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IRIS 2017-6:1/20 [GB] Government decides not to privatise Channel 4

Karen Bradley, government minister serving as Secretary of State for Culture, Media, and Sport, has announced that after an 18-month review, public service broadcaster (PSB) Channel 4 will not be privatised and will remain in public ownership. The terrestrial channel was launched in 1982 to provide greater diversity and appealing to tastes and interests not normally catered by the other independent terrestrial channel ITV, launched in 1955. Both ITV and Channel 4 are funded primarily through advertising, and in the case of Channel 4 profits are reinvested into programme making. Channel 4 has helped...

IRIS 2017-6:1/19 [GB] Regulator issues note to broadcasters for upcoming general election

On 24 April 2017, Ofcom, the UK communications regulator, issued a Note to broadcasters on election programming for the General Election taking place on 8 June 2017. It follows Ofcom’s statement in 9 March 2017 that it had amended its rules relating to coverage of elections with new rules in relation to party broadcasts and rules applying to the BBC for the first time (see IRIS 2017-5/6). The Note reminds broadcasters that Ofcom’s Broadcasting Code requires that the coverage of elections and referendums complies with rules requiring due impartiality and a number of other special provisions. In...

IRIS 2017-6:1/18 [GB] Fox News breaches Ofcom Code by failing to ensure sufficient distinction between advertising and editorial content

On 6 March 2017, Ofcom determined that Fox News, a USA news channel and broadcast as a digital satellite channel, had breached Rules 9.4 and 9.5 of Ofcom’s Broadcasting Code by allowing advertising material or promotional material to be screened as if editorial content. During its Hannity show on 5 and 6 August 2016, Fox News broadcast short segments each lasting about two minutes entitled Fox Extra. These segments covered various subjects including cooking, health, technology, and travel, as well as guest interviews. On 5 August, a health section lasting about two minutes comprised of an extract...

IRIS 2017-5:1/23 [GB] Ofcom becomes the BBC’s first independent external regulator

On 3 April 2017, pursuant to The Royal Charter for the Continuance of the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) Royal Charter (the “Charter”) the communications regulator Ofcom will regulate the BBC, succeeding the role previously undertaken by the BBC Trust. Ofcom will be the first external and independent regulator of the BBC. The Charter took effect on 1 January 2017 and expires on 31 December 2027. Prior to 3 April 2017, the BBC was already subject to certain Ofcom regulation, such as that concerning the protection of children, hatred and abuse, religion, and fairness issues. However, as from...

IRIS 2017-5:1/22 [GB] Ofcom’s new rules on elections and referendums

On 9 March 2017, Ofcom published a statement setting out its decision to remove the concept of the list of “larger parties” from the rules on party political and referendum broadcasts (“PPRB Rules”); and changes to apply Section Five (due impartiality and due accuracy) and Section Six of the Broadcasting Code. The revised PPRB Rules and the revised rules in Sections Five and Six of the Code came into effect on 22 March 2017, in accordance with the transitional arrangements in the BBC Charter and Agreement. Effective 3 April 2017, Ofcom assumed responsibility as the first external regulator for...