DhiTV and DhiFM asked to end

Maldives Broadcasting Commission (MBC) has asked DhiTV and DhiFM to stop broadcasting the “Morning Edition” Program if they cannot stop the use of vulgar language in this Program.

A report was published on the Commission’s website following investigations into the use of vulgar language on 29 December 2011 by a participant of the Program. The Morning Show is organised around the public expressing their opinions regarding various political issues.

The report says that the use of such language has been observed on three separate occasions in this program, and asked for the immediate discontinuation of the program if the broadcasting of such stories, which are disruptive to the society, cannot be stopped.

“To prevent the damage this can cause to the society, if the Morning Show cannot be revised to ensure that such things are not repeated, we order DhiTV and DhiFM to discontinue this program with immediate effect,” says the report.

The Broadcasting Commission also said that the repetition of the use of vulgar language on the Morning Edition shows that these two channels have lost control of the program.

“It is observed that DhiFM has lost control of the program, because our documents show that information which conflicts with the level of discipline in the society has been broadcasted repeatedly on three occasions.”

CEO of DhiFM Masood Hilmy said that they have received no notification from Broadcasting Commission regarding the Morning Edition Program. However a recording of the program was requested by them today, which has been provided.

“Today they took a recording of the Morning Show. We have not been notified of anything in relation to the program,” Masood said.