Pubdate: 11 Jan 1999
Source: European Media Business & Finance
Copyright: Phillips Publishing, Inc.
Website: http://www.phillips.com/embf.htm

CARLTON KNUCKLES RAPPED

Jan. 11, 1999 (EUROPEAN MEDIA BUSINESS & FINANCE, Vol. 9, No. 1 via COMTEX)
- -- Carlton Communications took a Pounds 2 million ($3.4 million) hit for
its part in the faked documentary "The Connection."

The fine, handed down by the Independent Television Commission, accused the
British media company of "grave breaches" of programming regulations when
it aired an expose on heroin trafficking from Colombia to Britain.
Investigations by The Guardian newspaper after the programme aired
uncovered suspicions about the programme's authenticity, which culminated
in the ITC finding at least five breaches of ITC code and a total of 16
deceptions.

The fine, which will be paid to the British Exchequer, marks only the
second time ever that the ITC has fined a terrestrial license holder. The
fine is four times as much as Granada had to pay in 1994 - Pounds 500,000
for product placement on its breakfast show, "This Morning."

The ITC stopped short of shortening Carlton's Central TV license -
something it "seriously considered." Carlton holds TV licenses in London,
central England and western England.

In the United States, the CBS newsmagazine series "60 Minutes," aired an
apology for using the story, but it was not fined. 
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MAP posted-by: Mike Gogulski