Latest news with #MiracleSpringWater
The Independent
11-03-2025
- Health
- The Independent
Christian TV channel fined £150,000 by Ofcom for ‘claiming miracle water cures cancer'
Ofcom has fined religious channel Word Network £150,000 after a programme claimed 'miracle water could cure cancer.' The regulator said it has 'imposed a financial penalty of £150,000 on Word Network Operating Company.' This was, it said, because the channel was in breach of broadcasting rules. The show in question was Peter Popoff Ministries - which is presented by American televangelist Peter Popoff. The media watchdog said two episodes had 'potentially harmful claims' by advertising the water would 'improve serious health conditions or financial situations'. 'Ofcom was particularly concerned that the programmes included repeated statements and testimonials about the efficacy of the water, claiming or strongly implying the water cured serious illnesses, including cancer,' it said. In 2023, the watchdog found the programme 'in breach' of the Broadcasting Code's rules that cover protecting the public from harmful material, a requirement for religious programmes to 'not improperly exploit the susceptibilities of the audience', and to not promote 'products, services and trademarks' during programmes. 'While having regard to the broadcaster's and audience's rights to freedom of expression and religion, we considered the claims that contacting the ministry, or using its 'Miracle Spring Water', were effective ways to improve serious medical illnesses or financial difficulties, went beyond proclamations of faith and religious teachings and practice,' Ofcom added. 'Given the seriousness of the breaches and in order to remedy the potential harm to viewers, Ofcom has also directed the licensee not to repeat the programmes, and to broadcast a statement of its findings in this case, on a date and in a form to be determined by Ofcom.' On May 10 2023, Popoff and his wife Liz Popoff featured a woman on an episode of his show that claimed someone with lung cancer had their health improved after using Miracle Spring Water, and the guest herself said she benefited financially from using the product. Liz said: 'Peter, this lady used the Miracle Spring Water. She was broke, she was destitute, she had nothing. But after using the Miracle Spring Water, what did God do?' The guest replied, saying how she got a job, a home and a car after using the water. Another woman appeared on the programme claiming that the water product helped with paying her mortgage. The same year, on May 9's programme, people claimed that the water helped with drug addiction, diabetes, cholesterol, high blood pressure and poor finances. Both episodes featured a pre-recorded instructional video on how to order the product, Ofcom said. In its original report, Ofcom said: 'Word Network argued that Peter Popoff had been broadcasting his 'Miracle Spring Water shows' for many years without any problems, and it was 'abusive' of Ofcom to 'all of a sudden raise an issue'.' Ofcom said the channel also accused it of 'double standards', saying that nudity and pornography was allowed 'with no problem' by the media watchdog, but not a 'wholesome religious channel' that gave people comfort. In 2023, Ofcom imposed financial penalties of £25,000 each for religious satellite channel Loveworld and Bauer Radio over breaches. The watchdog has previously decided to revoke the licence of RT (Russia Today) UK, which had been taken off-air in the UK due to sanctions related to the war in Ukraine, following fines of £200,000 for 'previous due impartiality breaches'.
