SBS breached broadcasting rules over two episodes on LTTE

Sydney, Sep 29(ANI): The Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) has said that SBS breached broadcasting rules when it aired two episodes of the Tamil Language Program biased in favour of Tamil Tiger rebels, the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE).

According to reports, both the episodes dealt with the conflict between the Sri Lankan Government and the LTTE.

In the first episode aired on October 26, 2008, it included an interview with a critic of the Sri Lankan government, while the second broadcast, on January 18, 2009, included comments on an atrocity allegedly committed by members of the Sri Lankan army, sourced from an online video, News.com.au reports.

ACMA found that no other views were offered during the program and the requirement for balance in the SBS code had been breached. t also emphasised that SBS had not confirmed the video's authenticity that was aired on January 2009 and that the code's requirement of accurate factual content was breached.

ACMA has also said that it would not any action against SBS, as the channel has already counselled the presenters involved in the roadcasts. (ANI)