TCRA fines three television stations

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INNOCENT-THE BLOGGER-BOY

TCRA communication content committee chairperson, Margaret Munyagi

 The Tanzania Communication Regulatory Authority (TCRA) has penalized three television stations for violating the country’s broadcasting regulations.

The stations which had also been given strong warnings were Channel Ten which was ordered  pay 2.5m/-, while TBC1 and Star TV were ordered to pay 500,000/- each.

 

According to TCR the TV stations had been penalized for airing programmes whose content was bad taste.

 

Speaking to journalists in Dar es Salaam yesterday, TCRA communication content committee chairperson, Margaret Munyagi said the station violated the Broadcasting Service Regulations (2005).

 

She said the TCRA content committee had demanded  the three media houses to pay the fines within one month period and warned that it  would take stern measures  against any station which would  repeat the same offences. 

“However those accused are free to appeal against this decision within 30 days after the issuance of this statement,” added 

 

The regulatory authority, also took the opportunity to issue serious warnings to presenters who would go against the broadcasting regulations. 

 

He also cautioned that the regulators will not hesitate to revoke licences of any broadcasting station that will repeat the mistakes.

 

“We are warning all the three broadcasting stations to ensure that their presenters do not use words which may provoke breach of peace while presenting their programmes because their licenses will be revoked for the benefit of the public,” he repeated.

 

Explaining reasons for fining  Channel Ten, Munyagi said in March 30, this year during ‘Kanjanja Time’ programme the nstation‘’ showed a picture of a person’ private parts  which were a three degree burn (severe) something which was against the regulations as it created violence or hatred.

 

The programme also aired two people with disabilities fighting each other which was also against the the regulation."Showing people with disabilities fighting each other  is violating the broadcasting regulations, “she said

For TBC1, the station also during news broadcast aired a story of a boy who had been raped without hiding his identity.

 

Star TV through its ‘Minibus programme’ went against the regulations by discussing marriage issues during the time which children could also view the programme.

 

According to TCRA the presenters discussed on how raping cases happen to married couples, the content which was not decent for children to hear.

The regulator also  said every  station was given the opportunity to defend itself but the content committee was not satisfied with their defence and decided to punish them as per regulations.

 

TCRA, which started operations on November 1, 2003, is the statutory regulatory body responsible for regulating communications and broadcasting sectors in the country as per the establishing Act No. 12 of 2003.