Rated Q

Last night the programme CloseUp on TVNZ Channel 1 ran an article on whether TV should have a higher quality of programming, which a group of prominant New Zealanders have asked for. CloseUp asked for feedback.

Dear Closeup,

Before I begin, I want to reassure you that I am not an elderly conservative type. I am 20.

Although the clips played last night of television from 'the good old days' weren't the most thrilling clips imaginable, the point of these 'prominant New Zealanders' that tv has generally slipped its standard still remains relevant.

Recently, it has become harder and harder to find decent family rated entertainment, programmes both interesting and clean that don't have the words 'sexy', 'seductive' or similar in their advertisements. Even those programmes which on the whole are brilliant - such as Lost - have succumbed at times to portraying a "things are hotting up" type ad.

A good example of this came during last nights episode of Lost, when tv2's "hot friday" was advertised. Although presumably the host of "Distraction" was joking when he said "Nudity, pain... we've got something for the whole family" it is frustrating to be bombarded with such (for lack of a better word) 'filth' so regularly on television.

Why is it that television seems to think that if a programme is filled with sexual innuendos it is funny, or if it is filled with sexual relationships it is worth-while viewing.

I personally would much rather some of these older programmes, even the ones which do contain some sexual references, over many of the modern programmes such as Mile High, the OC, or even to a lesser extent Joey and Shortland Street, which - by looking at the ads - seem driven by them. Not that I watch these programmes, but only because I still remember that there is a choice between watching them and reading a book.

Why can't there be a better range of clean television programming? Shows such as your own can manage to be informative and clean. Surely there could also be clean fun programmes in all genres. Comedy, Drama, Action, Thriller, rated Q for Quality Programming.