Office of Public Sector Information
PART 3 continued CHAPTER 3 continued
(1) In section 60(1)(a) of the 1996 Act (national digital sound programme services defined as services broadcast with a view to being broadcast by means of a national radio multiplex service), after “national radio multiplex service” there shall be inserted “, by means of a television multiplex service or by means of a general multiplex service”.
(2) In section 63(1) of the 1996 Act (meaning of digital additional sound service), for paragraph (a) there shall be substituted—
“(a) is provided by a person with a view to its being broadcast in digital form (whether by him or some other person) so as to be available for reception by members of the public;
(aa) is so provided with a view to the broadcasting being by means of a radio multiplex service or by means of a general multiplex service; and”.
(3) After subsection (3) of section 63 of the 1996 Act there shall be inserted—
“(3A) In this section “available for reception by members of the public” shall be construed in accordance with section 361 of the Communications Act 2003.”
(4) In section 72(1) of the 1996 Act (interpretation of Part 2)—
(a) after the definitions of “digital sound programme service” and “digital sound programme licence” there shall be inserted—
““general multiplex service” has the same meaning as in Part 3 of the Communications Act 2003;”
(b) after the definition of “technical service” there shall be inserted—
““television multiplex service” has the meaning given by section 241 of the Communications Act 2003.”
In section 58(2) of the 1996 Act (renewal for twelve years of radio multiplex licences granted within six years of commencement)—
(a) for “which is granted within six years” there shall be substituted “granted within ten years”; and
(b) for the words from “for a period” onwards there shall be substituted—
“(a) in the case of a licence granted within six years of that commencement, for a period of twelve years beginning with the date on which it would otherwise expire; and
(b) in any other case, for a period of eight years beginning with that date.”
(1) The Secretary of State may by order provide for—
(a) any of the provisions of this Part (apart from this section and the provisions relating exclusively to television), or
(b) any provision of Part 3 of the 1990 Act or of Part 2 of the 1996 Act (regulation of radio services),
to have effect, in relation to services of such descriptions as may be set out in an order under this section, with such modifications as he considers necessary or appropriate for services of that description.
(2) The Secretary of State is not to make an order under this section in relation to a description of services unless—
(a) the description is of services to be provided primarily for the good of members of the public or of a particular community, rather than for commercial reasons; and
(b) he considers that the provision of services of that description confer, or would confer, significant benefits on the public or on the communities for which they are provided.
(3) An order under this section in relation to a description of services may, in particular, impose prohibitions or limitations on the inclusion of advertisements in services of that description and on the sponsorship of programmes included in the services.
(4) The power, by an order under this section, to make incidental, supplemental or consequential provision in connection with provision authorised by subsection (1) includes power to make incidental, supplemental or consequential provision modifying provisions of the 1990 Act, the 1996 Act or this Act that are not mentioned in that subsection.
(5) No order is to be made containing provision authorised by this section unless a draft of the order has been laid before Parliament and approved by a resolution of each House.
(1) It shall be the duty of OFCOM, by exercising—
(a) their powers under the 1990 Act and the 1996 Act, and
(b) their powers under this Part,
to secure that the holder of every Broadcasting Act licence at all times holds his licence on the conditions which are for the time being included, under this Chapter and Chapter 5 of this Part, in the regulatory regime for the licensed service.
(2) It shall also be the duty of OFCOM to do all that they can to secure that the holder of every such licence complies, in relation to the licensed service, with the conditions so included in the regulatory regime for that service.
(3) Where—
(a) the licence for a Channel 3 service, for Channel 4, for Channel 5 or for the public teletext service (“the main service”) authorises or requires a corresponding or additional service to be provided in analogue form, and
(b) the regulatory regime for the main service imposes obligations in relation to programmes and other items included in that service,
those obligations are to apply equally to programmes that are included in the analogue service without being included in the main service.
(4) The Secretary of State may by order provide for conditions which are included by virtue of a provision of this Act in the regulatory regime for any service to cease to be so included.
