JUST IN: Channels TV apologizes, NBC explain reason for allege banning of the station

The National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) said it never banned Channels Television, said its open letter was meant to draw the attention of the station to its breach of the broadcasting code, adding that “the station has accordingly apologised’’.

Aiyetan explained that the commission’s letter to the TV station was a regulatory instrument to check the excesses of the station called “the bridge letter “.

According to her, the letter is asking Channels TV to explain why it gave credence to an organisation that was already proscribed by the Federal Government.

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“It was actually not for public consumption, it was not a press release. It was a regulatory instrument to check the excesses of the station.

“It is a station that won an award but we say in this particular situation, you did not handle it professionally.

“It is possible to bridge the public peace and that was what the letter conveyed to Channels TV, to which the TV station has responded, saying we apologise, we did wrong.

“When the media started asking me about Channels TV, I had to go and find out what letter we had issued out because if it is a press release or something that is for public consumption it will come to the Public Affairs Department of NBC.

“And I will be able to communicate to the media about it but this letter that went to Channels TV is our way of regulating the broadcasting industry.

“It is called a bridge letter to the station to say in this particular programme you did not act professionally; you did not do it in line with the provision of the Nigeria Broadcasting Code.”

However, she added that in the exercise of its power as the regulatory body, NBC wrote a letter asking Channels TV to give reasons why it gave credence to the spokesman of the proscribed organisation.

“The spokesman made lots of allusion that were not true, that are inciting and inimical to the peace of the society that could cause unrest.

“The NBC now said because of that this bridge attracts a shutdown or a fine of N5 million, but the pay line was that they were advised to discontinue the programme.

“Because when station interviews live, they keep repeating it for maybe 24 hours before that kind of news will be dropped.

“And when I followed up on Monday, April 26, I discovered that the monitoring department that had written the letter had also received an apology letter from the Channels TV to say okay, we have received your letter and see where we went wrong, we are sorry.

According to her, when a particular programme in a bid to pursue a particular trending issue begins to threaten the security and peace of the nation, then you check yourself.

“Because broadcasting is not self-serving; it is for the society. So everything you do must be to the common good of the people and it must also hold the people accountable.” (NAN)