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The new BBC Royal Charter and Agreement (see IRIS 2006-5: 13), which came into effect on 1 January 2007, requires that new and modified BBC services should be subject to a Public Value Test to establish whether they will be in the public interest. As part of this process the communications regulator, the Office of Communications (Ofcom) undertakes a Market Impact Assessment to assess the likely impact of the services on the markets in which the new services will be provided and in related markets, examining the extent to which they might deter innovation and investment by alternative providers...

The BBC does not carry advertising on any of its public service broadcasting channels and so relies on funding by licence fee. The funding level is set for several years in advance by the government, and the latest settlement has just been announced. The BBC had sought a generous settlement to include the costs of digital switchover, the development of new services, and the moving of key departments to Salford, in the North West of England. It thus applied for a settlement of inflation plus two point three percent over the next ten years. This was widely perceived as having been unrealistic, and...

Analogue broadcasting in the UK is to be switched off in regional stages between 2008 and 2012. Digital television in the form of Freeview (a joint venture between the BBC and commercial broadcasters) has been phenomenally successful and has contributed (together with digital satellite broadcasting) to a figure of over 73% of households receiving digital television by September 2006. Ofcom, the UK communications regulator, has now confirmed details of licence conditions to ensure that coverage by digital terrestrial television is achieved after switchover, to a degree equivalent to that of current...

Ofcom, the UK’s communications regulator, has decided, after consultation, to end the ban on television channels broadcasting appeals for donations to make programmes or to fund their services. Previously such appeals were permitted by radio broadcasters and by those broadcasting television to the UK from abroad; part of the reason for the change is to establish a more level playing field. The change will be particularly relevant to religious, ethnic minority, local and community channels, although it is not envisaged that donations will be an adequate sole source of funding for any channel and...

In December 2003, the Secretary of State asked the UK Office of Communications (Ofcom) to consider proposals to strengthen the rules on food and drink advertising to children. After extensive research and consultation, Ofcom has now reached a controversial decision to ban all advertisements for products that are high in fat, salt and sugar in and around all programmes of particular appeal to children under the age of 16, broadcast at any time of day or night on any channel. This will include a total ban on such advertising in and around all children’s programmes and on dedicated children’s channels...