Times Now and PTC Punjabi in breach of UK’s broadcast code

In the latest report released by United Kingdom’s (UK) broadcast regulator Ofcom, two Indian news channels have been found in violation of broadcast codes for presenting biased news. Times Now – India’s “most-watched” channel as it claims – has been named in the report along with PTC Punjabi.

The report specifically names the flagship show The Newshour that was hosted by its former Editor-in-Chief and President (News) Arnab Goswami and details the things said by him and his panelists in various editions of the show, between the months of July and September — a period they define as one of “increased tension between India and Pakistan”. Starting from the death of Kashmiri separatist militant, Burhan Wani on July 8, 2016, to Minister of External Affairs Sushma Swaraj’s speech at the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) after the surgical strikes, the regulator explains that it observed the “bias” after receiving complaints from viewers in August and September.

“We could not identify in this programme any content that could reasonably be described as reflecting the viewpoint of the Pakistani Government, or otherwise rebutting the criticisms being made of it,” the report stated while explaining why it thought the channel’s reporting was biased.

However, in response Times Global maintained that it was in compliance with Rule 5.9 of the broadcast code and said that they “always ensure[s] debates have a representative selection of guests who represent the varying key views, for and against, on the issue(s) being debated”. Despite a detailed response, the regulator maintained that the channel was in clear violation of the rule as the anchor Goswami “used the advantage of his regular appearances in the 19 programmes, in this case, to promote his views in a way that compromised the requirement for due impartiality”.

As for PTC Punjabi, the regulator has pointed fingers at the channel and Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) for airing their advertisements despite a ban on political advertising as per Communications Act 2003 of the UK between 14 and 30 November 2016. However, the channel rebutted the allegations by stating that the advertisement “is the equivalent of a public service announcement informing viewers of a government-scheme”. The regulator held that the 90-minute clip that was aired on the channel, during the mentioned period, was editorial in nature and hence found them in violation on Rule 9.2, which states that “Broadcasters must ensure that editorial content is distinct from advertising”.

“It appeared in the middle of an advertising break, between spot advertisements, and formed part of a sequence without any announcement or introduction. There were no conventional programme elements present (i.e. a presenter, a studio or programme titles etc.),” the report read. “It strongly resembled an advertisement and was, in Ofcom’s view, very much more likely to be perceived by viewers as an advertisement rather than as a programme. Ofcom concluded that it was not distinct as programme material.”

Besides Rule 9.2, the channel was also found violating Rule 5.5, which demands channels to be impartial on matters of “political or industrial controversy and matters relating to current public policy”.

“Ofcom was of the view that the item was a self-standing expression of support for the State Government of Punjab on current public policy. The item did not contain any alternative views, which could be reasonably classed as criticising or opposing those of that Government,” the report stated.