Egypt's Supreme Council for Media Regulation (SCMR) has suspended seven TV programmes on Al-Shams and Heya channels for violating media codes. The council found content promoting superstition, charlatanism, and unsubstantiated claims. Some programmes also promoted products without evidence of registration or licensing by the National Food Safety Authority. The suspended programmes include Al-Maghoul, Hikayat Magzoub, and Al-Maktoub on Al-Shams, and Sett El-Habayeb, Matbakh Houria, Alam Al-Abraj, and Sane’ Al-Qarar on Heya.
The SCMR's decision was based on recommendations from the complaints committee, headed by Deputy Chairman Essam El-Amir. Council Chairman Khaled Abdel-Aziz approved the recommendations. The two channels had submitted details of the shows as "joint-production programmes." The SCMR is reviewing what it calls "selling airtime," a practice where channels lease programme slots to producers. In August, the council began examining 21 jointly produced programmes on six satellite channels.
The SCMR has taken other recent steps to regulate broadcast content. It summoned Al-Shams's legal representatives over coverage of national football coach Hossam Hassan's family dispute. The council also barred Barbara O'Neill's appearances over unproven medical claims and prohibited Diaa Al-Awady's content over public health concerns. Earlier rules banned advertising within religious programmes.
The council said it would continue reviewing other joint-production programmes submitted by private channels and issue further decisions after completing its assessments. The SCMR's actions are under Law No. 180 of 2018 and the professional codes governing media work. The council aims to ensure media outlets adhere to established standards and regulations.
The suspended programmes were found to have mixed editorial content with advertising and made inaccurate or undocumented historical and scientific claims. The SCMR's monitors detected content promoting superstition and charlatanism. Some programmes also failed to provide evidence of product registration or licensing by the National Food Safety Authority.
The SCMR's decision forms part of its efforts to regulate the media industry and ensure compliance with established codes of conduct. The council has been actively monitoring media content and taking action against programmes that violate regulations. The suspension of the seven TV programmes is a significant step in this direction.
The SCMR's actions have implications for the media industry in Egypt. The council's efforts to regulate broadcast content and ensure compliance with media codes are ongoing. The suspension of the seven TV programmes serves as a reminder to media outlets of the importance of adhering to established standards and regulations.
Key points
- The SCMR suspended seven TV programmes on Al-Shams and Heya for violating media codes, including promoting superstition and unsubstantiated claims.
- The council is reviewing "selling airtime," a practice where channels lease programme slots to producers.
- The SCMR has taken other recent steps to regulate broadcast content, including summoning Al-Shams's legal representatives and barring certain appearances.
