Complaint
During an interview with Scotland’s Transport Secretary, the programme’s presenter claimed virtually every football match had gone ahead, despite the presence of Storm Bert. A viewer complained this was inaccurate as most games had in fact been cancelled. The ECU considered whether the programme met the BBC’s Guidelines on Accuracy.
Outcome
Not every minor error or inaccuracy will lead to a breach of the BBC’s editorial standards. The Guidelines say audiences should not be “materially misled”. In this case the ECU considered viewers would have understood Storm Bert had brought high winds, heavy precipitation and subsequent flooding, leading to significant disruption across much of the country. And whilst it would have been better had the presenter made it clear he had in mind the fixtures in the Scottish Premiership rather than in other leagues, the omission would not have changed the overall impression and understanding of the audience when it came to the impact of the storm.
Not Upheld