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, Ofcom ‘imposed a financial penalty of £150,000 on Word Network Operating Company’, following the channel being in breach of broadcasting rules.
Two episodes of Peter Popoff Ministries, presented by American televangelist Peter Popoff featured ‘potentially harmful claims’ when advertising ‘miracle spring water’.
The channel claimed 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 to be in breach of the Broadcasting Code’s rules that cover protecting the public from harmful material.
The rules require religious programmes not to ‘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.
A grab from the Word Network channel programme advertising the ‘miracle spring water’
‘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, Mr 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.
The guest herself said she benefited financially from using the product.
Mrs Popoff 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, people on the programme 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.
TV personality Peter Popoff pictured praying on television in 1998
Two episodes of Peter Popoff Ministries breach Ofcom rules (Pictured: Peter Popoff)
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’.
Popoff and World Network have been contacted for comment.
