British ethnic channels suffered a severe setback to their reputations this year as several were reprimanded or fined big sums by industry regulator Ofcom for breaching it rules.

In September this year, Ofcom said three channels had breached its broadcasting code: Leicester based MATV, east London station Channel S and its sister channel Channel S ATN.

MATV breached guidelines by showing advertising during programming time. Ofcom noted that a scrolling caption appeared across the bottom of the screen throughout afternoon programmes. The caption promoted a premium rate telephone number that viewers could call for live tarot readings.

Though MATV said the captioning had been broadcast by mistake, Ofcom ruled that there was no editorial justification for its broadcast and the channel was in breach of its rules.

The broadcaster Channel S, which caters for a Bangladeshi audience, has also come under repeated criticism over its own programming.

In September Ofcom found it guilty of broadcasting a show titled ‘Mortgage and Finance’ earlier in 2008 that made promotional references to the sponsor of the show, Premier Properties.

Ofcom noted that Channel S viewers weren’t adequately informed (by credit) of the Sponsorship at the beginning or end of the programme. It did however broadcast ads about the sponsor during two commercial breaks.

In its defence Channel S said it was a “pilot episode”, produced “as an info commercial for shopping hours in Bengali.” It added that a full series had not been commissioned since.

Its sister station Channel S ATN, which focuses more on entertainment, was warned this year after it aired commercially sponsored news bulletins from Bangladesh in August last year. Broadcast guidelines forbid broadcasters from doing that.

Channel S faced a more serious reprimand in December this year when it was fined £40,000 for repeatedly broadcasting political advertisements.

Ofcom noted that between 18th and 22nd April 2008, ads called on viewers to vote for Liberal Democratic candidates in the London Mayoral and London Assembly elections held on 1st May 2008. It is a breach of the statutory ban on political advertising.

These incidents are, unfortunately, not as rare as they should be.

London based Islam Channel lost an employment tribunal case against its former employee Yvonne Ridley, earlier this year.

She claimed she had been unfairly dismissed and faced sexual discrimination at work.

Last year Islam Channel too was fined for allowing political candidates to encourage viewers to support them during their campaign, live on television.