Sky News
11-03-2025
- Health
- Sky News
Religious TV channel Word Network fined £150,000 over claim miracle water product can cure cancer, says Ofcom
A religious TV channel has been fined £150,000 after one of its programmes claimed a miracle water product could cure cancer, Ofcom has said. Two episodes of The Word Network's Peter Popoff Ministries - hosted by American televangelist Peter Popoff - featured "potentially harmful claims," the broadcasting watchdog said. The episodes in May 2023 promoted a 'Miracle Spring Water' product and implied it could "improve serious health conditions or financial situations", according to Ofcom. It said the The Word Network is a channel aimed at the Christian community and available on satellite subscription services. Ofcom said it was "particularly concerned that the programmes included repeated statements and testimonials about the efficacy of the water, claiming or strongly implying the water cured serious illnesses, including cancer". According to Ofcom's investigation, on one occasion, Mr Popoff promoted the water by saying: "Sickness is going to disappear. Supernatural miracle money is going to come to you from unexpected sources. Get ready." Ofcom said a pre-recorded instructional video in another programme told viewers: "Open the package and pour the water onto both of your hands, top and bottom. "Then place your hands on your bills, legal papers, credit cards and loved ones. Whatever the needs are in your life." The watchdog said the claims were a breach of broadcasting rules as the channel "failed to adequately protect views from harm, exploited the vulnerabilities of the audience and promoted products in the programme". Due to "the seriousness" of this breach, Ofcom has fined Word Network Operating Company. It added: "While having regard to the broadcaster's and audience's rights to freedom of expression and religion, we considered the claims that contacting the ministry, or using its Miracle Spring Water, were effective ways to improve serious medical illnesses or financial difficulties, went beyond proclamations of faith and religious teachings and practice." Word Network has been ordered not to repeat the offending programmes.
The Independent
11-03-2025
- Health
- The Independent
Ofcom fines religious channel £150,000 for ‘claiming water product cures cancer'
Ofcom has issued a six-figure fine to the religious channel Word Network after episodes of the programme claimed a miracle water product can cure cancer, the media watchdog said. On Tuesday, the regulator said it has 'imposed a financial penalty of £150,000 on Word Network Operating Company', following the channel being in breach of broadcasting rules. The media watchdog said two episodes of Peter Popoff Ministries, presented by American televangelist Peter Popoff had 'potentially harmful claims' by advertising the water would 'improve serious health conditions or financial situations'. 'Ofcom was particularly concerned that the programmes included repeated statements and testimonials about the efficacy of the water, claiming or strongly implying the water cured serious illnesses, including cancer,' it said. In 2023, the watchdog found the programme 'in breach' of the Broadcasting Code's rules that cover protecting the public from harmful material, a requirement for religious programmes to 'not improperly exploit the susceptibilities of the audience', and to not promote 'products, services and trademarks' during programmes. 'While having regard to the broadcaster's and audience's rights to freedom of expression and religion, we considered the claims that contacting the ministry, or using its 'Miracle Spring Water', were effective ways to improve serious medical illnesses or financial difficulties, went beyond proclamations of faith and religious teachings and practice,' Ofcom added. 'Given the seriousness of the breaches and in order to remedy the potential harm to viewers, Ofcom has also directed the licensee not to repeat the programmes, and to broadcast a statement of its findings in this case, on a date and in a form to be determined by Ofcom.' On May 10 2023, Popoff and his wife Liz Popoff featured a woman on an episode of his show that claimed someone with lung cancer had their health improved after using Miracle Spring Water, and the guest herself said she benefited financially from using the product. Liz said: 'Peter, this lady used the Miracle Spring Water. She was broke, she was destitute, she had nothing. But after using the Miracle Spring Water, what did God do?' The guest replied, saying how she got a job, a home and a car after using the water. Another woman appeared on the programme claiming that the water product helped with paying her mortgage. The same year, on May 9's programme, people claimed that the water helped with drug addiction, diabetes, cholesterol, high blood pressure and poor finances. Both episodes featured a pre-recorded instructional video on how to order the product, Ofcom said. In its original report, Ofcom said: 'Word Network argued that Peter Popoff had been broadcasting his 'Miracle Spring Water shows' for many years without any problems, and it was 'abusive' of Ofcom to 'all of a sudden raise an issue'.' Ofcom said the channel also accused it of 'double standards', saying that nudity and pornography was allowed 'with no problem' by the media watchdog, but not a 'wholesome religious channel' that gave people comfort. In 2023, Ofcom imposed financial penalties of £25,000 each for religious satellite channel Loveworld and Bauer Radio over breaches. The watchdog has previously decided to revoke the licence of RT (Russia Today) UK, which had been taken off-air in the UK due to sanctions related to the war in Ukraine, following fines of £200,000 for 'previous due impartiality breaches'.
