Ofcom fines religious channel £150,000 for ‘claiming water product cures cancer’
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Ofcom has issued a six-figure fine to the religious channel Word Network after episodes of the programme claimed a miracle water product can cure cancer, the media watchdog said.
On Tuesday, the regulator said it has “imposed a financial penalty of £150,000 on Word Network Operating Company”, following the channel being in breach of broadcasting rules.
The media watchdog said two episodes of Peter Popoff Ministries, presented by American televangelist Peter Popoff had “potentially harmful claims” by advertising the water would “improve serious health conditions or financial situations”.
“Ofcom was particularly concerned that the programmes included repeated statements and testimonials about the efficacy of the water, claiming or strongly implying the water cured serious illnesses, including cancer,” it said.
In 2023, the watchdog found the programme “in breach” of the Broadcasting Code’s rules that cover protecting the public from harmful material, a requirement for religious programmes to “not improperly exploit the susceptibilities of the audience”, and to not promote “products, services and trademarks” during programmes.
“While having regard to the broadcaster’s and audience’s rights to freedom of expression and religion, we considered the claims that contacting the ministry, or using its ‘Miracle Spring Water’, were effective ways to improve serious medical illnesses or financial difficulties, went beyond proclamations of faith and religious teachings and practice,” Ofcom added.
Content retrieved from: https://ca.news.yahoo.com/ofcom-fines-religious-channel-150-115853394.html.
