TV and Radio Compliance Consultant
FIRST – Ofcom has new powers to revoke licences of radio stations that broadcast terrorist material. This week saw Ofcom use for the first time its powers to suspend and then close down a radio station for serious breaches of the Broadcasting Code.
Has Ofcom increased the liability of broadcasters for the most offensive language? That may be the implication of the Resolved finding against Channel 5 for an edition of the ‘Wright Stuff’ published in today’s Ofcom Bulletin.
So Ofcom has recorded its first breach of the Broadcasting Code against the Vice group of channels since they launched in the UK (see Ofcom Broadcast Bulletin, 19 June). No – sadly – it is not for edgy investigative journalism. But for offensive language on Viceland – and just for badly beeped offensive language at that.
It was coincidental but interesting that Ofcom published a Code breach against the Blackburn-based Islamic Ummah channel yesterday, on the Monday after the Saturday night London Bridge terrorist attack. Ofcom found Ummah had breached due impartiality rules for showing a discussion programme about the Birmingham ‘Trojan House’ affair (not illustrated above incidentally).