24 March 2013

Five Bengali TV channels in breach of “political advertising”

From BizAsia

Five television channels, Channel S, ATN Bangla, Bangla TV, Channel i, and NTV have been found in breach of “political advertising” rules.

Media regulator, Ofcom, received a complaint about an advertisement that featured Lutfur Rahman, the Mayor of the London borough of Tower Hamlets, and stated his aims for improving housing in the borough.

The advertisement was 30 seconds long. It displayed a series of still photographs of local authority housing, demolition and construction work, and the interior of a council flat. The Mayor of Tower Hamlets, Lutfur Rahman, was shown twice, once in the cab of a mechanical digger and later with a couple inspecting a flat.

The advertisement ran on various dates on the different channels within the period 1st January 2012 to 14th January 2012. The advertisement was booked to be transmitted on average 15 times each day it was broadcast on each of the five channels.

Channel S has previously been found in serious breach of the prohibition on political advertising. A significant fine was imposed on that occasion. Channel S Global Limited surrendered its licence and ceased broadcasting.

The other four licensees in this case – Runners TV Limited (NTV), Prime Bangla Limited (Channel i), Bangla TV (UK) Limited (Bangla TV) and ATN Bangla UK Limited (ATN Bangla) – are put on notice that in the event of further serious breaches of sections 321(2) and 321(3), and the corresponding BCAP rules, Ofcom will consider the imposition of significant sanctions.

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