Ofcom has today imposed a financial penalty of £15,000 on Loveworld Limited after our investigation found its religious satellite channel, Loveworld, broke our broadcasting rules.
An episode of Your Loveworld, contained potentially harmful statements. It solicited donations on the basis of religious faith with claims they would improve the donor’s health, wealth and success without providing adequate protection to viewers. Ofcom was particularly concerned that the programme encouraged viewers to make donations regardless of affordability. Our Breach Decision (PDF, 393.2 KB) published on 09 May 2022 found this programme breached Rules 2.1 and 4.6 of the Broadcasting Code.
Ofcom has a duty to provide adequate protection to audiences in a way that takes into account the broadcasters’ and audiences’ fundamental rights to freedom of expression and freedom of religion. However, we considered the soliciting of donations in this programme went beyond proclamations of faith and religious teachings and practice, so as to improperly exploit the susceptibilities of viewers and cause potential harm to them without providing adequate protection.
Given the seriousness of the breaches and in order to remedy the potential harm to viewers, Ofcom also directed the Licensee to broadcast a statement of its findings in this case, on a date and in a form to be determined by Ofcom.