Legislation – Media Act 2024

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Introduction

Part 1
Public service television

1 Reports on the fulfilment of the public service remit

2 OFCOM reports: wider review and reporting obligations

3 Public service remits of licensed providers

4 Statements of programme policy

5 Changes of programme policy

6 Enforcement of public service remits

7 Power to amend public service remit for television in the United Kingdom

8 Quotas: independent productions

9 Quotas: original productions

10 Power to create additional quotas for qualifying audiovisual content

11 Quotas: meaning of “qualifying audiovisual content” etc

12 Quotas: further provision about their fulfilment

13 Quotas: independent productions: commissioning code

14 Regional programme-making: Channels 3, 4 and 5

15 Networking arrangements for Channel 3

16 Removal of quotas for schools programmes on Channel 4

17 Quotas: the BBC and S4C

18 Power to require information

19 Amount of financial penalties: qualifying revenue

20 Categories of relevant service

21 Contracts relating to coverage of listed events

22 Restriction on showing live coverage of listed events

23 Regulations about coverage of listed events

24 Provision of information

25 Sections 20 to 24: further provision

26 Public teletext service

27 Further amendments relating to public service television

Part 2
Prominence on television selection services

28 Prominence on television selection services

Part 3
Public service broadcasters

Chapter 1 C4C

29 Sustainability duty of C4C

30 C4C’s duties in relation to commissioning programmes

31 Involvement of C4C in programme-making

Chapter 2 S4C

32 S4C’s powers and public service remit

33 The S4C Board

34 Accounts and audit

35 Amendment of BBC’s obligation to provide Welsh programmes

36 Chapter 2 of Part 3: minor and consequential amendments

Part 4
On-demand programme services

37 Tier 1 services

38 Audience protection reviews

39 S4C: on-demand programme services

40 Other amendments of Part 4A of the 2003 Act

Part 5
Regulation of radio services

41 Licensing of analogue radio services

42 Licensing and local services

43 Character of local services

44 Local news and information

45 Financial assistance for radio

46 Licensing of non-UK digital sound programme services

47 Radio multiplex licences

Part 6
Regulation of radio selection services

48 Regulation of radio selection services

Part 7
Miscellaneous and general

49 Penalties under Parts 3A and 3B of the Communications Act 2003

50 Awards of costs

51 Amendments of broadcasting legislation: UK’s withdrawal from EU

52 Power to make consequential provision

53 Financial provisions

54 Extent

55 Commencement

56 Short title

SCHEDULES

Schedule 1 Quotas: the BBC and S4C

Schedule 2 Part 1: further amendments

Schedule 3 Part 2: further amendments

Schedule 4 Chapter 2 of Part 3: minor and consequential amendments

Schedule 5 Tier 1 services: Chapter to be inserted as Chapter 3 of Part 4A of the 2003 Act

Schedule 6 Tier 1 services: further amendments of Part 4A of the 2003 Act

Schedule 7 Tier 1 services: amendments of other legislation

Schedule 8 Other amendments of Part 4A of the 2003 Act

Schedule 9 Part 6: further amendments

Schedule 10 Schedule to be inserted as Schedule 16A to the 2003 Act

Schedule 11 Schedule to be inserted as Schedule 16B to the 2003 Act

Schedule 12 Amendments related to the UK’s withdrawal from the EU

Schedules

Schedule 2Part 1: further amendments

Section 27

Broadcasting Act 1990

1

The Broadcasting Act 1990 is amended as follows.

2

In section 24 (Channel 4 to be provided by Corporation as licensed service), in subsection (3), for “England, Scotland and Northern Ireland” substitute “the United Kingdom”.

3

In section 49 (licensing of additional services), omit subsection (1A).

4

In section 66 (requirements relating to transmission and distribution of services), in subsection (6)(b), for “England, Scotland and Northern Ireland” substitute “the United Kingdom”.

5

In Schedule 2 (restrictions on the holding of licences), in Part 2 (disqualification for holding licences), in paragraph 2 (disqualification of religious bodies)—

(a)

omit sub-paragraph (1A)(d);

(b)

in sub-paragraph (1B), omit the definition of “public teletext licence”.

