Russia Today investigated seven times by Ofcom over Syria and Salisbury bombing coverage
State-owned television channel Russia Today could lose its licence to broadcast after Ofcom announced seven investigations into the station's coverage of the Syria crisis and the Salisbury poisoning coverage.
Ofcom said the investigations were into "the due impartiality" of news and current affairs programmes on the RT news channel.
The media regulator said four of the investigations related to the channel's coverage of the Syria crisis and three were because of the channel's handling of the Salisbury poisoning which has been widely blamed on Russia.
Two of the investigations are into a programme called Sputnik, hosted by former Labour MP George Galloway.
Ofcom has a number of powers for breaches of the impartiality rules ranging from fines of up to 5 per cent of turnover to stripping Novosti, the company which owns Russia Today, of its right to broadcast in the UK.
The regulator said in a statement: "Until recently, TV Novosti’s overall compliance record has not been materially out of line with other broadcasters.
"However, since the events in Salisbury, we have observed a significant increase in the number of programmes on the RT service that warrant investigation as potential breaches of the Ofcom Broadcasting Code.
"We will announce the outcome of these investigations as soon as possible.
"In relation to our fit and proper duty, we will consider all relevant new evidence, including the outcome of these investigations and the future conduct of the licensee." The probe will take 10 weeks.
A RT spokesman said: “We are pleased to see that Ofcom has acknowledged RT’s compliance record has been in line with other broadcasters – putting to bed any of the salacious political statements and challenges made against our channel.
"Our editorial approach has not changed since the events in Salisbury, and we will be directly addressing this matter with the regulator.”
Ofcom has said it would consider whether the TV channel should broadcast in the UK if Russian involvement was proven in the poisoning of Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia.
The regulator previously said it had written to RT to explain that evidence of unlawful state interference would affect whether it was deemed "fit and proper" to hold a broadcasting licence.
Theresa May, the Prime Minister, has previously faced repeated calls for the Government to take action against RT in the House of Commons.
Labour former minister Chris Bryant said last month: “Can we just stop Russia Today just broadcasting its propaganda in this country?”
Labour MP Stephen Doughty added: “On Russia Today, can I urge the Prime Minister to speak with the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport to look at reviewing Russia Today's broadcasting licence, and to speak to the House authorities about blocking their broadcasts in this building itself.
“Why should we be watching their propaganda in this Parliament?”
The investigations form part of an Ofcom update, published on Wednesday, into the licences held by TV Novosti.
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A RT spokesman said: “We are pleased to see that Ofcom has acknowledged RT’s compliance record has been in line with other broadcasters – putting to bed any of the salacious political statements and challenges made against our channel.
"Our editorial approach has not changed since the events in Salisbury, and we will be directly addressing this matter with the regulator.”
