A POPULAR Bangladesh television station has had to apologise for broadcasting too many adverts.

Channel S ATN was given a warning by media regulator Ofcom for the amount of advertising broadcast on its channel.

A viewer contacted Ofcom concerned about the amount of ads between February and March 2008.

In addition to approximately 12 minutes of advertising in a commercial break, ads were also scrolled intermittently across the screen (in a banner) during programmes, which is not compliant with the broadcasting code.

Channel S has apologised for this saying it had broadcast in a similar way to other channels and had assumed they were compliant with the Code.

It explained that it had now stopped adding scrolled advertising across the screen during programmes and assured Ofcom that it was taking steps, including contact with its overseas programme supplier, to avoid any recurrence.

Ofcom added: "It is very concerned that Channel S has admitted that it is unable to ensure UK compliance of Bangladeshi news material that includes superimposed scrolled advertising from Bangladesh. Channel S has been reminded of its obligation to ensure that all material broadcast on its UK services complies with regulatory requirements, including the Code.

"Ofcom is putting these licensees on notice that we will consider further regulatory action in the event of recurrence of breaches of a similar nature."

This is the second time Channel S ATN have been rapped by Ofcom.

It was in breach of the broadcast code for airing news bulletins with sponsorship tags and for promoting the services of a sponsor on a finance show. Ofcom does not allow news bulletins to carry sponsorship tags or any sort of promotional reference of a sponsor on a sponsored show.