SAMAA TV rapped for “inappropriate” content

SAMAA TV has been rapped by Ofcom for broadcasting an “inappropriate” report during daytime hours.

In the news bulletin, which aired in September at 17:00, presenters opened up the hour by stating that they had obtained CCTV footage of an incident in which a man had been murdered trying to prevent the theft of a motorcycle. The presenters explained that the man had been shot in the head and had died before reaching hospital, and that despite CCTV
footage of the crime, the police had so far been unable to trace the killers. The report included an interview with the victim�۪s father who was distressed that the police had been unable to trace the assailants 20 days after the incident.

A complaint was received by a viewer who considered that the footage, which was shown repeatedly and with no warning, was unsuitable for this time of day.

Ofcom noted both the Licensee�۪s apology and the disciplinary measures it had taken as a result of the incident. However, Ofcom was concerned that it had not specified how it intended to prevent similar incidents in future and have recorded breaches of Rules 1.3, 1.11 and 2.3.