Decision – Star China Media Limited (fairness and privacy)

Ofcom has imposed a financial penalty of £100,000 on Star China Media Limited in relation to its service CCTV News (renamed as China Global Television Network on 31 December 2016) for failing to comply with our broadcasting rules.

On 27 August 2013, CCTV News broadcast the news programme China 24 which reported on the arrest of Mr Peter Humphrey for a criminal offence, and on 14 July 2014 it broadcast News Hour which reported on his indictment. The programmes included footage of Mr Humphrey apologising for having committed the offence.

Mr Peter Humphrey complained to Ofcom in November 2018 about unjust or unfair treatment and unwarranted infringement of privacy in connection with the obtaining of material included in these two programmes broadcast by CCTV News.

In Ofcom’s Adjudication published on 6 July 2020 in issue 406 of the Broadcast and On Demand Bulletin (PDF, 420.7 KB), we found that the two programmes had breached Rules 7.1 and 8.1 of our Broadcasting Code.

Ofcom has imposed a sanction on Star China Media Limited of a financial penalty of £100,000.

Sanction decision – Star China Media Limited (fairness and privacy) (PDF, 654.1 KB)