TV show A Current Affair has landed itself in hot water with the broadcasting regulator for trying to hypnotise viewers.
The Australian Communications and Media Authority has found that ACA breached the Commercial Television Industry Code of Practice by “broadcasting a program that was likely, in all the circumstances, to be designed to induce a hypnotic state in viewers”.
The segment, titled Think Slim, was broadcast on Channel Nine in October 2008.
The program’s host, the reporter and the man who conducted the hypnotherapy all told viewers the segment would contain hypnotherapy which ended up lasting about a minute.
ACMA said through a press release that Nine had breached the code.
“The remarks made throughout the segment, in addition to the actual short hypnotherapy session that concluded the segment, clearly indicate that the segment was intended to induce a hypnotic state in viewers and help them lose weight,” the statement read.
Nine also breached the code by not responding to a written complaint by a viewer.
Nine has told ACMA has circulated the findings to all relevant staff and will reference in training sessions scheduled for September.
ACMA is satisfied with the response and will continue to monitor Nine.
Update: Here’s a link to the video: Hypnotise your way to weight loss (Thanks nekospecial!)
(via Steve Silberman)