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Ofcom, the UK communications regulator, has announced further changes to its advertising rules, as part of its continuing review of advertising regulation (for earlier changes see IRIS 2008-5: 11 and IRIS 2008-9: 12). Ofcom has decided to maintain the number of advertising breaks permitted on public service broadcasting (PSB) channels at current levels for programmes with a scheduled duration of 90 minutes or less, but to increase the number of permitted breaks in longer programmes to the same level as permitted on non-PSB channels. This does not affect the rules applying to particular types of...

More often than one might expect, basic issues concerning music rights are unknown territory for producers of music works, film composers and musicians. Reading this IRIS plus is a first step towards understanding the complex legal matter. The article starts by explaining the legal position of the film composer, which comprises the questions of who holds copyrights, for how long and what kind. It thereafter focuses on issues around licensing and remuneration including the role of collecting societies. The article then looks at various aspects of piracy: a major concern for the audiovisual industry....

The UK culture secretary has now announced, after a consultation exercise, how the Government intends to proceed on key broadcasting policies set out in the Audiovisual Media Services Directive. The most controversial policy is in relation to product placement, currently banned in any UK-made programmes. Broadcasters argued that allowing product placement would provide a new source of revenue, but consumer and viewer groups claimed that it would blur the distinction between advertising and editorial content and undermine the trust that viewers have in the integrity of UK-made programming. The...

Ofcom, the UK communications regulator, has imposed a record fine of GBP 150,000 on the BBC for the broadcast of offensive material, invasion of privacy and failures of compliance, in relation to the “Russell Brand Show” broadcast on the radio. The presenters of the pre-recorded show had made offensive phone calls to the answerphone of a distinguished actor, claiming that one presenter, Russell Brand, had had a sexual relationship with the actor’s granddaughter; this was broadcast with further reference to the sexual relationship. After a newspaper campaign, Ofcom received almost 2,000 complaints...

JML, a home shopping television channel, contracted with Freesat (UK) Ltd to carry its programmes, JML and JML Cookshop services. Freesat is owned jointly by the BBC and ITV. It is a platform which enables anyone owning a Freesat set-top box or a television with an inbuilt Freesat digital tuner access to digital satellite television (including HD television, radio and interactive services). Freesat is a not-for-profit company. Its GBP 9,000,000 income derives from shareholders and charging providers to have a presence on the platform. Providers want to appear high up on the first page of the...