Greece’s Moment of Truth Banned

ATHENS: The Greek edition of ShineReveille’s The Moment of Truth format, broadcast on Antenna, has been banned, with regulators arguing that the series is offensive and encourages participants to "humiliate themselves for a reward."

The format has been sold for adaptation in more than 20 markets, with versions having rolled out on FOX in the U.S. and Sky1 in the U.K., among other markets. It sees contestants answering intimate questions while attached to a lie detector. Press reports indicate that Greece’s National Television and Radio Council ordered Antenna TV to pull the show because the questions posed had "no regard for the players’ decency and the effects on the social lives of their families."

The Greek broadcaster has accused the regulator of "extreme censorship" and is said to be considering taking its case to the European Commission. The show had been delivering top ratings for the channel.

A spokesman for Shine told MediaGuardian: "The Moment of Truth has been created in over 20 territories around the world and this has been the only case of this kind. The show’s premise is simple, yet controversial by nature, and we work closely with our partners and contestants to ensure it is both produced and broadcast responsibly.