Canadian TV stations shuffle ‘violent’ shows

By J.K. Radomski

MONTREAL — Canada’s new code on TV violence went into effect recently, prompting stations to come up with strategies to deal with the measure and forcing some shows off the air.

The voluntary code calls for shows that contain violence to be aired after 9 p.m. and aims to eliminate it from children’s shows.

CJOH-TV in Ottawa announced it is cutting X-Men this month from its Saturday morning lineup. The animated series, based on a comic-book team of heroes with mutant powers, has done considerably well in the ratings for Fox TV in the United States.

“We will not air this show because it no longer fits in with the new code. The characters are lifelike and express themselves through graphic violence,” said CJOH station manager Al Mackay. “The industry has to start looking after their own house. If the government starts to decide what people should or shouldn’t see, then it becomes a censorship issue and we don’t want that.”

Saban International, which produces X-Men, said the show itself isn’t to blame for its cancellation. “It was a self-initiated decision to remove the show,” said Saban spokesman Jeff Pryor. “We consider X-Men to be action-packed and do not believe there is any violence in the show.”

Some Canadian stations, such as YTV, a children’s specialty network in Toronto, aren’t planning any changes to their schedule because they say they are still respecting the code even though they are airing programs canceled in other Canadian markets.

One such show is Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, which has been dropped by other stations in Canada but will continue to air on YTV.

“We have always been responsible to our viewers and there’s no need to drop anything,” said Dale Taylor, YTV’s vice president of programming.

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