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The major White Paper on the regulation of communications, including broadcasting, in the UK, (see IRIS 2001-1: 8) proposed the future simplification of content regulation and a much greater reliance on partial self-regulation by the broadcasters themselves. The Independent Television Commission, the UK regulator of private broadcasters, has announced a number of moves in this direction even before the proposals have been finalised and put into legislation. The future approach was indicated in a speech by the new Chief Executive of the Commission, who summarised her approach as "we should be reluctant...

Last year, the Independent Television Commission opened a consultation on the approach to regulation concerning interactive services (see ITC news release of 29 February 2000). The key elements of interactive services were recognised to be (a) viewer choice and (b) viewer responsibility. The spin-off is the potential for certain rules to be amended or disapplied. The consultation related to the two main forms of interactive services: "dedicated interactive services" and "enhanced programme services". The former are "stand-alone services not related to a broadcast programme but accessed primarily...

The Radio Authority, established by the Broadcasting Acts 1990 and 1996 to license and regulate Independent Radio, adopted and published its original Advertising and Sponsorship Code ten years ago. The 1990 Act obliges the Authority to review the Code from time to time. In March 2000, the Authority initiated a consultation process with the aim of revising and modernizing the Code. The new Code was published on 4 January 2001. Broadly, the aims of the revision are to (a) bring the Code into line with current and pending legislation (b) restructure the Code, to highlight the more important rules...

The UK regulator of private broadcasters, the Independent Television Commission (ITC), has issued a revised procedure for the application of sanctions to licensees where they are considered to be in breach of the provisions of the Broadcasting Act 1990, for example, those relating to programme standards or impartiality. These sanctions range from the requirement to broadcast a correction or apology, through financial penalties (which may be very large), to shortening or revoking the licence. The new procedure replaces those set out in guidance notes for different types of licence and takes into...

The Independent Television Commission (ITC), which regulates UK commercial broadcasting, has issued a direction to Scottish Television, a Channel 3 company, requiring it to ensure due impartiality in the run-up to a local Parliamentary election. The company had broadcast throughout the UK, including Scotland, a programme entitled "Ask the Prime Minister" in which Tony Blair answered questions from a studio audience for one hour. This took place on 12 December. The election was due to take place on 21 December. Section 6 of the Broadcasting Act 1990 requires the Commission to do all it can to secure...