CHANNEL SEVEN has asked the Federal Court to overturn a media watchdog finding that it broadcast a show likely to inflame racist sentiments.
It says if the finding stands, Seven could be penalised and it could adversely affect the station's licence.
The case centres on a segment on Seven's Sunday Night program in September last year, which depicted the Suruwaha tribe in Brazil - who were described as ''primitive'' and ''Stone Age'' - and their cultural practices.
The Australian Communications and Media Authority last month found the program made factual errors and had broadcast material likely to ''provoke or perpetuate dislike, serious contempt or severe ridicule'' about the Suruwaha.
''These lost tribes encourage the murder of disabled children'', the show contended. ''The Suruwaha believe that children born with birth defects or born to a single mother are evil spirits and should be killed in the most gruesome way possible.''
The media authority said the comments were inaccurate, and breached the Commercial Television Code of Practice, which says it must broadcast factual material.
But, in documents filed in the Federal Court, Channel Seven says the authority failed to apply the law properly because, instead of identifying specific errors, it based its finding on the meaning viewers took from the show.
Channel Seven and the authority said they were unable to comment on the matter while it was before the courts. The matter will be in the Federal Court in Sydney on November 14.
