BA explains decision to refuse TV licence extension

The Broadcasting Authority said today that it had not renewed a broadcasting licence to U-TV because the station had not met licence conditions, despite repeated warnings.

The authority was replying to a judicial protest filed by the station.

It said the station had had serious technical problems and had not abided by its schedule, as demanded by licence conditions. Monitoring reports also included serious allegations of violations of the Broadcasting Act.

The authority said that although the station had requested a three-month extension to enable it to address its shortcomings, the authority said the request could not be upheld because it put its own credibility at risk.

The authority said it would be prepared to consider a fresh application after the station satisfied it that it had raised its standards and had sound managerial and financial structures in place.