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Ofcom has found that five programmes broadcast by the Islam Channel, originally shown in 2008 and 2009, were in breach of the Broadcast Code, Sections 2.3 (Harm and Offence) and 5.5 (Due Impartiality). The Channel had previously been found to have breached provisions of the Code relating to due impartiality in 2007 and was fined GBP 30,000. Four other programmes investigated were found to be Code compliant. Ofcom launched the investigation into the channel following a report monitoring its output, Re-Programming British Muslims, published by the Quilliam Foundation. Three of the programmes (two...

As reported in IRIS 2010-5:1/27, the Association for Television On-Demand (ATVOD) was formally “designated” as the co-regulator for UK Video on Demand (VOD) services. This status came formally into effect on 20 September 2010. ATVOD was an industry trade association prior to the designation. ATVOD has now published its Procedure for Complaints about Editorial Content on VOD Services. The document outlines the procedures ATVOD will normally follow in the handling of complaints concerning editorial content on video on demand (“VOD”) programme services (“VOD Services”). The Procedure also came into...

It was already becoming apparent before the completion of the pay-TV review that the British regulator Ofcom’s task of regulating the pay-TV markets would not end with the review’s publication on 31 March 2010. Ofcom has now put its thinking in more concrete terms in two decisions: it has referred an investigation into possible distortions of competition in BSkyB’s marketing of Hollywood films to the Competition Commission (CC) for further examination and taken action itself on the conditions for the distribution of the channels Sky Sports 1 and 2, prohibiting Sky, according to reports, from limiting...

Ofcom, the UK communications regulator, has examined 57 programmes broadcast on STV (Scottish commercial television) sponsored by the Scottish Government after press allegations that the Government had influenced the content of programming. The allegations made reference to three programmes (the “Homecoming programmes”) sponsored by a Scottish newspaper and Homecoming Scotland. The latter was an initiative of the Scottish Government to get Scots at home and abroad to reconnect with Scotland and consisted of events, festivals and celebrations. The press reports had quoted letters from SCV’s Chief...

The UK has issued a list of events that are felt to have special national resonance and so are available, so far as possible, for broadcast on free-to-air television. In late 2009 an Independent Review Panel reported on the list (see IRIS 2010-1: 1/26). The Panel recommended that the list be retained but amended so that it should contain pre-eminent national or international events with the involvement of a national team and likely to command a large television audience. The Summer Olympic Games, the World Cup Finals and the UEFA European Football Championship Finals should continue to be listed,...