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On 2 December 2016, Ofcom published a document announcing several decisions regarding the enhancement of “access services” to “non-domestic” television channels, which are channels licensed by Ofcom for transmission to other EU member states. Access services (required for domestic channels since 2005) comprise subtitles, audio description and signing. The provision of such services enables people with impairments to their sight and/or hearing to access television. The obligation has been imposed on non-domestic channels since 2014. Certain exceptions (mainly with respect to signing) apply to channels...

The BBC Trust’s Editorial Standards Committee considers complaints about unfair treatment in BBC programmes. It has upheld a complaint about an item relating to the Leader of the Opposition, Jeremy Corbyn, broadcast in the main evening news bulletin. The item was broadcast three days after the Paris shootings and just before the then Prime Minister, David Cameron, was due to make a speech announcing the government’s anti-terrorism policy. A clip was included of Mr Corbyn stating that he was not happy with a “shoot-to-kill” policy and that it could be dangerous and counter-productive. The report...

On 19 December 2016 Fox News - broadcast on the digital satellite platform and owned by Fox News Limited Liability Company - was found to be in breach of Rule 9.2 of Ofcom’s Broadcasting Code for insufficiently distinguishing between its editorial content and an advertising segment in its “Fox and Friends” programme. “Fox and Friends” is a weekday news and general discussion programme broadcast from New York between 6 a.m. and 9 a.m. (EST) and simultaneously in the UK between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. (GMT). Ofcom received a complaint concerning a “Fox and Friends” segment called “It’s Your Money” and...

On 19 December 2016, Ofcom held that an episode of RT’s Cross Talk discussion programme breached Rule 5.2 of Ofcom’s Broadcasting Code by failing to ensure due impartiality in a debate that it aired concerning NATO and its relationship with Russia. RT is a global news and current affairs channel produced in Russia and funded by the Federal Agency for Press and Mass Communications of the Russian Federation. In the UK, RT broadcasts on satellite and digital terrestrial platforms and is licensed to TV Novosti. Ofcom considered a complaint about an episode of Cross Talk broadcast on 11 July 2016 in...

The BBC has now published its response to Dame Janet Smith’s review of its culture and practices in relation to serious sexual misconduct by celebrities, notably Jimmy Saville and Stuart Hall (IRIS 2016-5/18). It sets out the current position and the rules and policies which are in place to prevent a repetition of the major organisational failures criticised in the report, including failings in audience controls, sharing of information and the attitude of staff in general towards sexual harassment. A new child protection policy has been introduced, supported by a code of conduct which applies to...