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The rock band Status Quo applied for judicial review of the BBC Radio One playlist, alleging that it discriminated against them and in favour of younger bands. The High Court held that there was not sufficient evidence to establish even an arguable case and, as proceedings had also been commenced in private law, the judicial review action against the public broadcaster could serve no useful purpose. The application was thus dismissed.

During the recent UK General Election, several election broadcasts were the subject of consideration. At least two were by parties that fielded the required minimum of 50 candidates mainly in order to qualify for air-time. In the first case, the Referendum Party obtained some satisfaction in the High Court which decided that the Independent Television Authority had shown a "too ready acceptance" of the allocation of air time quotas set by the joint, non-statutory committee of MPs and broadcasters. The Court did not, however, agree with the claim that the Referendum Party had been discriminated...

The Radio Authority ("The Authority") licences and regulates the independent radio industry in the UK in accordance with the statutory requirements of the Broadcasting Act 1990 and 1996. The Broadcasting Act 1990 makes it the statutory duty of the Authority to draw up, and periodically review a code which sets standards and practice in advertising and programme sponsorship on independent radios. The Authority has now - a month after the revised ITC Code (see IRIS 1997-4: 11) - published a new version of its Advertising and Sponsorship Code, which takes immediate effect. The changes to the Code...

The Independent Television Commission (ITC) is required by the Broadcasting Act 1996 (Part IV, Section 104) to draw up a code giving guidance on certain matters relating to the televising of sports, and other events of national interest, which have been listed by the Secretary of State. This code was published at the beginning of April 1997 after consultation with all interested parties. An event may be listed because it is of "national" interest within England, Scotland, Wales or Northern Island. This allows events to be shown only in those parts of the UK in which there is likely to be the most...

The House of Lords has ruled, in the case of Hunter and Others v Canary Wharf Ltd & Hunter and Others v London Docklands Development, that `A landowner was, generally, entitled to build on his land as he wished and, accordingly, would not be liable in nuisance because a large building [in this case Canary Wharf] he had erected had interfered with television reception.' An important point here was the fact that the action was brought by persons not having any proprietary interest in the land. The building caused interference in signals transmitted from the Crystal Palace transmitter (although a...