The BCCSA received complaints relating to the broadcast on e.tv news and the e News Channel in 
October 2011 of scenes showing violent actions that led to the death of Colonel Muammar Gaddafi. In certain instances an advisory as to violent scenes was also not broadcast. The following findings were made and sanctions imposed:
- The free-to-air broadcast at 19:00 on 23 October contravened clause 3(a) of the free-to-air Code in that, in spite of the advisory, the material in the second sequence contravened the said clause. e.tv is ordered to broadcast during the first four minutes of a 19:00 Sunday evening free-to-air news broadcast, before the end of February 2012, the following statement: “The Broadcasting Complaints Commission has held that this news service had on Sunday 23 October 2011 contravened the Broadcasting Code in broadcasting unnecessary detail of the attack on Colonel Gaddafi.”
- The e.tv subscription newscast at 19:00 on 20 October 2011 contravened Subscription Code clause 18.1.7 in not adding an advisory before the images were shown. e.tv is fined R10 000 for the omission to broadcast an advisory.
- The e.tv subscription newscast at 19:00 on Thursday 20 October also contravened clause 12 in broadcasting unnecessary scenes of violence in the second sequence of images. The Respondent is ordered to broadcast the following statement on the 19:00 e News Channel, on a Thursday before the end of February 2012, within the first four minutes thereof: “The Broadcasting Complaints Commission has held that this news service had during the seven o’clock Thursday evening news, on 20 October 2011, contravened the Broadcasting Code in broadcasting unnecessary detail of the attack on Colonel Gaddafi.”
- The e.tv subscription newscasts on 22 October at 06:00, 06:30, 07:00, 08:00, 08:30, 09:00, 09:30, 10:00 and 11:00 contravened clause 12 of the Subscription Broadcasting Code. The Respondent is ordered to broadcast on a Saturday morning before the end of February 2012 in four of the mentioned broadcasts within the first four minutes thereof the following statement: “The Broadcasting Complaints Commission has held that this news service had on Saturday 22 October 2011 contravened the Broadcasting Code in broadcasting, in nine morning newscasts, unnecessary detail of the attack on Colonel Gaddafi.”
- The e.tv subscription broadcasts on 22 October at 09:00, 09:30, 10:00, 10:30 and 11:00 contravened clause 18.1.7 of the Subscription Broadcasting Code for not providing an advisory as to the headlines. e-tv is fined R5 000 for each of the five contraventions (Total R 25 000.00).
[2012] JOL 28443 (BCCSA)