(5) No order is to be made containing provision authorised by subsection (4) unless a draft of the order has been laid before Parliament and approved by a resolution of each House.
(6) This section does not restrict OFCOM’s powers and duties apart from this section to impose obligations by means of the inclusion of conditions in a Broadcasting Act licence.
(1) It shall be the duty of OFCOM—
(a) as soon as practicable after the end of the period of twelve months beginning with the commencement of this section, and
(b) as soon as practicable after the end of each such subsequent period as may be selected by OFCOM for the purposes of this section,
to satisfy, for that period, the review and reporting obligations of subsection (3).
(2) The period selected by OFCOM for the purposes of subsection (1)(b) must be a period of not more than five years beginning with the end of the previous period for which OFCOM have satisfied those review and reporting obligations.
(3) The review and reporting obligations for a period are—
(a) an obligation to carry out a review of the extent to which the public service broadcasters have, during that period, provided relevant television services which (taking them all together over the period as a whole) fulfil the purposes of public service television broadcasting in the United Kingdom; and
(b) an obligation, with a view to maintaining and strengthening the quality of public service television broadcasting in the United Kingdom, to prepare a report on the matters found on the review.
(4) The purposes of public service television broadcasting in the United Kingdom are—
(a) the provision of relevant television services which secure that programmes dealing with a wide range of subject-matters are made available for viewing;
(b) the provision of relevant television services in a manner which (having regard to the days on which they are shown and the times of day at which they are shown) is likely to meet the needs and satisfy the interests of as many different audiences as practicable;
(c) the provision of relevant television services which (taken together and having regard to the same matters) are properly balanced, so far as their nature and subject-matters are concerned, for meeting the needs and satisfying the interests of the available audiences; and
(d) the provision of relevant television services which (taken together) maintain high general standards with respect to the programmes included in them, and, in particular with respect to—
(i) the contents of the programmes;
(ii) the quality of the programme making; and
(iii) the professional skill and editorial integrity applied in the making of the programmes.
(5) When—
(a) determining the extent to which any of the purposes of public service television broadcasting in the United Kingdom are fulfilled, and
(b) reviewing and reporting on that matter,
OFCOM must have regard to the desirability of those purposes being fulfilled in a manner that is compatible with subsection (6).
(6) A manner of fulfilling the purposes of public service television broadcasting in the United Kingdom is compatible with this subsection if it ensures—
(a) that the relevant television services (taken together) comprise a public service for the dissemination of information and for the provision of education and entertainment;
(b) that cultural activity in the United Kingdom, and its diversity, are reflected, supported and stimulated by the representation in those services (taken together) of drama, comedy and music, by the inclusion of feature films in those services and by the treatment of other visual and performing arts;
(c) that those services (taken together) provide, to the extent that is appropriate for facilitating civic understanding and fair and well-informed debate on news and current affairs, a comprehensive and authoritative coverage of news and current affairs in, and in the different parts of, the United Kingdom and from around the world;
(d) that those services (taken together) satisfy a wide range of different sporting and other leisure interests;
(e) that those services (taken together) include what appears to OFCOM to be a suitable quantity and range of programmes on educational matters, of programmes of an educational nature and of other programmes of educative value;
(f) that those services (taken together) include what appears to OFCOM to be a suitable quantity and range of programmes dealing with each of the following, science, religion and other beliefs, social issues, matters of international significance or interest and matters of specialist interest;
(g) that the programmes included in those services that deal with religion and other beliefs include—
(i) programmes providing news and other information about different religions and other beliefs;
(ii) programmes about the history of different religions and other beliefs; and
(iii) programmes showing acts of worship and other ceremonies and practices (including some showing acts of worship and other ceremonies in their entirety);
(h) that those services (taken together) include what appears to OFCOM to be a suitable quantity and range of high quality and original programmes for children and young people;
(i) that those services (taken together) include what appears to OFCOM to be a sufficient quantity of programmes that reflect the lives and concerns of different communities and cultural interests and traditions within the United Kingdom, and locally in different parts of the United Kingdom;
(j) that those services (taken together), so far as they include programmes made in the United Kingdom, include what appears to OFCOM to be an appropriate range and proportion of programmes made outside the M25 area.
