NBC fines Arise TV, TVC N2m each over breach of National Broadcasting Code

For alleged infractions, the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) has imposed a fine of N2 million on Arise News and TVC.

The two stations are being sanctioned for alleged breach of National Broadcasting Codes in the countdown to the 2023 general elections.

The NBC’s Director-General, Mr Balarabe Shehu Ilelah, announced this in separate letters to the managements of the media organisations on February 3, 2023

The broadcasting commission said the fines should be paid within two weeks of the receipt of the letters or the sanction would be graduated.

NBC in its letter to TVC, accused the television station of breaching the following sections of the Code: 1.10.4; 3.1.2; 3.1.2; 3.3.1(e); 4.2.2 (g); 4.2.2 (g); 4.3.1(e); 5.3.3 (c); 5.3.3 (e); 5.3.3 (f); and 5.5.1 (b).

It accused TVC News of allowing derogatory and unfair comments to be broadcast on its station, adding that the worrisome trend had become a house style on station.

It said the unprofessional broadcasts by TVC include the Joint media Directorate of the APC Presidential Campaign Council press briefing where Festus Keyamo said “Obasanjo and Atiku run a criminal enterprise, an empire of fraud in Abuja…” and alleged that some goons of Atiku Abubakar were planning to eliminate Michael Achimugu, a whistle blower.

NBC further accused TVC News of not giving equal news coverage to other political parties in all their news.

In the letter to Arise TV, NBC said there were infractions on the following sections of the code: 1.10.4; 3.1.2; 3.3.1(e); 5.3.3 (e); 5.3.3 (f); 5.5.1 (b); 5.5.1 (d); and 5.5.6.

The commission cited the broadcast of the presidential campaign rally of PDP in Delta, interview with former APC Campaign Director, Na’jaatu Muhammed, and broadcast of the PDP presidential campaign rally in Sokoto.

Following this, it slammed Arise Global Media of giving prominence to unfair contents which are glamorised on Arise news programme, “What is Trending”.