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Ofcom has imposed a massive fine of £375,000 against religious broadcaster The Word Network for multiple breaches of broadcasting rules, including promoting unproven medical treatments and taking advantage of viewers’ vulnerabilities.
broadcast regulator Started investigating the channel’s programs, stem cell activators and this peter popoff ministry,
It concluded that an episode of Stem Cell Activators broadcast on 24 July 2023 made “unproven claims” that serious medical conditions could be treated using certain unlicensed products promoted within the programme. This particular breach resulted in a fine of £50,000.
Further findings revealed that many episodes of peter popoff ministry Made similar claims.
These programs also advised viewers that contacting a religious ministry would be effective in treating serious medical conditions or alleviating financial difficulties. A fine of £150,000 was imposed on four episodes broadcast in December 2023, including a repeat, followed by an additional £175,000 for an episode broadcast in May 2024.
According to the regulator, these significant financial penalties were imposed due to the “serious” and sometimes “repeated and reckless nature” of the violations. Ofcom said that by broadcasting these programmes, The Word Network “failed to adequately protect viewers from harm”.
Word Network has been contacted for comment regarding the latest fine.
This is not the first case of the channel violating Ofcom’s broadcasting rules.
Earlier this year, The Word Network was fined £150,000 for promoting its “Miracle Spring Water” with claims that it could improve serious health conditions and financial situations. At the time, Ofcom cited the channel’s failure to protect viewers from harm, the “exploitation” of viewers’ vulnerabilities and the promotion of products on air.
peter popoff ministry Presented by American Televangelist Peter Popoff.
On May 10, 2023, Popoff and his wife Liz Popoff featured a woman on an episode of their show who claimed that the health of someone with lung cancer had improved after using Miracle Spring Water, and the guest herself said that using the product had benefited her financially.
In 2023, Ofcom imposed financial fines of £25,000 each on religious satellite channels Loveworld and Bauer Radio over breaches.
The watchdog has previously decided to revoke the license of RT (Russia Today) UK, which was taken off-air in the UK due to war-related sanctions. ukraineFollowing a £200,000 fine for “previous fairness breaches”.