Television Channels: Political Impartiality and Sanctions
(asked on 5th November 2024) - View Source
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what discussions she has had with Ofcom on (a) allegations that Channel One Russia Worldwide has breached the conditions of its TLCS licence and (b) the imposition of statutory sanctions on GB News Limited for breaching the special impartiality requirements in the programme People’s Forum: The Prime Minister broadcast on 12 February 2024.
Answered by
Stephanie Peacock
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)
The Secretary of State has had no discussions with Ofcom regarding Channel One Russia Worldwide or the imposition of statutory sanctions on GB News.
Ofcom is the UK’s regulator for broadcasting and by law carries out its duties independently of the Government. Ofcom’s Broadcasting Code contains rules to ensure that due impartiality must be preserved on matters of major political or industrial controversy and major matters relating to current public policy. It is for Ofcom, as the independent regulator, to determine whether there has been a breach of their rules and whether to apply sanctions.
Although Channel One Russia Worldwide holds an Ofcom TLCS licence, it is not available on any regulated service in the UK.