Broadcasting Act 1996

6

The Broadcasting Act 1996 is amended as follows.

7

In section 2 (meaning of “qualifying service”), in subsection (2), omit paragraph (f) (meaning of “the digital public teletext provider”).

8

In section 12 (conditions attached to multiplex licence), omit subsection (4)(a).

9

(1)

Section 24 (digital additional service) is amended as follows.

(2)

In subsection (1)(c), omit “the digital public teletext service,”.

(3)

In subsection (3A), in the definition of “relevant public service broadcaster”, omit paragraph (f).

10

In section 33 (review of digital television broadcasting), in subsection (1)(a)(ii), omit “the digital public teletext service,”.

11

In section 39 (interpretation of Part 1), in subsection (1), omit the definitions of—

(a)

“digital public teletext service”;

(b)

“public teletext provider”.

12

(1)

Section 97 (listed events) is amended as follows.

(2)

In subsection (2)(d) (as substituted by section 299(1) of the Communications Act 2003), for “televise” substitute “show”.

(3)

In subsection (3)—

(a)

omit the “and” following paragraph (a);

(b)

after paragraph (b) insert “, and

(c)

such other persons as the Secretary of State considers appropriate.”

13

(1)

Section 98 (categories of service) is amended as follows.

(2)

Omit subsection (4).

(3)

In subsection (5), for the words from “television” to the end substitute “relevant services which appear to them to fall within subsection (1A) or (2A).”

(4)

Omit subsections (5A) to (5D).

14

(1)

Section 99 (contract for exclusive right to televise listed event to be void) is amended as follows.

(2)

In the heading, for “right to televise” substitute “coverage of”.

(3)

Omit subsection (2).

(4)

Omit subsection (4).

15

In section 100 (contract for televising listed event must specify category of service), in the heading, for “televising” substitute “showing coverage of”.

16

(1)

Section 102 (power of OFCOM to impose penalty) is amended as follows.

(2)

Before subsection (1) insert—

“A1

If OFCOM—

(a)

are satisfied that a person other than the BBC or S4C who is the provider of a relevant service has failed to comply with section 101(1), and

(b)

are not satisfied that in all the circumstances it would be unreasonable to have expected the person to have complied with that provision,

they may require the person to pay, within a specified period, a specified financial penalty to OFCOM.

B1

If OFCOM are satisfied that, in connection with an application for consent for the purposes of section 101(5), a person other than the BBC or S4C who is the provider of a relevant service has—

(a)

provided them with information which was false in a material particular, or

(b)

withheld any material information with the intention of causing OFCOM to be misled,

they may require the person to pay, within a specified period, a specified financial penalty to OFCOM.”

(3)

In subsection (1)(a), omit “subsection (1) of section 101 or”.

(4)

in subsection (2), for “under subsection (1) of section 101 or” substitute “for the purposes of”.

(5)

In subsection (3), after “subsection” insert (A1), (B1),”.

(6)

In subsection (4)(a), after “means” insert “—

(i)

in relation to a financial penalty imposed under subsection (A1) or (B1), an amount determined by OFCOM to be the value of the rights to include coverage of the event in question in the relevant service at the time when the rights are acquired, and

(ii)

in relation to a financial penalty imposed under subsection (1) or (2),”.

(7)

In subsection (6), after “subsection” insert (A1), (B1),”.

(8)

In subsection (7), after “subsection” insert (A1), (B1),”.

17

In section 103 (report to Secretary of State about BBC or S4C), in subsection (2), for “under subsection (1) of section 101” substitute “for the purposes of section 101(5)”.

18

(1)

Section 104 (code of guidance) is amended as follows.

(2)

In subsection (1)—

(a)

in paragraph (a), for “section 101(1B)” substitute “section 101(5);

(b)

in paragraph (b)—

(i)

for “section 102(1)” substitute “section 102(A1) or (1)”;

(ii)

for “television programme provider” substitute “person”.

