Russia-Backed RT News Channel’s License in Jeopardy as U.K. Media Regulator Launches 12 More Investigations
variety.comNaman Ramachandran UPDATED: U.K. media regulator Ofcom on Wednesday opened a further 12 investigations into the due impartiality of programs on the Russia-backed RT news channel.
This takes the total number of RT programs under investigation to 27.“We are very concerned by the volume of programmes on RT that are raising potential issues under the Broadcasting Code, and as we progress our investigations we are considering whether RT should retain a U.K.
license,” Ofcom said in a statement. Earlier this week, Ofcom commenced 15 investigations into the due impartiality of news programs on RT.“We have observed a significant increase in the number of programs on the RT service that warrant investigation under our Broadcasting Code,” Ofccom said in a statement on Monday. “When dealing with major matters such as the crisis in the Ukraine, all Ofcom licensees must comply with the special impartiality requirements in our Code.
These rules require broadcasters to take additional steps to preserve due impartiality – namely by including and giving due weight to a wide range of significant views.” Ofcom said that the investigations relate to 15 editions of the hourly “News” program on RT on Feb.
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