FHM wins major appeal

UpperCase Media (UCM), publishers of the glossy magazines FHM and heat, won a major today when the Review Board of the Film and Publication Board (FPB) ruled that FHM is a magazine for all ages.

The FPB Review Board ruled earlier today that the previous decision of a Classification Committee (CC) of the FPB that FHM be forthwith distributed bearing a notice that it can only be purchased by a person over the age of 18, be set aside.

The decision of the Review Board also confirms that FHM is squarely within the norms, morals and values of the South African society and that FHM is neither harmful to children, nor degrading to women.

The Review Board ruled that the January 2005 issue of FHM and all subsequent issues of the magazine must be offered for sale in a plastic sealed wrapper.
This is a major victory for FHM as it is in line with the stance taken by UCM as a responsible mainstream lifestyle publisher. FHM has since October 2000 been distributed for sale in a plastic sealed wrapper.

According to FHM publishing director Louis Eksteen this sets a precedent going forward: "We are pleased that the Review Board of the FPB agrees with us that FHM is a magazine for all ages. We are also going to continue distributing FHM in a plastic sealed wrapper, as we have done since October 2000, to prevent in-store reading."