UK regulator may sanction GB news outlet for impartiality violation

Britain’s media regulator, Ofcom, warned GB News, a right-leaning TV channel established in 2021, for breaching impartiality rules during a broadcast featuring Prime Minister Rishi Sunak in February, Reuters reported on Monday.

The broadcast, which received over 500 complaints, did not present a sufficiently wide range of viewpoints, according to Ofcom.

This marks the third time GB News has violated these rules, a fact that Ofcom considers “serious.” The regulator will now deliberate on a statutory sanction against GB News within the next 60 working days.

The potential penalties could range from a fine to a broadcast correction or even suspension or revocation of GB News’ licence. In response, GB News has labelled Ofcom’s decision as an “alarming development” that undermines public questioning of politicians and threatens democracy.