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December 2, 2004updated 22 Nov 2022 12:31pm

ITV West News rapped over porn website mistake

By Press Gazette

An Ofcom complaint against ITV West News has been upheld over a programme which revealed the address of a porn website.

A news report detailing the conviction a Bristol City councillor for downloading web porn was illustrated with footage of relevant websites.

A viewer was concerned that the websites shown could be visited by children and that one offered instant access without a credit card payment.

ITV West told Ofcom the report of the late-breaking story was only put together after the Evening News programme had started, so was not checked by the producer. The broadcaster said steps had been taken to ensure the mistake was not repeated.

Ofcom ruled that the inclusion of the website address was unsuitable for a bulletin broadcast before the 9pm watershed.

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