What is the watershed?

The watershed, as it is known, begins on television at 9.00pm. After this time language and scenes of sex and violence may become more explicit. The Code brings in an extra emphasis of protecting the under-18 audience and particularly children (defined in the Code as the under-15s) who are deemed too young to exercise fully informed choices for themselves.

The watershed is an example of self-censorship practiced by broadcasters. The new Broadcasting Code states that "Material that might seriously impair the physical, mental or moral development of people under eighteen must not be broadcast." An understanding among the broadcasters means that they do not show programmes depicting strong language, sex and violence before 9pm. After that time, parents are expected to take responsibility for their children's TV viewing.

Most broadcasters and producers abide by the watershed, but occasionally inappropriate material does get shown before 9pm and people complain to the BCC. Sometimes programmes are shown before and after the watershed, adapted for the two different audiences. When BBC2 was screening Buffy the Vampire Slayer, the full unexpurgated version was broadcast in the evening at around 11pm, while a cut version that omitted the violence was shown at 6pm. Similarly, a recent advert for Bisto cheese sauce had two different versions: the one after the watershed showed one of the characters naked, cut for the pre watershed screenings.

For more information about how Ofcom regulates television broadcasting visit the Ofcom website.