MUMBAI: UK media watchdog Ofcom has imposed a financial penalty of ?75,000 on Al Ehya Digital Television Limited in respect of its service, Noor TV.

This penalty follows Ofcom‘s finding that Noor TV‘s ‘Saturday Night Special‘ programme had breached some rules of the September 2010 Broadcasting Code:
 
‘Saturday Night Special‘ was a programme which mainly consisted of a presenter taking calls from viewers who donated money to the channel in return for prayers for themselves or for their relatives.

Ofcom concluded that the programme misled its audience about the purpose of the money donated via a charity website; there was potential for viewers to suffer financial harm, particularly vulnerable viewers; and there was a failure to separately account for the funds received.