Adult chat channel clocked multiple breaches of Ofcom’s broadcasting code and is now likely to face sanctions.
Studio 66 was found to have breached broadcasting rules at least five times this year. Ofcom found the channel carried explicit language before 9pm and nudity before 10pm.
An Ofcom consultation found the channel’s content to be “unacceptable” for adult chat services. As a chat service, Studio 66 is available free-to-air on satellite 24 hours a day. Services with more explicit content need to be encrypted.
As Studio 66 was also found guilty of breaching rules in 2019 and 2020, Ofcom is now considering a statutory sanction. The channel argues previous breaches should not be taken into account, as the channel was under a different owner. But Ofcom has found the new company is controlled by the same individual as the previous company.
Channel bosses have been given an opportunity to make oral and written submissions to the regulator before a final decision is made.