(3)

In subsection (4)—

(a)

in paragraph (c), for “televise” substitute “show”;

(b)

for paragraph (d) substitute—

“(d)

such other persons as OFCOM consider appropriate.”

19

(1)

In section 105 (interpretation of Part 4), subsection (1) is amended as follows.

(2)

For the definition of “adequate alternative coverage” and “live”, substitute—

““adequate alternative coverage”, “adequate live coverage” and “live coverage” are to be construed in accordance with regulations under section 104ZA (subject to section 104ZA(2));”.

(3)

In the definition of “Channel 4”, for “has” substitute “and “Channel 5” have”.

(4)

In the definition of “television programme provider”, for “has the meaning given by section 99(2)” substitute “means the BBC, S4C or any person who is the holder of any licence under Part 1 of the 1990 Act or a digital programme licence under Part 1 of this Act”.

(5)

Omit the definitions of “national Channel 3 service”, “regional Channel 3 service” and “television broadcasting service”.

(6)

At the appropriate place insert—

““Channel 3 service” means a regional or national Channel 3 service;”;

““designated internet programme service” has the same meaning as in Part 3A of the Communications Act 2003 (see section 362AA(1) of that Act);”;

““internet programme service” has the same meaning as in Part 3A of the Communications Act 2003 (see section 362AA(10) of that Act);”;

““on-demand programme service” and “non-UK on-demand programme service” have the same meaning as in the Communications Act 2003 (see sections 368A and 368AA(1) of that Act);”;

““relevant service” has the meaning given by section 98(7);”;

““S4C Digital” has the same meaning as in Part 1 of the 1990 Act (see section 71(1) of that Act);”.

(7)

After subsection (1) insert—

“(1A)

The services that are to be taken for the purposes of this Part to be available to members of the public include any service which—

(a)

is available for reception by members of the public (within the meaning of section 361 of the Communications Act 2003), or

(b)

is available for use by members of the public (within the meaning of section 368R(4) of the Communications Act 2003).

(1B)

In this Part—

(a)

a reference to the provision of a television programme service is to be read in accordance with section 362(2) and (3) of the Communications Act 2003;

(b)

a reference to the provision of an on-demand programme service or a non-UK on-demand programme service is to be read in accordance with section 368R(5) and (6) of the Communications Act 2003.

(1C)

In this Part, the person, and the only person, who is to be treated for the purposes of this Part as providing a relevant service of the kind described in section 98(7)(d) is the person who has such control of the service as is described in section 98(7)(d)(iii).

(1D)

For the purposes of this Part as it relates to relevant services of the kind described in section 98(7)(d)—

(a)

the provision of a service by the BBC does not include its provision by a BBC company;

(b)

the provision of a service by S4C does not include its provision by an S4C company;

and, accordingly, control that is capable of being exercised by the BBC or S4C over decisions by a BBC company or an S4C company about what is to be included in a service is to be disregarded for the purposes of determining who has such control of the service as is described in section 98(7)(d)(iii).”

20

In section 130 (interpretation of Part 5), in subsection (1), in the definition of “licensed service”, omit paragraph (aa).

Tobacco Advertising and Promotion Act 2002

21

In section 12 of the Tobacco Advertising and Promotion Act 2002 (television and radio broadcasting), in subsection (3), omit paragraph (b) and the “and” before it.

Communications Act 2003

22

The Communications Act 2003 is amended as follows.

23

In section 3 (general duties of OFCOM), in subsection (4)(a), for “the purposes of public service television broadcasting in the United Kingdom” substitute “the public service remit for television in the United Kingdom (as defined in section 264)”.

24

In section 64 (must carry obligations), omit subsection (3)(f).

25

In section 198A (C4C’s functions in relation to media content), in subsection (3)(b), for “objectives” substitute “requirements”.

26

In section 216 (renewal of Channel 3 and 5 licences), in subsection (6), for “complying” substitute “that, either on its own or together with other arrangements, complied”.

