THE CYPRUS Broadcasting Authority’s decision to shut down Sigma for five minutes last caused uproar both at the TV station and among politicians. The authority has filed a suit against the channel claiming one of their locally made comedies contained lewd and unsuitable material.
General Director of Sigma Dinos Odysseas yesterday told the Cyprus Mail the Broadcasting Authority has deemed their comedy show ‘Oti Ithele, Prokipsi’ (‘Whatever happens, happens’) as containing immoral material and was to be taken off the air immediately.
“We at Sigma find their decision to be extreme and unfounded. It is also unjust and it does not comply with the spirit of people’s rights to watch what they choose,” said Odysseas.
“We have even had support from a UN representative Andreas Mavromatis as well as politicians who all believe the Broadcasting Authority’s reaction to be excessive and unfounded,” he added.
According to Odysseas, the Authority asked Sigma to remove the show immediately after seeing an episode they believed to be immoral. “We did not end it immediately as there were no other episodes that contained any material that could have been construed as inappropriate. So due to the expense of the show we continued to run it until it finished,” said Odysseas. “However we have now taken it off the air and have informed the Broadcasting Authority.”
According to the authority they received complaints from citizens who were offended by the show’s content. The complaints included claims that episodes aired portraying marriages that “do not depict a Cypriot way of life”. The show also was also accused of using inappropriate language that implied the only way to keep a family together by having an extramarital affair. The script of these episodes depicted two married couples that swapped partners to enhance their sex life.
The Broadcasting Authority requested that Sigma shut down their transmission for five minutes. “We were issued a letter last Friday and asked that we shut down on Monday between 9.45pm – 9.50pm,” said Odysseas.
“We doubt the reasons for the authority’s actions and will discuss them in court.”
Deputies are outraged that the Cyprus Broadcasting Authority is offended by what they describe as a harmless comedy and yesterday issued a complaint to the House. Discussions on the matter are expected to take place after the Cabinet’s deliberation.
DISY deputy Demetris Syllouris told the Cyprus Mail that he considered the Broadcasting Authority’s decision an over-reaction and stated they had not given the TV channel Sigma enough time to defend themselves. “We are taking the matter to the House of Representatives and soon hope to have meetings to discuss the ludicrous charges brought against Sigma,” he said.
DISY deputy Nicos Tornaritis also expressed his opposition to the Broadcasting Authority’s decision. “In modern society it is unacceptable that the content of a comedy show would be under scrutiny. All art forms must be respected whether we enjoy them or not, whether we agree with them or not. People’s rights of expression must be protected.
“It was a comedy show. I believe they took it too seriously and they are judging too harshly, as if we were still in the Middle Ages.”
AKEL deputy Andros Kyprianou added: “I think that it is irrational to request the channel cut off for five minutes simply because they believe one of their shows contained inappropriate material. I personally do not believe the content was in any way unsuitable for viewers. There are a lot worse programmes aired on television, why has this show come under attack?”
