UBI: Four complaints against TV broadcasts approved
The Independent Complaints Authority for Radio and Television (UBI) upheld four complaints in 2009. They were directed against the programs «10 vor 10,» «Rundschau,» and «SF bi de Lüt,» as well as an adult program on a private broadcaster.
The criticized broadcasts focused on health and health policy issues such as swine flu, insulin, late-term abortions, surreptitious advertising for tobacco products and the influence of the pharmaceutical lobby, as the UBI writes in a statement, according to SDA. The UBI had already provided information on the four approved complaints during the course of the year. The complaint against the program "SF bi de Lüt - Heimspiel" concerned the handling of live fish. According to the UBI, these were instrumentalized in the entertainment programme as toys in a game of catch.
The complaint against the "Rundschau" concerned a report about a foster child. The UBI came to the conclusion that the report had violated the requirement of fairness because the audience had not been able to form its own opinion on the supervisory procedure discussed in the report. The Federal Supreme Court upheld this decision.
The UBI also found a violation of the principle of objectivity in connection with a "10 to 10" report on the topic of "Workers from the EU". According to the UBI, key facts were conveyed incorrectly to the audience. In the case of an erotic program on "Schweiz 5", the UBI considered the offence of endangering public morality to be fulfilled.
News magazine "10 to 10" most frequently criticized
The appeal body sets the broadcasters concerned a deadline of 30 days in each case to inform it of the precautions taken against future violations of the provisions of programming law. The UBI is satisfied with the measures taken in the above-mentioned cases. Among other things, Swiss Television supplemented its guidelines on "filming with animals". In 2009, 16 new complaints were received. This is nine fewer than in the previous year. With one exception, only SRG broadcasts were the subject of complaints. The news magazine "10 vor 10" was the most frequently complained about program.
The complaint against the "Rundschau" concerned a report about a foster child. The UBI came to the conclusion that the report had violated the requirement of fairness because the audience had not been able to form its own opinion on the supervisory procedure discussed in the report. The Federal Supreme Court upheld this decision.
The UBI also found a violation of the principle of objectivity in connection with a "10 to 10" report on the topic of "Workers from the EU". According to the UBI, key facts were conveyed incorrectly to the audience. In the case of an erotic program on "Schweiz 5", the UBI considered the offence of endangering public morality to be fulfilled.
News magazine "10 to 10" most frequently criticized
The appeal body sets the broadcasters concerned a deadline of 30 days in each case to inform it of the precautions taken against future violations of the provisions of programming law. The UBI is satisfied with the measures taken in the above-mentioned cases. Among other things, Swiss Television supplemented its guidelines on "filming with animals". In 2009, 16 new complaints were received. This is nine fewer than in the previous year. With one exception, only SRG broadcasts were the subject of complaints. The news magazine "10 vor 10" was the most frequently complained about program.
