Form ACMA B13

APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS

This document should be read in conjunction with ‘Criteria for a Children’s Program’ and ‘Assessment Procedures for C and P Classification’, which are available from the ACMA directly or through its website at

Children’s (C) and Preschool (P) Classification

The Children’s Television Standards (CTS) require commercial television licensees to broadcast minimum annual quotas of children’s programming. All C (children’s) and P (preschool) programs must be classified by the ACMA prior to broadcast on free-to-air commercial television.

Program makers will need to lodge applications for the classification of C and P programs with the ACMA. Classification decisions are made on completed programs or on proposed programs, including proposed Children’s drama programs at pre-production stage.

Classification categories are:

  • Provisional C
  • C classification
  • C Drama at pre-production stage
  • C Drama
  • Provisional P
  • P classification

Application form and required materials

Applications for classification of children's programs are made on Form ACMA B13. Copies of the form are available from the ACMA’s Sydney office or on the ACMA’s website.

Three hard copies of all materials (Form ACMA B13 application form, scripts, outlines, DVDs etc.) are required in support of an application for P classification.

For all other applications only one hard copy of application materials is required. However ACMA staff may request additional copies of this material should issues be identified which the ACMA believe require consideration by its registered consultants.

For all classification categories, an electronic copy of application materials should also be provided on CD or emailed to .

Programs will be accepted on DVD.

Review of decision

If an applicant wishes to seek a review of an ACMA decision, a mechanism is available through the Federal Court under the provisions of the Administrative Decisions (Judicial Review) Act 1977.

Classification of new programs

The application requirements for new programs are set out at Table 1.

The ACMA will assess only one series of a new program at a time.

The following are points to note about provisional classification and classification of drama programs at pre-production stage.

Provisional C and Provisional P Classification

This classification is intended for applicants who are in the initial stages of production and have limited material to lodge for assessment.

Provisional classification indicates to an applicant whether a proposed program meets the CTS 6 criteria and whether the program is likely to achieve full classification from the ACMA.

Provisional classification is not a guarantee that a program will subsequently receive either C or P classification.

A program with a Provisional classification cannot be broadcast as a C or P program. A new application must be lodged if full C or P classification of the program is required.

C Drama (at pre-production stage) Classification

An application lodged for a C Drama classification at pre-production stage for the first series of a program must include full scripts from at least the second draft stage of three episodes, as well as outlines for the remaining episodes of that series. If classification at pre-production stage is granted no further application for classification is required. The scripts that have been submitted as sample episodes should be ‘true to type’ of all other non-scripted episodes.

In order to accommodate production requirements, episodes may be submitted in blocks of six to 26 episodes for classification. Subsequent blocks of episodes from the same series require only the completion of Appendix A of the Form ACMA B13 (a streamlined application form). Applicants have an obligation to advise the ACMA of any substantive alterations in storyline or characters as scripts are developed to final shooting versions.

In accordance with the CTS 17, a DVD copy of the completed program must be sent to the ACMA within one month of completion of the program. In cases where the completed program is not consistent with the sample episodes submitted as part of assessment for classification, the ACMA has the power under CTS 15(3) to revoke the classification.

Other material to be provided

If a proposed C, P or C Drama program is to contain:

  • G classified film clips, including music and feature film clips;
  • G classified archival footage and supporting extracts from other programs; or
  • G classified cartoons

the applicant must provide details in the synopsis of the program of:

  • the nature of the extracts, including subject matter; and
  • an assessment, as far as practicable, of the number and duration of such extracts to be included in each episode of the proposed program.

Classification of subsequent series of a program

A new classification application must be submitted for any subsequent series in a program.

The application materials required for the classification of a subsequent series of C, P,or C dramaprogram are set out at Table 2.

Applicants should provide details of any changes from the original series of the program so the ACMA can assess these new elements against the classification criteria.

For subsequent series of a drama program seeking classification at pre-production stage, applicants may elect to submit blocks of six to 26 episodes for classification. Any subsequent block of episodes within that series requires only the completion of Appendix A of the Form ACMA B13 (a streamlined application form).The scripts that have been submitted as sample episodes should be ‘true to type’ of all other non-scripted episodes.

In accordance with the CTS 17, a copy of completed drama programsclassified at pre-production stage must be sent to the ACMA within one month of completion of the program. In cases where the completed program is not consistent with the sample episodes submitted as part of assessment for classification, the ACMA has the power under CTS 15(3) to revoke the classification.

Application for renewal of a program’s classification

The ACMA retains files in relation to past classification decisions for a period of 10 years. In cases where renewal of classification is not sought within ten years of the original classification being granted, then the ACMA requires new copies of program materials.

The application requirements for renewal of the classification of a program are set out at Table 3.

Application for a program previously refused classification

If a program was previously refused C, P or C Drama classification by the ACMA a completely new classification application is required for the program.

A new application will only be accepted if the ACMA considers the applicant has addressed the issues raised in the Statement of Reasons which accompanied the ACMA’s original decision to refuse classification for the program.

Any application which does not substantially address the issues raised in the Statement of Reasons will not be accepted by the ACMA as a new application for classification.

Further information

Further information about applications for C and P classification can be obtained from the ACMA’s website or the ACMA’s Broadcasting Standards Section on 02 9334 7700 or .

Australian Communications and Media Authority
Application Requirements, January 2012