If you've ever wondered how many decisions the Broadcasting Standards Authority make in a year, their latest bulletin has the figures. A quick survey of these reveals that it's the news that drives most people to make complaints.
Apparently the BSA issued 193 decisions in 2009/2010, with 170 (or 88%) concerning television programmes, compared with 125 decisions (83%) about television programmes in 2009.
Of the 193 decisions, 45 (or 23%) were upheld in full or in part, compared with 25 (17%) in the previous year. All but three of the upheld complaints related to television programmes.
As with past years, television news, current affairs and factual programmes attracted by far the most complaints. The most complained about programmes were One News (25 complaints with 6 upheld), 3 News (18 with 4 upheld), Close Up (16 with 6 upheld), Breakfast (13 with 1 upheld) and Sunday (10 with 4 upheld).
The other area of concern to some complainants was promos for television programmes with seven complaints for TVNZ promos, of which one was upheld.
Accuracy, fairness, and good taste and decency were the standards most cited in complaints.