Decision – Loveworld Limited
| Published date | 19 April 2021 |
v
9 April 2021
1
Full Disclosure
Type of case
Broadcast Standards
Outcome
In Breach and Sanction
Service
Loveworld Television Network
Date & time
11 February 2021, 17:00
12 February 2021, 11:00
Category
Harm and material misleadingness
Summary
Two episodes of the programme Full Disclosure
featured potentially harmful and materially misleading
statements about the Coronavirus pandemic and
vaccine rollout, without providing adequate protection
for viewers. In breach of Rules 2.1 and 2.2.
Introduction
Loveworld Television Network (“Loveworld”) is a religious channel broadcast on satellite in the UK.
The licence for Loveworld is held by Loveworld Limited (“LL” or “the Licensee”).
Full Disclosure is a current affairs programme which features two presenters discussing topical news
stories. During the course of monitoring1, Ofcom identi fied content in the above programmes which
raised potential issues warranting further investigation under t he Broadcasting Code (“the Code”). The
two episodes are being considered together as they covered similar ground on two successiv e days.
Ofcom2 is prioritising cases related to the Coronavirus pandemic which could cause harm to
audiences. This could include:
• health claims related to the Coronavirus which may be harmful;
• medical advice which may be harmful; and,
1 Ofcom can launch investigations following complaints from viewers and listeners or from its own monitoring.
2 Ofcom has published guidance on Broadcast Standards during the Coronavirus pandemic
2
• accuracy or materially misleadingness in programmes in relatio n to the Coronavirus or public
policy regarding it.
We therefore informed the Licensee that it was necessary for us to depart from our normal published
procedures to expedite this investigation.
Background
At the time of the broadcasts, the global number of confi rmed cases of Coronavirus had reached 108
million3. In the UK: over 117,000 people had been officially recorded as having died within 28 days of a
positive Coronavirus test4; over 14 million first doses of licensed Coronavirus vaccines had been
administered5; and a third Government impo sed national lockdown was in force. The lockdown
restrictions, which curtailed individual freedoms, were introduced with the stated intention of slo wing
the transmission of the Coronavirus and to prevent the National Health Service from being
overwhelmed.6 The measures included a s tay-at-home order (with exceptions for essential reasons
and outdoor exercise once a day), and the closure of schools to most pupils. The rollout of UK
approved Coronavirus vaccines had been underway for over two months, with priority groups7 being
offered vaccinations. Effective vaccination has been considered b y governments and public health
organisations globally, as a way to successfully manage the Coronavirus pandemic by protecting the
most vulnerable people in society and reducing infections, h ospitalisations and deaths8.
Ofcom acknowledged that in these circumstances, licensees were likely to want to broadcast con tent
about the pandemic, and there was a clear public interest in doi ng so. We recognised that measures
introduced by various governments to deal with the Coronavirus crisis have resulted in restrictions on
public freedoms in the UK and across the world. This has led to considerable debate about the various
strategies adopted by governments to tackle the pandemic. Simila rly, as with many medical
treatments, there is debate concerning the efficacy of and approval processes for vaccines, potential
side effects, and the position of those who choose for wha tever reason not to accept a vaccine dose
when offered one. Reflecting the fundamental importance of free dom of expression in our democratic
society, it is clearly legitimate for broadcasters to question public policy and the rationale behind it
and to robustly hold governments to account. However, in doin g so, broadcasters must ensure
compliance with the Code.
3 See: https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/coronavirus-cases/#total-cases
4 See: https://coronavirus.data.gov.uk/details/deaths
5 See: https://coronavirus.data.gov.uk/details/vaccinations
6 For example, in England: https://www.gov.uk/government/speeches/prime-ministers-statement-to-the-house-
of-commons-on-covid-19-regulations-6-january-2021.
7 The top priority groups for vaccinating between 15 January and 15 February 2021 included: older care home
residents, care home workers, people aged 80+, health and social care workers, people aged 70-79, clinically
extremely vulnerable people under 70.
8 See: https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019/covid-19-vaccines
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