Home WebMail Friday, November 1, 2024, 07:23 PM | Calgary | 1.2°C | Regions Advertise Login | Our platform is in maintenance mode. Some URLs may not be available. |
Posted: 2017-11-07T12:20:11Z | Updated: 2017-11-07T12:22:22Z

LONDON British TV viewers complained that some Fox News segments featuring anchors Sean Hannity and Tucker Carlson were too biased, the countrys media regulator said.

The watchdog, Ofcom, said Monday it determined that some content on both shows including coverage of President Donald Trumps travel ban and reaction to the terror attack at an Ariana Grande concert in Manchester, England breached U.K. broadcasting impartiality rules .

Ofcoms findings carry no consequence for Fox, which hasnt been broadcast in the U.K. since August, when Sky News took Fox off the air due to low viewership. Still, Ofcom said it published its findings to ensure there is a complete compliance record and to facilitate public understanding of the code.

A January Hannity segment on Trumps first attempt at a ban on Muslim-majority countries didnt include a sufficiently wide range of views, and any alternative opinions put forward during the discussion were dismissed by the presenter, Ofcom told HuffPost in a statement.

People featured in the segment who criticized the ban, Ofcom said, were dismissed or ridiculed by the presenter. Plus, the only guests on the show were prominent Trump supporters, and Hannity himself voiced his enthusiastic support for the ban and the Trump administration.

On May 25, days after a bomb exploded in the Manchester Arena, Carlson accused the British government of doing nothing to counter terrorism; stop radicalisation; protect citizens from terrorism; or protect thousands of underage girls from rape and abuse, according to the findings. Public leaders, including U.K. prime minister Theresa May, Carlson said, were forcing an official lie on citizens, which was totalitarian and wicked.

Ofcom acknowledged that Fox is a U.S. outlet and doesnt cater to U.K. viewers. However, we were also mindful that, in our view, this particular programme dealt with major matters relating to current public policy that, as well as being of international significance, were of particular relevance and significance to UK viewers.

Your Support Has Never Been More Critical

Other news outlets have retreated behind paywalls. At HuffPost, we believe journalism should be free for everyone.

Would you help us provide essential information to our readers during this critical time? We can't do it without you.

You've supported HuffPost before, and we'll be honest we could use your help again . We view our mission to provide free, fair news as critically important in this crucial moment, and we can't do it without you.

Whether you give once or many more times, we appreciate your contribution to keeping our journalism free for all.

You've supported HuffPost before, and we'll be honest we could use your help again . We view our mission to provide free, fair news as critically important in this crucial moment, and we can't do it without you.

Whether you give just one more time or sign up again to contribute regularly, we appreciate you playing a part in keeping our journalism free for all.

Support HuffPost

Several complaints also were lodged against the show Fox & Friends, but were dismissed, according to Ofcom.

Fox News didnt immediately reply to a request for comment.