Singapore – The Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA) has imposed a financial penalty of $7,000 to SPH Radio Pte Ltd (SPH Radio) for breaching the Free-To-Air Radio Programme Code.

 

As a free-to-air broadcaster, SPH Radio is expected to comply with the Free-To-Air Radio Programme Code which seeks to ensure that radio programmes maintain a standard that is acceptable to the community. A key obligation under the Code is for broadcasters to avoid racial and religious stereotyping and ensure that content which denigrates or is likely to offend the sensitivities of any racial or religious group in Singapore is not aired.

 

On 11 January 2017, the deejays on SPH Radio’s Kiss92FM discussed a study on the sleep patterns of Singaporeans. While trying to interpret the findings of the study, the deejays made remarks which stereotyped certain races and this offended some listeners. The station subsequently apologised for making these remarks on its Facebook page. Following investigations, IMDA concluded that the programme in question did contravene the Free-To-Air Radio Programme Code, and has imposed a financial penalty of $7,000 on SPH Radio for this breach.

 

Given the strong influence radio exerts on the community and its accessibility to all

Singaporeans, IMDA would like to remind broadcasters of their obligations under the FreeTo-Air Radio Programme Code.