The Cyprus Broadcasting Authority (CBA) yesterday announced its findings into 20 complaints of alleged violations of legislation governing radio and television stations.
The cases involved 71 violations including human rights, personal privacy, objectivity, accuracy, equality and unsuitable material broadcast at inappropriate times.
The investigation led to the imposition of five fines amounting to £27,100, eight warnings, five complaints being dismissed, and two stations being let off after they conformed to existing legislation.
Mega (Logos) television channel suffered the biggest blow with a £12,000 fine after investigation upheld complaints of subjective and incorrect news bulletins in February concerning cannabis possession and allegedly involving Nicosia lawyers. The CBA said the station had not aired both sides of the story, that it was not objective and accurate, and that it had transmitted scenes unsuitable for minors during family viewing times.
Antenna was fined a total of £8,000 after it was found guilty of airing a subjective news story and of transmitting material obtained by hidden cameras without prior consent. The television channel was also given two warnings, while a further three complaints against it were dismissed.
There were seven complaints filed against Sigma TV. The station was fined £7,100 for two violations, given warnings for three, and the other two were dismissed. All the complaints involved unsuitable material screened during children’s or family viewing, not providing appropriate film classifications, and airing material that could mislead minors.
Warnings were given to Radio Astra, Radio Super and New Extra TV. Ayios Demetrios Radio station and Paphos TV were let off after they conformed to existing legislation.
The Cyprus Mail is the only English-language daily newspaper published in Cyprus. It was established in 1945 and today, with its popular and widely-read website, the Cyprus Mail is among the most trusted news sites in Cyprus. The newspaper is not affiliated with any political parties and has always striven to maintain its independence. Over the past 70-plus years, the Cyprus Mail, with a small dedicated team, has covered momentous events in Cyprus’ modern history, chronicling the last gasps of British colonial rule, Cyprus’ truncated independence, the coup and Turkish invasion, and the decades of negotiations to stitch the divided island back together, plus a myriad of scandals, murders, and human interests stories that capture the island and its -people. Observers describe it as politically conservative.
