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Ofcom, the UK communications regulator, has considered a large number of complaints about lack of factual accuracy and lack of impartiality in relation to “The Great Global Warming Swindle”, a programme broadcast by Channel 4 which sought to challenge the theory that human activity is the major cause of climate change and global warming. In a separate investigation, it considered complaints of unfairness by scientists referred to or contributing to the programme and by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. In the first case, the allegation was that the programme presented facts in a misleading...

The BBC trust has found breaches of editorial guidelines and weaknesses in fair trading rules in relation to the sponsorship of BBC-organised events. As a result, the BBC management has decided to end such sponsorship. The BBC does not carry any advertising in its public service broadcasting nor may its programmes be sponsored. However, it has permitted commercial sponsorship of BBC events, notably “Sports Personality of the Year”, and its website offered “rights packages” for such events. After the December 2007 broadcast of this programme, its commercial rival ITV and the organisation representing...

On 21 May 2008, The British Board of Film Classification (BBFC) launched a new service, “BBFC.online”. It aims to provide consumer information, thus enhancing consumer trust and confidence when choosing new media content. The scheme applies, on a voluntary basis, the BBFC’s existing eight-fold classification system to content distributed online, including “video on demand, streaming video, download-to-own and portable media devices.” It is “‘Platform Neutral’ – it is designed to cover all forms of digital content delivery (e.g. web, set top boxes, hand-held devices and mobile phones).” The BBFC...

Over the last year, the conduct of competitions using premium rate telephone services has been a source of major scandals in British broadcasting (see IRIS 2007-8: 11, IRIS 2007-10: 15 and IRIS 2008-2: 13). Now the communications regulator, Ofcom, has fined ITV (Channel 3, the major commercial broadcaster) GBP 5,675,000 for breaches of the Ofcom Programme Code in connection with such services. Relevant provisions of the Code include those requiring that factual programmes must not mislead the viewer, that competitions should be conducted fairly and that the broadcaster must retain control of premium...

In a decision of 10 June 2008, the European Commission approved the second extension of the Northern Ireland Film Production Fund (NIFPF) until 31 December 2008. The fund is managed by the Northern Ireland Film and Television Commission, and the scheme consists in the grant of loans for film projects. The main selection criteria for the grant of such loans are the cultural value of the project, its likely profitability and its prospects of economic success. Support may be given to the production of cinema and television films. The Commission considers that this arrangement for the provision of...