BBC's Frozen Planet Fakes Polar Bear Scene

Rachel_Sandford

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Media regulator Ofcom claims to have received “more than a handful”of complaints from viewers of BBC's Frozen Planet. More than eight million viewers tuned into the fifth episode of the series broadcast on November 23[SUP]rd[/SUP]; it featured polar bear cubs in a den with their mother. Fans were impressed by the work the camera men put into capturing the moment, only to be disappointed when they found out that the scene was actually filmed in a Dutch animal park, using fake snow and a den made of plaster and wood and fitted with cameras before the cubs were born.

The scene begins by showing a male polar bear hunting for food. Sir David Attenborough's commentary explains the difficulty of finding food in the wild. The scene then cuts to a polar bear mother and the commentary continues to describe how mothers prepare their nest or den in the snow. Another cut back to the arctic with an explanation of how bear cubs are born beneath the snow, then footage of the cubs.

Viewers felt the show was misleading, claiming that the way the footage was presented made them believe it was shot in the wild. Especially because the segment of the episode that explains how the show was filmed left out the part of the polar bear cubs.

BBC has denied misleading their viewers, however, explaining that behind-the-scenes footage available on the Frozen Planet website clearly explains that the scenes were filmed in the animal park, and they even show the cameramen fitting the den with the cameras. The corporation claims that the narration spoke in general and not specifically about the cubs being show. They also explained that filming in parks is “standard practice” for these types of shows. Their guidelines state that when it is “impractical or unsafe to film in the wild it can be editorially and ethically justified to use captive animals.”

“This particular sequence would be impossible to film in the wild,” said a spokesperson. “The commentary accompanying the sequence is carefully worded so it doesn't mislead the audience and the way the footage was captured is clearly explained on the programme website.”

Furthering their argument, in an online clip posted on November 7[SUP]th[/SUP], which is before the episode was aired, show producer Kathryn Jeffs explained the episode saying: “The problem for us is that they (the polar bears) do it (give birth) underneath the snow in these dens of ice, and there's absolutely no way that we could get our cameras down there. It would be completely impractical and you wouldn't want to disturb the polar bears by getting that close.”

Despite their explanations, viewers still feel duped. After all, how many viewers will take the time to go online prior to the episode to see how the segment was filmed? Chairman of the Commons Culture, Media, and Sport Committee, John Whittingdale said: “My view has always been that broadcasters should not seek to give viewers a false impression and it is much better if they are entirely open. If this was not filmed in the wild it would have been much better to have made that clear in the commentary.”

Sir David Attenborough came to the BBC's defence on ITV1's This Morning. The narrator explained that if they added an explanation in the commentary about where the scene was filmed, it would have ruined the atmosphere. “If you had tried to put a camera in the wild in polar bear den, she would either have killed the cub or she would have killed the cameraman,” said Sir David. “It's not falsehood and we don't keep it secret either,” he added.

This is the second circumstances that Attenborough has narrated for the BBC, faking a polar bear scene. The first happened in 1997 for Polar Bear, Arctic Warrior. The documentary was also criticised after it was revealed that the scene of a mother with her newborns was filmed at a zoo in Germany.

Ofcom is yet to decide whether or not they will investigate into the matter further or take the issue up to the BBC Trust. The series, Frozen Planet, has already been aired worldwide.
 

Channel Hopper

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'More than a handful of complaints', and yet Chris Moyles is paid to be on radio.
 

Lazarus

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What a fuss about nothing.

They told a story that could not have been told so well by any other means.

I imagine the plaintiffs are the type who think East Enders is real life.
 
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