GB News fined £100,000 by Ofcom for breaking impartiality rule over Rishi Sunak programme
GB NEWS has been fined £100,000 for breaking impartiality rules over a programme featuring Rishi Sunak, Ofcom has said.
The TV watchdog said the then-PM had a "mostly uncontested platform" on the People's Forum Q&A show.
But the channel's boss Angelos Frangopoulos said the fine was a "direct attack on free speech and journalism in the United Kingdom".
He said: "We believe these sanctions are unnecessary, unfair and unlawful.
"The programme was designed to allow members of the public to put their own questions directly to leading politicians.
"GB News chooses to be regulated and we understand our obligations under the Code.
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"But, equally, Ofcom is obliged by law to uphold freedom of expression and apply its rules fairly and lawfully."
The hour-long show on February 12 saw voters grill then-prime minister Sunak.
But it received more than 500 complaints - with Ofcom ruling that other political views should have been given "due weight".
The programme was first found to have broken broadcast rules back in May.
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GB News will now have to broadcast an Ofcom statement announcing the fine at a time of the watchdog's choosing.
Ofcom said: "We have today imposed a £100,000 financial penalty on GB News for breaking due impartiality rules.
"Our earlier investigation found that an appropriately wide range of significant viewpoints was not presented and given due weight in People’s Forum: The Prime Minister.
"This was a live, hour-long current affairs programme broadcast on 12 February 2024.
"Nor was due impartiality preserved through clearly linked and timely programmes.
"As a result, we concluded that the then Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak, had a mostly uncontested platform to promote the policies and performance of his Government.
"This was in a period preceding a UK General Election, in breach of Rules 5.11 and 5.12 of the Broadcasting Code.
"Given the seriousness and repeated nature of this breach, Ofcom has imposed a financial penalty of £100,000 on GB News Limited.
"We have also directed GB News to broadcast a statement of our findings against it, on a date and in a form determined by us.
"GB News is challenging our original breach decision in this case by judicial review, which we are defending.
"Ofcom will not enforce this sanction decision until those proceedings are concluded. "
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British TV channels are supposed to be impartial about "major political controversy" and policy debates.
They are also obliged to include a "wide range" of views in political discussions.
