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The Independent Television Commission, the UK broadcasting regulator, has made minor amendments to its "Code on Sports and Other Listed and Designated Events". The Code relates to the listed events (drawn up by the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport) for which the acquisition of exclusive rights for live television coverage is restricted, and for which broadcasting on an exclusive basis requires the Commission's consent. The code gives details of various matters relating to the treatment of such events, including the definition of "live" used, matters to be taken into account in giving...

The UK Office of Fair Trading, the main body which enforces competition law, has announced that it proposes to make a decision that BSkyB has behaved anti-competitively, infringing UK competition law. The company now has the opportunity to make representations before the Office reaches a final decision, which is not expected before Summer 2002. The decision relates to abuse of a dominant position, which is prohibited under Chapter II of the Competition Act 1998. The UK law is almost identical to the provisions of Article 82 of the EC Treaty. The Office decided that BSkyB has a dominant position...

The Independent Television Commission (ITC) which regulates broadcasting in the UK (except for the BBC) has issued revised codes on its competition procedures and on public consultation. The competition code sets out the statutory basis for the ITC's competition duties, which include securing fair and effective competition between broadcasters and ensuring that a wide range of services is available (the Broadcasting Act 1990, s. 2(2)(a)). It is closely linked with the responsibilities of other regulators and competition authorities, and to avoid overlap, the ITC is a member of the Standing Committee...

On 9 January 2002, Scotland's most senior judge decided to approve an application by the BBC to televise the proceedings of the appeal by Abdelbasset Ali Mohmed Al Megrahi against his conviction for causing the deaths of those aboard PanAm flight 103 and on the ground in Lockerbie, Scotland. If other broadcasters wish to televise the court proceedings live, they will have to apply separately. An earlier application in 2000 to televise the proceedings of the trial was turned down on the grounds that the safety of witnesses might be compromised and also that some witnesses might decline to give...

The UK Government's White Paper on Communications (see IRIS 2001-1: 8) promised more detailed proposals for reform of the complex rules on media ownership and concentration currently set out in the Broadcasting Acts 1990 and 1996 (a useful summary of the current rules is included as an annex to the new proposals). These have now been issued for consultation; to some extent they remain vague on key issues, but give some idea of the likely direction of change. A draft Bill will be published in 2002 with more detailed proposals. The Government accepts the need for continued sector-specific rules...