Further scandal rocks Crufts as KC admits it censored broadcast

In a statement given to the Daily Telegraph today, the Kennel Club has admitted that it instructed Channel 4 producers to edit out the footage of the Best of Breed German Shepherd from Saturday night's broadcast of Crufts.

When asked why the broadcast had not included footage of the dog on the move, the KC said:
"In light of the concern over the particurlar dog we made the decision not to further highlight the unsound movement of the dog whilst we discuss ways forward to improve the health of the breed."
Remember that the KC here is talking about the TV footage broadcast on Channel 4, a public service broadcaster.

Here's what the Channel 4 guidelines say on this point:

Broadcasters must retain complete editorial control over their programme content. In order to achieve this: 
  • programmes must always be and appear to be editorially independent;
  • programmes should not promote or endorse the commercial products and services of others or appear to. 
  • any improper external influence on the editorial process must always be resisted e.g. by a commercial organisation, a contributor or anyone or any organisation who seeks to exercise some degree of control over programme content;

I have today submitted a complaint to Channel 4 - and will follow it up with the broadcasting watchdog, Ofcom.

I know this one won't provoke as much outrage as a deformed German Shepherd, but I'm a TV producer and guard very fiercely my editorial independence when making my own films.

Behind the scenes, there has been a lot of concern about the impartiality of the Crufts broadcasts because it is pretty obvious to anyone in the know that the Kennel Club pulls a lot of strings.  Everyone invited on to that Crufts TV sofa is KC-friendly.

My understanding is that the live footage from the show is streamed to an OB (outside broadcast) team that edits the footage for broadcast, with a KC media representative overseeing the process.

Hopefully next year, if Channel 4 continues to broadcast the show that the BBC dropped on animal welfare grounds after Pedigree Dogs Exposed, measures will be put in place to ensure that the Kennel Club is not running the show.

Related Posts:

  • Breeder's Digest for September 2013Breeder’s DigestSeptember 2013 Litter AnnouncementsLabrador Retrievers9/8/13 Shane x Catina: 3 males, 5 females; litter letter N9/9/13 William x Suzanne: 4 males, 4 females; litter letter P9/13/13 Brutus x Disney: 1 male… Read More
  • Making a PACTTBy Jim PriceMonths of planning, organizing, training and coordination came together recently at the launch of a new therapy dog program for GDB career change dogs in the Portland, Ore., area. Known as PACTT (Portland Area Can… Read More
  • Two things to be thankful for They really are my saving grace of late. I remember last year around this time lots of folks were saying they couldn’t wait for 2012 to be over with. It was pretty good for me. 2013? Worst year in, well, years. I cannot… Read More
  • Alumni Connections: Reach for the Stars Scholarship By: Samantha Adams“They walk among us.” This is a phrase usually associated with those silly e-mail messages my family sends announcing the Darwin awards for the year. Customarily, this phrase is somewhat derogatory… Read More
  • Grateful: A Walk with LavaBy: Marlene Dunaway, GDB GraduateIt is 7:00 AM in the morning. I know because my internal alarm clock insists that I open my eyes. The news says the weather will be sunny and warm, and I think to myself, “Yes, let’s take a wa… Read More