Broadcast regulator Ofcom has suspended KTV’s licence after broadcasting material likely to incite violence.
KTV – full name Khalsa Television – was broadcast on Sky channel 771 until Thursday. It broadcast to the Sikh community in the UK.
An investigation by Ofcom found the presenter of KTV’s Prime Time programme made a number of statements throughout the programme which, taken together, promoted violent action, including murder, as an acceptable and necessary form of action to further the Khalistani cause.
Ofcom ruled this was a serious breach of its rules on incitement of crime and disorder.
The channel had already received a £50,000 fine from Ofcom last year.
The broadcaster has 21 days in which to make representations to Ofcom. Following this process, Ofcom will decide whether to revoke Khalsa Television’s licence altogether.
Ofcom has fined or revoked licences of a number of channels over the last 18 months as it cracks down on breaches of the broadcast code and unsuitable owners. In that time, CGTN and RT have both lost their licences to broadcast in the UK. KTV, Loveworld and Republic Bharat have all received fines. Republic Bharat stopped broadcasting before Ofcom could revoke its licence. Studio 66 was also threatened with Ofcom sanctions.