Communications Authority rules ViuTV in breach of TV Programme Code

The Communications Authority (CA) has ruled that ViuTV's parent company HKTVE was in breach of the TV Programme Code after it received a complaint alleging that one of its news programmes only showed a QR code that linked to the information of the few candidates running for the 2021 Legislative Council General Election, instead of listing out the names of all other candidates in the relevant constituencies.

According to the official statement of CA, not all the names of the candidates contesting in the constituencies concerned were mentioned or shown on screen in a news report regarding the 2021 LegCo Election in "Noon News” (午間新聞). At the end of the report, two QR codes were shown on screen and the anchor advised that viewers might scan the QR codes for information of the candidates.

According to the Electoral Affairs Commission (EAC), HKTVE did not follow the relevant requirement under the guidelines on the election that the mention of the names of other candidates of the same constituency should be made in the same programme; and HKTVE submitted that it had carried out internal review to rectify the situation with a view to observing all the regulations and guidelines in connection with elections issued by EAC.

In view of the above, the CA considered the complaint justified. Having taken into account the specific facts, the circumstances of the case and other relevant factors, the CA decided that HKTVE should be advised to observe more closely the relevant provision of the TV Programme Code.

On the other hand, the CA has also concluded that Fantastic TV has breached the TV Programme Code after it received a complaint regarding the programme “Web Rumour Go Go Go”, which was classified as “Parental Guidance Recommended” (PG) for dangerous acts, was broadcast during the family viewing hours (FVHs).

The programme under complaint was an information programme themed on escape from entrapment in cars by breaking windows, which was classified as “PG” for dangerous acts and was broadcast from 4:00pm to 4:30pm. Aural and visual advice on the “PG” classification was broadcast before the start of the programme, with warning captions against imitation of the dangerous acts intermittently shown therein. As a result, the CA considered that the programme, classified as “PG” and broadcast during the FVHs, contained portrayal of dangerous acts which carried the risk of imitation by children, it also ruled that the programme was unsuitable for viewing by children in the absence of parental guidance.

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