Channel Nine has begun to issue official responses to fans who complained to the network about “bullying” and “harassment” on The Block 2023.
In case you’ve been living under a rock, the 19th season of the hit renovation show has been rife with drama.
Namely, viewers have taken issue with couples Leah and Ash Milton and Kristy and Brett Beams for seemingly berating their co-stars on multiple occasions.
In recent weeks, several fans alleged they reported their concerns to both the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) and Channel Nine, with the network receiving 28 official complaints in just one week.
They have 60 days to respond.
Now, one person who made a formal complaint contacted So Dramatic! to reveal they’d received an official response from Channel Nine.
“I wrote a complaint about the level of bullying and manipulation on the show,” they said, as reported in episode 321 of the So Dramatic! podcast.
“It is so triggering for many people and not suitable for a family show.”
They also shared a copy of the letter from the network, expressing they felt it was a “pretty unsatisfactory response”.
What did Channel Nine respond to concerned fans of The Block?
In an extensive letter sent on October 12, Nine Network’s Compliance Department acknowledged the viewer’s complaint about The Block 2023.
“You have raised concerns about the content of the Program, which you considered inappropriate for broadcast.
In particular, we understand your concerns to be the depiction of behaviour by participants that you consider
amounted to bullying or manipulation,” it read.
“At the outset, we apologise if viewing the Program caused you concern, as that is certainly not Nine’s intention.”
The letter continued: Nine takes any concerns raised by its viewers extremely seriously, and makes every effort to ensure that the material it broadcasts is both compliant with its regulatory obligations, and in line with community standards.”
It went on to explain that Nine’s content is regulated by the Commercial Television Industry Code of Practice 2015. However, the network does not believe the all of the “issues raised” are “matters specifically covered by the Code”.
“However, to the extent the concerns you raise fall within the broader matters covered by the Code, they are covered by Nine’s obligations as to the appropriate classification of content.”
The network also said that The Block‘s content falls within guidelines that regulate PG classified programs.
“Whilst we understand you have indicated that you considered the content of the Program was not appropriate
for broadcast, the material contained in the Program was able to be accommodated within the PG guidelines,
noting the parameters of the sub-clauses identified above which permit depictions of social or domestic conflict
provided they are justified by context and carefully handled. In particular, the Program did not contain any adult
themes that would exceed the PG guidelines.”
The Compliance Department concluded its response by thanking the viewer for raising their concerns.
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