Victoria criticised for showing Secrets

Last Thursday, ABC aired the Victoria’s Secrets Fashion Show in place of their highly popular quiz show, Who Wants To Be a Millionaire. The network is now taking criticism from groups such as the National Organisation for Women and the Parents Television Council.

The groups take offence to the network dedicating a prime-time hour to women displaying Victoria’s underwear. In the network giant’s defence, it does claim to have edited the programme to appease critics such as these. Also, viewers were told prior to the beginning of the programme that it was for mature viewers.

A Federal Communications Commission member has apparently requested that an investigation be called to determine if the network has violated indecency regulations. Michael Copps, after receiving dozens of complaints about the show and its promotional commercials, said:

“I would hope that television broadcasters would go the extra mile in exercising self-discipline when airing programming during the hours when children are likely to be in the audience.???

The ABC standards division reviewed the special extensively before it was aired, and the network was assured that it was “no racier than the one Victoria’s Secret sponsored as a Web cast last year.???

Even though Victoria’s Secret catalogues show similar, if not more revealing, material than the programme that was aired, they are available from any of their retail stores, as well as online and by mail to the general public. Some companies, such as Abercrombie & Fitch, have rated their catalogues “R??? ‘voluntarily’ and require a photo ID proving age (over 18) before being obtained.

Portions of this report © 2001 Associated Press.