Press group slams axing of Chaser's royal show

This article was published in ABC News 30 April 2011

Press freedom advocates have slammed the axing of The Chaser's satirical coverage of the royal wedding on official request as a troubling example for authoritarian regimes.

Paris-based Reporters Without Borders (RSF) said it "deplored" the BBC and Associated Press Television News (APTN) for "censoring satirical coverage" of the nuptials by the comedy group.

Notorious for breaching security at an APEC summit in an Osama bin Laden costume, The Chaser had planned to broadcast irreverent commentary over the BBC's live feed.

ABC TV was initially advised by the BBC there were no coverage restrictions that would prevent The Chaser's wedding commentary.