27

Omit the italic heading before section 218.

28

In section 224 (meaning of initial expiry date), omit subsection (1)(c).

29

In the italic heading before section 225, omit “and teletext”.

30

In section 226 (application for review of financial terms in consequence of new obligations), in subsection (1)—

(a)

after paragraph (a) insert “or”;

(b)

omit paragraph (c) and the “or” before it.

31

In section 227 (reviews under sections 225 and 226), in subsection (7), omit paragraph (b) and the “and” before it.

32

(1)

Section 229 (report in anticipation of new licensing round) is amended as follows.

(2)

In subsection (2), for “the purposes of public service television broadcasting in the United Kingdom” substitute “the public service remit for television in the United Kingdom”.

(3)

In subsection (6), in the definition of “relevant licence”—

(a)

after paragraph (a) insert “or”;

(b)

omit paragraph (c) and the “or” before it.

33

In section 233 (services that are not television licensable content services), in subsection (2), omit paragraph (b) (but not the “or” following it).

34

In section 241 (television multiplex services), omit subsection (9)(f).

35

In section 243 (powers where frequencies reserved for qualifying services), omit subsection (7)(e).

36

(1)

Section 263 (application of regulatory regimes) is amended as follows.

(2)

In subsection (2)—

(a)

omit “, in relation to the licensed service,”;

(b)

for “that service” substitute “that holder’s licensed service”.

(3)

In subsection (3)(a), for “4, for Channel 5 or for the public teletext service” substitute “4 or for Channel 5”.

37

In section 264 (OFCOM reports on the fulfilment of the public service remit)—

(a)

in subsection (9)(a), omit “or service”;

(b)

in subsection (12)—

(i)

in paragraph (b), at the end insert “and”;

(ii)

omit paragraph (d) and the “and” before it.

38

In section 265 (public service remits of licensed providers)—

(a)

in subsection (1)—

(i)

omit “, and for the public teletext service,”;

(ii)

omit (in both places it occurs) “or service”;

(b)

omit subsections (4) and (5).

39

Omit section 268 (statement of service policy by the public teletext provider).

40

Omit section 269 (changes of public teletext service policy).

41

(1)

Section 270 (enforcement of public service remits) is amended as follows.

(2)

In subsection (1)—

(a)

omit “or the public teletext provider”;

(b)

in paragraph (a), omit “or the public teletext service”.

(3)

In subsection (3)(b)—

(a)

omit “or statements of service policy”;

(b)

omit “or 268”.

(4)

In subsection (4)(a), omit “, or statement of service policy,”.

(5)

In subsection (6)—

(a)

in paragraph (a), omit “or the public teletext provider”;

(b)

in paragraph (b), omit “or service”.

(6)

In subsection (7)—

(a)

in paragraph (a), for “269” substitute “267”;

(b)

in paragraph (b)(i), for “service” substitute “channel”.

(7)

In subsection (8)(a)—

(a)

for “269” substitute “267”;

(b)

for “service” substitute “channel”.

(8)

Omit subsection (10).

42

In section 271 (power to amend public service remits), in subsection (1)(a), omit “or for the public teletext service”.

43

In section 272 (must-offer obligations in relation to networks), omit subsection (1)(b) (but not the “and” following it).

44

In section 273 (must-offer obligations in relation to satellite services), omit subsection (1)(b) (but not the “and” following it).

45

In section 274 (securing reception of must-provide services in certain areas), omit subsection (1)(b) (but not the “and” following it).

46

In section 275 (must-provide services for the purposes of section 274), omit subsection (1)(f).

47

Omit section 276 (cooperation with the public teletext provider).

48

Omit section 284 (news provision on the public teletext service).

49

Omit section 289 (regional matters in the public teletext service).

50

Omit section 298 (conditions prohibiting interference with other services) and the italic heading before it.

51

Omit section 300 (effects of categorisation of listed events into Group A and Group B).

52

In section 301 (the code under section 104 of the Broadcasting Act 1996), omit subsection (2).

