Apna MA TV in breach with Ofcom over sponsorship
Apna MA TV has been found in breach of Ofcom rules after broadcasting an episode of ‘Decode’ featuring sponsorship references, marking the first breach for the channel under its new company.
The finding comes after the troubled MATV service went off-air before returning as Apna MA TV, under a different company but with broadly the same output.
The breach relates to ‘Decode’, broadcast on 8 April 2026 at 21:30. Ofcom ruled that the programme was a current affairs programme and therefore fell under Rule 9.15 of the Broadcasting Code, which prohibits the sponsorship of news and current affairs programmes.
The episode included sponsorship references including “KEI Wires and Cables presents Decode”, “Co-presented by Muhoot Finance” and “Co-powered by Mongia Steel Limited”, alongside company logos.
Apna MA TV told Ofcom that the programme was supplied via a direct feed from India’s Doordarshan on a free-of-charge basis. The broadcaster said it had expected to receive a UK-compliant international feed without advertising or commercial references, but instead received the domestic Indian version containing the sponsorship credits.
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It said the issue was identified on the day of transmission and, after an amended feed could not be provided, ‘Decode’ was removed from the schedule from the following day.
Apna MA TV stressed that it had no commercial relationship with the companies featured and had received no sponsorship consideration. It also said it had introduced additional compliance checks for third-party programme feeds and commercial references.
Ofcom acknowledged the broadcaster’s explanation, apology and subsequent action, but concluded that the broadcast nevertheless breached Rule 9.15. The decision represents Apna MA TV’s first Ofcom breach since its return under the new company.
