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New Delhi: The United Kingdomâs broadcast and communications regulator, Office of Communications or Ofcom, has imposed a £20,000 fine on Worldview Media Network Limited, in relation to its service,
Republic Bharat, failing to comply with the countryâs broadcasting rules.
Worldview Media Network Limited â a UK-based firm incorporated last year â holds the licence for
Republic Bharat, which broadcasts news and current affairs in Hindi.Â
Besides the fine, Ofcom Tuesday also directed Worldview Media not to repeat the programme and to broadcast a statement of Ofcomâs findings on a date and in a form to be determined by the regulator.
Indian TV channel fined for hate speech vs Pakistanis Published December 23rd, 2020 - 03:00 GMT
The fine was imposed on Worldview Media Network Limited, whose service Republic Bharat was found to not be in compliance with Ofcom’s broadcasting rules. (Shutterstock)
Highlights
£20,000 fine issued by Britain s communications regulator over episode of ‘Poochta Hai Bharat’
Britain’s communications regulator Ofcom imposed a £20,000 (US$26,720) fine Tuesday on an Indian TV station for a program that contained “uncontextualized hate speech” against Pakistanis.
The fine was imposed on Worldview Media Network Limited, whose service Republic Bharat was found to not be in compliance with Ofcom’s broadcasting rules.
Rs 19.73 lakh fine imposed on Republic Bharat s Puchta Hai Bharat show
The United Kingdom broadcast regulator, OfCom imposed a fine of 20,000 pounds on Republic Bharat for broadcasting content involving offensive language
| 23 Dec 2020 8:47 AM GMT
Mumbai: The broadcast regulator of United Kingdom (UK), Office of Communications or OfCom has penalised the prime debate show of Arnab Goswami - Puchta Hai Bharat on Republic Bharat. It is the the Hindi news channel of Republic News Network. The broadcast regulator, OfCom has imposed a fine of 20 thousand pounds on Republic Bharat s Debate show, Puchta Hai Bharat . The amount of the fine in Indian currency is Rs 19.73 lakh. The debate show is hosted by Arnab Goswami.
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December 23, 2020
LONDON: Britain’s media regulator Ofcom has imposed a £20,000 financial penalty on Republic Bharat TV (Worldview Media Network Limited) in the UK for broadcasting breaches after the channel aired hate speech against the people of Pakistan in a show conducted by controversial anchor Arnab Goswami.
The Ofcom announced on Tuesday that it has fined Republic TV for using “hate speech against Pakistani people” over an episode of Poochta Hai Bharat, hosted by Goswani, in which offensive terms were used for Pakistanis.
The Republic Bharat channel broadcasts rolling news and current affairs to the Hindi speaking community in the UK like dozens of Indian and Pakistani news and entertainment channels.
Besides the financial penalty, the Office of Communications (Ofcom) has directed the licensee to broadcast a statement of the findings on a date and in a form to be decided by Ofcom because, it said, though it had noted that an apology had been broadcast “279 times”, it found the wording of the apology “would not convey the nature of Ofcom’s concerns”. A detailed Ofcom statement said it had also directed that the programme not be repeated.
The programme in violation of the Ofcom Broadcasting Code, aired on September 6, 2019, was about India’s Chandrayaan-2 moon mission. The debate led to exchanges in context of comparisons between India and Pakistan’s technological advances, the dispute over Kashmir, and Pakistan’s “alleged involvement in terrorist activities against Indian targets”.