OTTAWA — The Canadian Broadcast Standards Council (CBSC) today released a decision regarding the broadcast of English songs containing the word “fuck” on French-language radio, which determined that such instances are sometimes acceptable.
“The CBSC concluded that, because the overall programming was French, only songs that contained numerous instances of the f-word or used the word as an insult towards a person are in breach of the Canadian Association of Broadcasters’ (CAB) Code of Ethics if aired during the day,” reads a CBSC press release.
“The CBSC has, in previous decisions, established that in English Canada the broadcast of the word ‘fuck’ and its variations must be limited to late evening broadcasts. The CBSC has acknowledged that those words do not have the same severity when used by French speakers, so it established a different standard for the use of the English f-word in French-language programming,” the release explains.
The CBSC’s decision comes after the Council received a complaint from an anglophone listener of CHXX-FM (Vibe 100.9) in Quebec City. The listener provided examples of January 2022 broadcasts on CHXX-FM during which English songs containing the f-word were aired during the station’s programs Les Hits sur demande (Jan. 6 between 4 p.m. and 5 p.m. ET) and La Vibe du matin (Jan. 17 between 8 a.m. and 9 a.m. ET).
In its response to the complaint, the radio station argued “its broadcast of the unedited versions of the songs was in compliance with established CBSC policy and they also wanted to maintain the integrity of the artist’s work,” according to the press release.
“The CBSC’s French-Language Panel examined the complaint under Clause 9 of the CAB Code of Ethics which prohibits the broadcast of unduly coarse and offensive language. The Panel concluded that the songs form part of a French-language program so the approach established for such stations should apply. This means that the presence of the English f-word will only breach the code if broadcast during the day or early evening and it is used frequently or to insult someone,” the release says.
“The Panel concluded that one of the three English songs examined by it violated the code because it contained many instances of the expressions ‘fuck you’ and ‘fuck off’ directed at individuals related to the singer’s ex-boyfriend. All adjudicators agreed that, even if the occasional f-word is acceptable during daytime hours on French stations, broadcasters should always strive to offer high quality content and consider availing themselves of edited versions of the songs, which are usually readily available.”
