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.
The regulator said 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.
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“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 £150,000.
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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.
Popoff and World Network have been contacted for comment by the Press Association.
