Judge Upholds Ofcom’s Sanctions Process Against GB News Following Impartiality Breach

A judge has rejected GB News’s request to pause the sanctions process initiated by the media regulator Ofcom, allowing the organization to proceed with its planned penalties, which may include a substantial fine.

The controversy originated from a live debate program featuring former Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, aired in February, which prompted over 500 complaints to Ofcom. The regulator determined that GB News violated impartiality rules by failing to present balanced perspectives during the broadcast. Ofcom argued that the channel did not give equal weight to opposing viewpoints, both within the debate and in a related program.

In an attempt to halt the publication of the sanctions, GB News sought an injunction, claiming that such disclosure would inflict “irreparable damage” on its reputation. However, Mr. Justice Chamberlain dismissed this argument, emphasizing that the public interest in concluding the process outweighed any potential harm to the broadcaster. He underscored the critical role Ofcom plays in maintaining public confidence and ensuring compliance among broadcasters.

Ofcom has indicated that it is prepared to impose a significant statutory fine on GB News, with a final decision expected shortly. However, the court has permitted GB News to pursue a judicial review of the breach decision, which could challenge Ofcom’s findings.

This case is significant for GB News, which has previously been found in breach of Ofcom’s broadcasting rules on a dozen occasions, including issues concerning impartiality and the use of politicians as presenters. The channel has come under scrutiny for employing figures like Jacob Rees-Mogg as hosts, with two episodes of his program recently ruled to have violated regulations prohibiting politicians from acting as newsreaders.

Ofcom welcomed the court’s decision to allow the sanctions process to move forward, stating that it reflects the public interest in upholding broadcasting standards. Meanwhile, GB News’s chief executive, Angelos Frangopoulos, expressed satisfaction with the court’s permission to challenge Ofcom’s decisions, arguing that the broadcaster believes some of the regulator’s rulings have been “neither fair nor lawful.”

The outcome of this case is expected to set a precedent for future regulatory actions concerning political content on UK news channels, as GB News continues to navigate its contentious broadcasting approach.