(7) In carrying out a review under this section OFCOM must consider—
(a) the costs to persons providing relevant television services of the fulfilment of the purposes of public service television broadcasting in a manner compatible with subsection (6); and
(b) the sources of income available to each of them for meeting those costs.
(8) Every report under this section must—
(a) specify, and comment on, whatever changes appear to OFCOM to have occurred, during the period to which the report relates, in the extent to which the purposes of public service television broadcasting in the United Kingdom have been satisfied;
(b) specify, and comment on, whatever changes appear to OFCOM to have occurred, during that period, in the manner in which those purposes are fulfilled;
(c) set out the findings of OFCOM on their consideration of the matters mentioned in subsection (7) and any conclusions they have arrived at in relation to those findings; and
(d) set out OFCOM’s conclusions on the current state of public service television broadcasting in the United Kingdom.
(9) In performing their duties under this section, OFCOM must have regard, in particular, to—
(a) every statement of programme or service policy which has been made by virtue of this Chapter by a public service broadcaster, or which is treated as such a statement;
(b) every equivalent statement of policy made by the BBC in pursuance of the BBC Charter and Agreement; and
(c) such matters arising at times before the coming into force of this section as OFCOM consider material.
(10) Every report prepared by OFCOM under this section must be published by them—
(a) as soon as practicable after its preparation is complete; and
(b) in such manner as they consider appropriate.
(11) The following are relevant television services for the purposes of this section—
(a) the television broadcasting services provided by the BBC;
(b) the television programme services that are public services of the Welsh Authority (within the meaning of section 207);
(c) every Channel 3 service;
(d) Channel 4;
(e) Channel 5;
(f) the public teletext service.
(12) The following are public service broadcasters for the purposes of this section—
(a) the BBC;
(b) the Welsh Authority;
(c) the providers of the licensed public service channels; and
(d) the public teletext provider.
(13) In this section—
“belief” means a collective belief in, or other adherence to, a systemised set of ethical or philosophical principles or of mystical or transcendental doctrines; and
“drama” includes contemporary and other drama in a variety of different formats.
(1) The regulatory regime for every licensed public service channel, and for the public teletext service, includes a condition requiring the provider of the channel or service to fulfil the public service remit for that channel or service.
(2) The public service remit—
(a) for every Channel 3 service, and
(b) for Channel 5,
is the provision of a range of high quality and diverse programming.
(3) The public service remit for Channel 4 is the provision of a broad range of high quality and diverse programming which, in particular—
(a) demonstrates innovation, experiment and creativity in the form and content of programmes;
(b) appeals to the tastes and interests of a culturally diverse society;
(c) makes a significant contribution to meeting the need for the licensed public service channels to include programmes of an educational nature and other programmes of educative value; and
(d) exhibits a distinctive character.
(4) The public service remit for the public teletext service is the provision of a range of high quality and diverse text material.
(5) For so long as the public teletext service comprises both—
(a) an analogue teletext service, and
(b) a teletext service provided in digital form,
the conditions imposed under this section must require the public service remit of the public teletext service to be fulfilled separately in the case of each of those services.
(1) The regulatory regime for every licensed public service channel includes a condition requiring the provider of the channel—
(a) as soon as practicable after the coming into force of this section and subsequently at annual intervals, to prepare a statement of programme policy; and
(b) to monitor his own performance in the carrying out of the proposals contained in the statements made in pursuance of the condition.
(2) The condition must require every statement of programme policy prepared in accordance with the condition to set out the proposals of the provider of the channel for securing that, during the following year—
(a) the public service remit for the channel will be fulfilled; and
(b) the duties imposed on the provider by virtue of sections 277 to 296 will be performed.
(3) The condition must also require every such statement to contain a report on the performance of the provider of the channel in the carrying out, during the period since the previous statement, of the proposals contained in that statement.
