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British Sky Broadcasting Ltd t/a Sky broadcast two advertisements advertising its High Definition service. To persuade people to sign up for it, the ads promoted as part of the service sports coverage generally and, in particular, the British and Irish Lions' summer tour of South Africa and the Ashes series of cricket matches between England and Australia, for which BskyB had bought the rights. A number of viewers (seven) objected. Their point was that the ads were “misleading” because, having registered for the HD service, they were then informed that there was a twelve-week waiting period before...

In the period following the broadcast of an item on 18 October 2008 during the Russell Brand show, the BBC received 42,851 complaints (see IRIS 2009-5: 15). The Editorial Standards Committee concluded that the material, regarding Mr Andrew Sachs and his granddaughter Ms Baillie, was “so grossly offensive” that there was no justification for its being broadcast. Subsequently, the BBC Trust requested the BBC Executive to research audience expectations regarding issues raised by the broadcast and to make recommendations. It commissioned the research from Professor Sonia Livingstone (LSE), Ipsos MORI...

Ofcom, the UK communications regulator, has completed a further phase in its long-running investigation into pay-TV markets and is now consulting on possible remedies (see IRIS 2009-1: 13). The central issue is the wholesale supply of premium content by Sky to its competitors. Ofcom has found that live top-flight sports and first-run Hollywood movies are particularly effective in driving pay-TV subscriptions because they combine broad audience appeal with a high degree of exclusivity to pay-TV. There are narrow economic markets for the wholesale of Core Premium Sports and Core Premium Movie channels...

The UK Government has published “Digital Britain - Final Report” setting out its proposals on a wide range of communications issues. Its basic aim is “to secure the UK’s position as one of the world’s leading digital knowledge economies”. A number of proposals directly concern the broadcasting sector. The Government has rejected privatisation of Channel 4, but its statutory remit will be updated and discussions will continue on a strategic partnership between Channel 4 and BBC Worldwide, the Corporation’s commercial arm. The Government will consult on a “Contained Contestable Element” of the television...

Ofcom, the UK communications regulator, is consulting on plans for managing spectrum during the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games in London and other parts of the UK. It envisages unprecedented demand for spectrum for uses including private mobile radios, so that the London Organising Committee and others can keep in contact at the London Olympic Park and the 35 other Games venues. Supporting broadcasting services will also need to be provided for 20,000 members of the media broadcasting to a global audience of around five billion. These will include wireless microphones used by the Committee and...