ABC dog sex image breached code: ACMA

The ABC crossed the line when its satirical program the Hamster Decides broadcast a manipulated image of a journalist having sex with a dog, the media watchdog has found.

The image of The Australian journalist, Chris Kenny, strangling a dog while having sex with it was "intrinsically likely to have caused a high level of offence", the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) said in a statement on Friday.

Mr Kenny is one of the ABC's noisiest critics and the Chaser team, who are behind the program, were addressing that when they broadcast the image on September 11 last year.

"I agree (with Mr Kenny). They've just got to cut ABC funding. I mean this, this is a network that broadcasts images of Chris Kenny strangling a dog while having sex with it," Andrew Hansen said on the show before the clip was shown.

ACMA said while some factors mitigated the offence, the image was still likely to offend and breached the ABC's own code of pracctice.

"Robust debate is a common feature of Australian political discourse and artistic expression," ACMA chairman Chris Chapman said in a statement.

"However, the ABC's standard must, and does, create a line beyond which material cannot be broadcast if it is not justified by the editorial context."

The image crossed the line, he said.

ACMA said the ABC Board should reflect on whether its code is operating effectively.

The ABC said they would be reviewing the ACMA report and its findings.

"The ABC has twice apologised to Mr Kenny and separate court proceedings have been settled," the broadcaster said in a statement.