Ofcom raps NTV for political advertorial interview

Bengali news channel, NTV has been rapped by Ofcom for broadcasting a political interview, which was branded as an advertorial.

One complaint was received by Ofcom of an interview with Lutfur Rahman, the Executive Mayor of Tower Hamlets. The channel said that this programme was part of a series considering: ���successful members of the Bangladeshi community and issues which affect and are of interest to the Bangladeshi community, in particular the British Bangladeshi community�۝.

Ofcom said broadcasters are required to comply with the rules in Section Five to ensure that the impartiality requirements of the Act are complied with, including that due impartiality is preserved on matters of political or industrial controversy and matters relating to current public policy. Ofcom concluded that the Licensee failed to preserve due impartiality as required by Section Five of the Code.