Satellite TV channel Loveworld has been found guilty of breaching UK broadcasting rules by screening Covid conspiracy theories. It comes just months after it first fell foul of the rules but escaped a sanction.
The Global Day of Prayer, shown on 1st December 2020, contained numerous conspiracy claims about the Coronavirus. The programme included statements that the pandemic is a “planned” event created by the “deep state” for nefarious purposes, and that the vaccine is a “sinister” means of administering “nanochips” to control and harm people.
Ofcom’s investigation concluded that the broadcast failed to “adequately protect audiences from harm and that news was not presented with due accuracy”.
The channel has been banned from repeating the programme. It must now broadcast a statement containing Ofcom’s findings.
Loveworld first breached rules in May 2020, when on two occasions it broadcast conspiracy theories regarding the pandemic. At the time, Ofcom shied away from imposing a sanction on the channel.
This time, Ofcom says it is considering its options. The level of sanction will indicate how serious the broadcast regulator is with regards conspiracy theory-related rule breaking.