Ofcom is to impose fines totalling £50,000 on Khalsa Television Limited (KTV) for a “serious breach” of broadcasting rules.
An investigation by the regulator found KTV, which broadcasts to the UK’s Sikh community, ran a music video that indirectly encouraged Sikhs living in the UK to commit violence, including murder, against people opposed to the Khalistan Liberation Front.
The video was found to contain subliminal harmful messages in an apparent attempt to influence viewers without them being aware.
A second investigation found that a live discussion programme, Panthak Masle, featured a number of statements which were likely to incite crime or lead to disorder. This included material which amounted to implicit threats of violence towards Harnek Singh, a Sikh radio presenter living in New Zealand.
KTV has been fined KTV £20,000 in respect of the music video and £30,000 in respect of the discussion programme. Its been ordered not to air the music video or discussion programme again and broadcast a summary of Ofcom’s decision at a time of the regulator’s choosing.