UK slaps €20000 fine on Arnab Goswami

                 WHAT HAS HAPPENED?

British TV regulatory authority Ofcom has imposed a £20,000 fine on Republic Bharat, Republic TV’sHindi channel,

For hate speech against Pakistani people in a programme broadcast last year.Ofcom, which stands for Office of Communications, is the government-approved regulatory and competition authority for the broadcasting, telecommunications, and postal industries of the United Kingdom.In a detailed note on its decision 

 Ofcom said that Republic Bharat’s Poochta Hai Bharat programme had failed to  comply with its broadcasting rules. 

According to Ofcom, an episode, shown on September 6, 2019, featured 

“comments made by the host and some of his guests that amounted to hate speech against Pakistani people, and derogatory and abusive treatment of Pakistani people. 

The content was also potentially offensive and was not sufficiently justified by the context.” 

        BUT WHY UK IMPOSED THE FINE?

Worldview Media Network Limited is a UK-based firm incorporated last year —Holds the licence for Republic Bharat, which broadcasts news and current affairs in Hindi.

           WHAT REPUBLIC BHARAT SAID?

The Indian channel had the opportunity to make some representations to the regulator. 

Republic Bharat acknowledged

“misjudgements made in this programme”.

It also told the regulator that the 20,000-pound fine “seriously threatened its ability to sustain the Republic Bharat channel”. 

The regulator dismissed these arguments, saying “the Licensee continues to operate notwithstanding its representations on its financial situation.