(4) The condition must also provide that every such statement—
(a) must be prepared having regard to guidance given by OFCOM;
(b) must be prepared taking account of the reports previously published by OFCOM under sections 264 and 358;
(c) must take special account of the most recent such reports;
(d) must be published by the provider of the channel in question as soon as practicable after its preparation is complete; and
(e) must be published in such manner as, having regard to any guidance given by OFCOM, the provider considers appropriate.
(5) In preparing guidance about the preparation of such a statement, OFCOM must have regard, in particular, to the matters which, in the light of the provisions of section 264(4) and (6), they consider should be included in statements of programme policy.
(6) It shall be the duty of OFCOM—
(a) from time to time to review the guidance for the time being in force for the purposes of this section; and
(b) to make such revisions of that guidance as they think fit.
(7) The conditions of a licence to provide a licensed public service channel may provide that a previous statement of policy made by the provider of the channel is to be treated for the purposes of this Part—
(a) as if it were a statement made in relation to such period as may be so specified; and
(b) were a statement of programme policy for the purposes of a condition imposed under this section.
(8) The reference in subsection (7) to a previous statement of policy is a reference to any statement made by the provider of the channel—
(a) whether before or after the commencement of this section, for the purposes of his application for a Broadcasting Act licence for the channel; or
(b) at any time before the commencement of this section, for any other purpose.
(9) A condition under subsection (7) cannot contain provision the effect of which is to postpone the time at which a licence holder is required to make the first statement of programme policy which (apart from that subsection) he is required to make in pursuance of a condition imposed under this section.
(1) The regulatory regime for every licensed public service channel includes a condition requiring compliance with subsection (2) in the case of a statement of programme policy containing proposals for a significant change.
(2) This subsection requires the provider of the channel—
(a) to consult OFCOM before preparing the statement; and
(b) to take account, in the preparation of the statement, of any opinions expressed to the provider of the channel by OFCOM.
(3) A condition imposed under this section must further provide that, if it appears to OFCOM that a statement of programme policy has been prepared by the provider of the channel in contravention of a condition imposed under subsection (1), the provider is—
(a) to revise that statement in accordance with any directions given to him by OFCOM; and
(b) to publish a revision of the statement in accordance with any such directions only after the revision has been approved by OFCOM.
(4) A change is a significant change for the purposes of this section if it is a change as a result of which the channel would in any year be materially different in character from in previous years.
(5) In determining for the purposes of any condition under this section whether a change is a significant change—
(a) regard must be had to any guidance issued by OFCOM;
(b) the changes to be considered include any changes that, together with any proposed change for a particular year, would constitute a change occurring gradually over a period of not more than three years; and
(c) the previous years with which a comparison is to be made must be those immediately preceding the year in which the change is made, or in which the changes comprised in it began to occur.
(6) It shall be the duty of OFCOM—
(a) from time to time to review the guidance for the time being in force for the purposes of this section; and
(b) to make such revisions of that guidance as they think fit.
(1) The regulatory regime for the public teletext service includes a condition requiring the public teletext provider—
(a) as soon as practicable after the coming into force of this section and subsequently at annual intervals, to prepare a statement of service policy; and
(b) to monitor his own performance in the carrying out of the proposals contained in statements made in pursuance of the condition.
(2) The condition must require every statement of service policy prepared in accordance with the condition to set out the proposals of the public teletext provider for securing that, during the following year, the public service remit for the public teletext service will be fulfilled.
(3) The condition must also require every such statement to contain a report on the performance of the public teletext provider in the carrying out, during the period since the previous statement, of the proposals contained in that statement.
(4) The condition must provide that the proposals or report for a period in the course of which the public teletext service will comprise or has comprised both—
(a) an analogue teletext service, and
(b) a teletext service provided in digital form,
must deal separately with each of those services.
(5) The condition must also provide that every statement in pursuance of the condition—
(a) must be prepared having regard to guidance given by OFCOM;
(b) must be prepared taking account of the reports previously published by OFCOM under sections 264 and 358;
(c) must take special account of the most recent such reports;
(d) must be published by the public teletext provider as soon as practicable after its preparation is complete; and
(e) must be published in such manner as, having regard to any guidance given by OFCOM, that provider considers appropriate.
