Friday, June 03, 2011



SkyTV supports racism

So, apparently Murray Deaker described someone as "working like a nigger" on his SkyTV programme. It's appalling racism, and he deserves to be sacked for it - but what's even more appalling is SkyTV's reaction:

Sky Television spokesman Tony O'Brien said the network had not received any complaints about Deaker's comments.

"I'm not defending him, but that's a phrase that's widely used."

(Emphasis added)

Really? In what century? I think this tells us more about the racism of SkyTV executives than about New Zealand society.

If you'd like to prove O'Brien wrong, then you can complain to SkyTV here. And while you're at it, you might want to drop a line to the Broadcasting Standards Association Authority here. The broadcasting standards for pay tv are here; they do not include a standard against racial denigration and discrimination (WTF?), so I'd focus on it being a violation of good taste and decency (P2) and of fairness (P7).