UCC Suspends Spark TV ‘Live Wire’ Gossip Show

Uganda Communications Commission has ordered Spark TV to immediately suspend its Live Wire programme after the station appeared to ignore the regulator’s directive to have it rescheduled.

The Commission on October 18, 2021 wrote to eleven TV stations directing them to reschedule their adult-themed gossip programs from evening hours to between 10 pm, and 5 am, with effect from Wednesday this week.

However, while other stations complied with the directive, Spark TV replied in its letter dated 20th October 2021, insisting that Live Wire was not culpable for any breach, and went ahead to air the programme as scheduled.

Consequently, the Commission on Thursday October 21, directed Spark TV to immediately suspend Live Wire until it has satisfactorily demonstrated that the program has been appropriately scheduled in accordance with the directive of October 18, 2021.

Besides having to show cause why regulatory sanctions shouldn’t be brought against the station on account of defying the Commission’s directive, Spark TV is also required to submit recordings of Live Wire that aired between September 1, 2021 and October 20, 2021.

This development follows a meeting between UCC officials and representatives of the eleven television stations at the Commission’s head office in Bugolobi on 7th October 2021.

The affected programmes, known for broadcasting mostly gossip and celebrity news, are: NBS TV’s Uncut Sabula and Uncut Kalakata, Spark TV’s Live Wire, Urban TV’s Short Circuit Sonsomola, ABS TV’s Evening Zone, Baba TV’s Poko Poko, and BBS TV’s Roundabout.

Others are, Dream TV’s Tik Taka Sesetura, Kingdom TV’s Kapyaki, STV’s Select E-Buzz, BTM TV’s Access, and Top TV’s Kachumbali.

Lee Ray

Lee Ray is a qualified journalist dedicated to inform and update you with News, Gossip, Entertainment, Showbiz and Music!