(6) In preparing guidance about the preparation of such a statement, OFCOM must have regard, in particular, to the matters which, in the light of the provisions of section 264(4) and (6), they consider should be included in statements of service policy by the public teletext provider.
(7) It shall be the duty of OFCOM—
(a) from time to time to review the guidance for the time being in force for the purposes of this section; and
(b) to make such revisions of that guidance as they think fit.
(8) The conditions of the licence to provide the public teletext service may provide that a previous statement of policy made by the public teletext provider is to be treated for the purposes of this Part—
(a) as if it were a statement made in relation to such period as may be so specified; and
(b) were a statement of service policy for the purposes of a condition imposed under this section.
(9) The reference in subsection (8) to a previous statement of policy is a reference to any statement made by the public teletext provider—
(a) whether before or after the commencement of this section, for the purposes of his application for a Broadcasting Act licence for the public teletext service or for the existing service (within the meaning of section 221); or
(b) at any time before the commencement of this section, for any other purpose.
(10) A condition under subsection (8) cannot contain provision the effect of which is to postpone the time at which a licence holder is required to make the first statement of service policy which (apart from that subsection) he is required to make in pursuance of a condition imposed under this section.
(1) The regulatory regime for the public teletext service includes a condition requiring compliance with subsection (2) in the case of a statement of service policy containing proposals for a significant change.
(2) This subsection requires the provider of the service—
(a) to consult OFCOM before preparing the statement; and
(b) to take account, in the preparation of the statement, of any opinions expressed to the provider of the service by OFCOM.
(3) A condition imposed under this section must further provide that, if it appears to OFCOM that a statement of service policy has been prepared by the public teletext provider in contravention of a condition imposed under subsection (1), that provider is—
(a) to revise that statement in accordance with any directions given to him by OFCOM; and
(b) to publish a revision of the statement in accordance with any such directions only after the revision has been approved by OFCOM.
(4) A change is a significant change for the purposes of this section if it is a change as a result of which the service would in any year be materially different in character from in previous years.
(5) In determining for the purposes of any condition under this section whether a change is a significant change—
(a) regard must be had to any guidance issued by OFCOM;
(b) the changes to be considered include any changes that, together with any proposed change for a particular year, would constitute a change occurring gradually over a period of not more than three years;
(c) the previous years with which a comparison is to be made must be those immediately preceding the year in which the change is made, or in which the changes comprised in it began to occur; and
(d) any change that is a significant change in relation to so much of the public teletext service as is provided in digital form or in relation to so much of it as is provided in analogue form is to be regarded as a significant change in relation to the whole service.
(6) It shall be the duty of OFCOM—
(a) from time to time to review the guidance for the time being in force for the purposes of this section; and
(b) to make such revisions of that guidance as they think fit.
(1) This section applies if OFCOM are of the opinion that the provider of a licensed public service channel or the public teletext provider—
(a) has failed to fulfil the public service remit for that channel or the public teletext service; or
(b) has failed, in any respect, to make an adequate contribution towards the fulfilment of the purposes of public service television broadcasting in the United Kingdom.
(2) This section does not apply unless—
(a) OFCOM are of the opinion that the failure of the provider is serious and is not excused by economic or market conditions; and
(b) OFCOM determine that the situation requires the exercise of their powers under this section.
(3) In making a determination under subsection (2)(b), OFCOM must have regard, in particular, to—
(a) the public service remit of that provider;
(b) the statements of programme policy or statements of service policy made (or treated as made) by the provider under section 266 or 268;
(c) the record generally of the provider in relation to the carrying out of obligations imposed by conditions of licences under the 1990 Act and the 1996 Act (including past obligations);
(d) the effectiveness and efficiency of the provider in monitoring his own performance; and
(e) general economic and market conditions affecting generally the providers of television programme services or the providers of television multiplex services, or both of them.
Communications Act 2003