and the transmission of music and other programming content without the requisite arrangements with rights holders or their duly authorised agents.

The Commission is also dissatisfied with the quality of service coverage affecting viewers in several areas across the country, notably Portland, St Thomas, St Mary, Clarendon, Manchester, and Trelawny.

The BCJ also announced that the results of a study it commissioned the Caribbean Institute of Media and Communication to do on the output of Jamaica’s electronic media sector would shortly be released to the public. The study investigated audience needs, use of new media, public perception of the Broadcasting Commission, and the impact of its Children’s Code for Programming, among other matters.