✏️Application

Universally apply the PRS to everything.

These standards shall apply to every single piece of content, including nonexhaustive images, videos, audio, or writing.

Only PRS-rated content will be allowed to be broadcast on GFTV’s channels.

However, unrated content before 17 Aug 2020 will continue to be publicly available.

What to consider when applying PRS?

To apply ratings, we first analyse the programme’s content. Ask questions in reference to PRS standards, for example:

• “How's the language?”

• “Anyone being a little or too lewd?”

• “Is the violence a bit too much for audiences?”

• “Is this trying to mislead audiences or distort information?”

• “How will audiences like children perceive such details?”

A furry convention, for example, may contain numerous instances of people releasing swear words here and there.

In this case, furcon videos will be PG-rated by default because it is unavoidable. If the content we are putting together is perfectly clean, we can bring its rating to G.

Change ratings whenever needed

There are perfect times when videotaping can be G-rated in nature. That is, until someone spoils the moment with a walk-in swear word. This can be unavoidable.

• We can simply cut the ending audio or video from the clip.

• If the moment is so perfect but totally ruined by the swear word, treat it with audio bleeps.

• But the moment audio bleeps are used, the entire programme’s rating will instantly elevate from a G to a PG rating.

• Doing this lets us provide a higher content advisory level in case we missed out on anything.

Except for G ratings, always label content with specific reasons why it has a rating like PG or MT.

• For example: “Rated Mature (MT) - strong language.”

When do we reject rating content?

Pay attention to any content that starts to challenge the upper limits. Reject anything that instructs, promotes, or exploitatively shows but is not limited to

• Sadomasochism (BDSM)

• Fetishes

• Paraphilias (e.g. bestiality, paedophilia)

• Necrophilia

• Activities accompanied by fetishes, group sex or practices that are offensive or repulsive

• Excessive depictions of sex and other mature themes

Give our content a balance across all ratings

With the birth of PRS, we can now make content more relevant to our audiences.

• Our audiences may come from the three major rating categories. We recommend giving a balanced mix of G, PG and MT content.

• This ensures we can cater to our audiences across the SFW-NSFW spectrum.

• However, an exception to this would be Channel 2 China. This is because Bilibili is where Channel 2 is based. They are very strict about mature content.

MT-rated content will thus not be available for our Chinese audiences, restricting them to only G- and PG-rated content.

Advisory for international sensitivities

GFTV’s audience covers many countries around the world. But in some countries, some content can be quite sensitive and, at times, even illegal.

EXAMPLE

We operate Channel 2 China for our audiences in China (PRC).

China is very strict about content distributed within its platforms. Sensitive topics include national borders, politics, and especially adult content.

This is where we must put more content restrictions. We must completely exclude maps, MT-rated and political content, even the censored ones for Channel 2 China.

Use neutral language when pointing to controversial topics.

This can protect us from whatever troubles we could have with Chinese authorities.

But in countries where information is not as tightly controlled as in China, we may ease restrictions a bit.

As a general rule, we must indicate disputes whenever we touch on politics, if there are any. This sticks well to our “all views” news doctrine.

Exceptions for news programmes

The PRS standards must be used on all content we produce. But news programmes are exempt.

News is information that should be open to all. It should not be censored in any way. Despite this, we are strict about keeping our news programmes family-friendly.

We strongly recommend using at most PG-rated imagery, video and audio materials with all news reports we do.

• If the content material is far too sensitive for our audience, do not use it.

• But if it is really needed, we can show some prohibited content (stated in PRS standards) on news programmes.

• We will do this only to provide public information, educate our audiences, and/or help them understand the context.

• Appropriate censoring, if needed, can then be added to the sensitive parts.

If we ever modify our source materials like that, tell our audiences at the end:

• We modified this material

• Why we modified it

• What are we trying to achieve

This lets us “show our workings,” which is part of our commitment to transparency.

• For example, we abridged an interview with Vulpine Designs for GFTV News.

• We wrote an on-screen Transparency Notice:
• “Four excerpts from the interview are put together. We are trying to fit a 10-minute video within time constraints.”

• This reflected our intentions to abridge the content material.