53

Omit section 308 (assistance for the visually impaired with the public teletext service).

54

In section 310 (code of practice for electronic programme guides), omit subsection (4)(f).

55

In section 322 (supplementary powers relating to advertising), in subsection (1)—

(a)

omit paragraph (b);

(b)

in paragraph (c), omit “other”.

56

In section 324 (setting and publication of standards), omit subsection (12)(a)(ii) (but not the “or” following it).

57

In section 335 (conditions securing compliance with international obligations), omit subsection (3)(d).

58

(1)

Section 351 (changes of control of Channel 3 services) is amended as follows.

(2)

In subsection (4)—

(a)

omit paragraph (a)(i);

(b)

after paragraph (a) insert—

“(aa)

the extent to which the qualifying audiovisual content made available by the provider of the service includes a range of original productions and the duration (in total) of those productions;”;

(c)

in paragraph (b), for “programmes of each of those descriptions” substitute “news programmes, current affairs programmes and original productions”.

(3)

In subsection (5)—

(a)

for paragraph (a) substitute—

“(aa)

the extent to which the qualifying audiovisual content made in the United Kingdom that is made available by the provider of the service includes a range of Channel 3 programmes made outside the M25 area and the duration (in total) of those programmes;”;

(b)

omit paragraph (b).

(4)

In subsection (6), in paragraph (c), for the words from “for the purposes of” to the end of the paragraph substitute “for the purposes of networking arrangements.”

59

(1)

Section 353 (changes of control of Channel 5) is amended as follows.

(2)

In subsection (4)—

(a)

omit paragraph (a)(i);

(b)

after paragraph (a) insert—

“(aa)

the extent to which the qualifying audiovisual content made available by the provider of Channel 5 includes a range of original productions and the duration (in total) of those productions;”;

(c)

in paragraph (b), for “programmes of each of those descriptions” substitute “news programmes, current affairs programmes and original productions”.

(3)

In subsection (5)—

(a)

for paragraph (a) substitute—

“(a)

the extent to which the qualifying audiovisual content made in the United Kingdom that is made available by the provider of Channel 5 includes a range of programmes made outside the M25 area and the duration (in total) of those programmes;”;

(b)

omit paragraph (b).

60

(1)

Section 362 (interpretation of Part 3) is amended as follows.

(2)

In subsection (1), at the appropriate place insert—

““audiovisual content”, in relation to a relevant audiovisual service, has the meaning given by section 264;”;

““qualifying audiovisual content” has the meaning given by section 278B (and references to making available qualifying audiovisual content are to be construed in accordance with that section);”;

““qualifying audiovisual service” has the meaning given by section 278B;”;

““relevant audiovisual service” has the meaning given by section 264;”.

(3)

In subsection (1), omit the definitions of—

“analogue teletext service”;

“the digital public teletext service”;

“the public teletext provider”;

“the public teletext service”.

(4)

In subsection (2), omit paragraph (b) (public teletext service).

61

In section 405 (general interpretation), in subsection (1)—

(a)

in the definition of “programme service”, omit paragraph (b) (the public teletext service);

(b)

omit the definition of “purposes of public service television broadcasting”;

(c)

at the appropriate place insert—

““the public service remit for television in the United Kingdom” has the meaning given by section 264;”.

62

In Schedule 9 (arrangements about carrying on of C4C’s activities), in paragraph 1 (notification of requirement to submit proposals), in sub-paragraph (1), after paragraph (aa) (and before the “and” following it) insert—

“(ab)

as soon as practicable after the day on which section 3 of the Media Act 2024 comes into force,”.

63

Omit Schedule 10 (licensing the public teletext service).

64

In Schedule 12 (corresponding obligations of the BBC and Welsh Authority), omit paragraph 11 (co-operation with the public teletext provider) and the italic heading before it.

65

In Schedule 18 (transitional provisions), in paragraph 51 (listed events rules), omit sub-paragraphs (4) and (5).

Digital Economy Act 2010

66

In the Digital Economy Act 2010, omit sections 27 and 28 (public teletext service).