BSA upholds a second complaint against Shortland Street

Despite controversial storylines for 15 years, TV2 soap Shortland Street managed to avoid any complaints being upheld by the Broadcasting Standards Authority (BSA).

This all changed last month when the show received it's first warning over a homosexual love scene. Within weeks of this ruling Shortland Street has been dealt with a second due to unsuitable violence.

Mark Turner of Christchurch complained to the BSA that the episode featuring the death of core character Dr Craig Valentine breached standards of good taste and decency and was not suitable to be screened at 7pm.

The episode saw thugs run Dr Valentine's car off the road and chase him through the bush as he had incriminating evidence against a large pharmaceutical company. The men fought with Dr Valentine before beating him with a baseball bat and then burning him alive in his car.

A PGR warning screened before the show, but the BSA ruled that this episode was unsuitable for children even if accompanied by a parent and that it should have been classified as Adults Only.

However, because the ruling was not made unanimously no penalty will be imposed on TVNZ.