CARLTON SAYS SORRY FOR OMAGH SHOW
Carlton says sorry for Omagh show - but only on UTV
By Dan McGinn
CARLTON Television will today apologise on air for a controversial programme on the Omagh bombing.
But the decision only to transmit the apology in Northern Ireland has been criticised, because the show was screened across the UK.
Carlton Television, whose 'Thursday Night Live' programme prompted a record number of complaints to UTV will admit tonight that despite its best intentions, it misjudged sensitivities.
The apology, which will be broadcast only in Northern Ireland on UTV at 10.15pm, will accept the programme, involving studio audiences in Omagh and London, caused distress and offence to many viewers.
Carlton will also blame technical difficulties.
Viewers were offended by the treatment of contributors in Omagh, the applause throughout the show, flashing lights at the end of the programme and a phone poll on the bomb's implications for the peace process.
Carlton's apology follows an Independent Television Commission ruling the programme, hosted by BBC Radio Five Live presenter Nicky Campbell, offended many in its treatment of contributors in Omagh and in its overall approach.
In addition to its apology, a spokesman for Carlton confirmed they had offered to produce a promotional video for the town and he accepted the programme had offended many people in Northern Ireland.
But while the apology was welcomed by victims group Aftermath International Northern Ireland as going "some way towards healing the wounds" caused by the programme, they shared Omagh councillors' disappointment that it was not going out nationally.
West Tyrone DUP Assemblyman and Omagh councillor Oliver Gibson, whose niece Esther Gibson was among the 29 victims of the bomb, led calls for the apology to be broadcast nationally.
"The fact is Thursday Night Live's game show treatment of the bombing offended not just people in Northern Ireland but in England, Scotland, Wales and the Republic of Ireland.
"I and others received complaints right across the British Isles. This offensive programme was broadcast nationally. Why are we not having a national apology?"
An ITC spokesman, however, defended the decision to broadcast the apology only in Northern Ireland, saying the vast majority of complaints came from the province.
By Dan McGinn
CARLTON Television will today apologise on air for a controversial programme on the Omagh bombing.
But the decision only to transmit the apology in Northern Ireland has been criticised, because the show was screened across the UK.
Carlton Television, whose 'Thursday Night Live' programme prompted a record number of complaints to UTV will admit tonight that despite its best intentions, it misjudged sensitivities.
The apology, which will be broadcast only in Northern Ireland on UTV at 10.15pm, will accept the programme, involving studio audiences in Omagh and London, caused distress and offence to many viewers.
Carlton will also blame technical difficulties.
Viewers were offended by the treatment of contributors in Omagh, the applause throughout the show, flashing lights at the end of the programme and a phone poll on the bomb's implications for the peace process.
Carlton's apology follows an Independent Television Commission ruling the programme, hosted by BBC Radio Five Live presenter Nicky Campbell, offended many in its treatment of contributors in Omagh and in its overall approach.
In addition to its apology, a spokesman for Carlton confirmed they had offered to produce a promotional video for the town and he accepted the programme had offended many people in Northern Ireland.
But while the apology was welcomed by victims group Aftermath International Northern Ireland as going "some way towards healing the wounds" caused by the programme, they shared Omagh councillors' disappointment that it was not going out nationally.
West Tyrone DUP Assemblyman and Omagh councillor Oliver Gibson, whose niece Esther Gibson was among the 29 victims of the bomb, led calls for the apology to be broadcast nationally.
"The fact is Thursday Night Live's game show treatment of the bombing offended not just people in Northern Ireland but in England, Scotland, Wales and the Republic of Ireland.
"I and others received complaints right across the British Isles. This offensive programme was broadcast nationally. Why are we not having a national apology?"
An ITC spokesman, however, defended the decision to broadcast the apology only in Northern Ireland, saying the vast majority of complaints came from the province.
Further Information
Publisher: BELFAST TELEGRAPH
Ref: BT/0537
Published Date: 09-Dec-98
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