Watershed (broadcasting)

In British broadcasting, the watershed is the point in time after which programmes with adult content may be broadcast. In the same way that a watershed refers to the crest dividing two drainage basins, a broadcasting watershed serves as a dividing line. It divides the day into the overnight period where family-oriented programming suitable for children may be aired and where programming aimed at or suitable for a more adult audience is permitted, though not required. It may also mean the period of time during which programmes with adult content may be broadcast. Examples of adult content include, but are not limited to, graphic violence, horror, strong language, nudity, sexual intercourse, gambling and drug use, or references to these themes without necessarily portraying them. In most countries, the same set of rules also applies to advertisements on radios and television, both for the content of the commercial and the nature of the product or service being advertised.

Watershed has other names in other countries; it is known as safe harbor in the United States (a reference to the legal term of safe harbor, in this case indicating the time when broadcasters are protected from penalties for airing indecent but not obscene material).

Due to cultural differences around the world, watershed times can vary. For instance, in New Zealand, the watershed time starts at 20:30 (8:30 p.m.), and in Italy it starts at 22:30 (10:30 p.m.). Some countries also have multiple watershed layers, where less inappropriate content than others may be allowed at an earlier time of the evening, but may still be restricted. In addition, some countries are more lenient towards subscription television and radio or pay-per-view channels than towards free-to-air channels and stations (see pervasiveness doctrine for the U.S. context of this).

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