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Channel four sells "distorted" and "misleading" tv programmes abroad
23 July 1998
Friends of the Earth has complained to Channel Four and the Independent Television Commission (ITC) over the sale abroad of the discredited Channel 4 series Against Nature . The programme, for which Channel 4 had to broadcast a lengthy on-screen apology, was ruled by the ITC to be misleading and distorted .
Channel 4 has now sold the programme unaltered to the Australian TV network ABC. ABC is under no obligation to mention the damning ITC ruling or Channel 4's subsequent apology.
Friends of the Earth has written to Channel Four and ABC withdrawing the permission of its Policy and Campaigns Director, Tony Juniper, for his contributions to appear in any further broadcast of the programmes.
Against Nature, was widely criticised for its unfair treatment of environmental issues, when it was broadcast last year in the UK. The ITC ruled that the programme:
. Distorted by selective editing the views of Tony Juniper and other interviewees;
. and misled participants over the content and purpose of the programmes when they agreed to take part .
Tony Juniper, Policy and Campaigns Director at Friends of the Earth, said:
It is astonishing that Channel 4 is trying to make money from this discredited and misleading programme by international sales. The ITC condemned it, and Channel 4 were forced to apologise to me for unfair treatment. Channel 4 has clearly abandoned any standards of fairness or accuracy in favour of screwing as much money as possible out of second rate programmes. How many more viewers around the world must be misled and deceived by this shoddy piece of TV? Channel 4 should review their policies as a matter of priority .
Against Nature, which was made by RDF for Channel Four, was broadcast in Novermber and December 1997.
ENDS
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Published by Friends of the Earth Trust
Last modified: Jul 2008
