ZCZC
BFF-33
BRITAIN-RUSSIA-MEDIA-RT
UK regulator says Russia’s RT channel broke rules
LONDON, Dec 20, 2018 (BSS/AFP) – Britain’s broadcasting watchdog said
Thursday that Russia’s RT news channel had broken impartiality rules with
several programmes broadcast after the Salisbury nerve agent attack, and
could be sanctioned.
“Ofcom has today found that the RT news channel broke broadcasting rules by
failing to preserve due impartiality in seven news and current affairs
programmes over a six-week period,” it said.
The breaches together “represent a serious failure of compliance with our
broadcasting rules”, it said.
The news and current affairs programmes were aired between March 17 and
April 26, in the aftermath of the nerve agent poisoning of former Russian
double agent Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia.
“We have told RT that we are minded to consider imposing a statutory
sanction,” it said.
“The broadcaster now has an opportunity to make representations to us,
which we will consider before proceeding further.”
BSS/AFP/RY/1638 hrs