Section 287: Regional programmes on Channel 3
613.OFCOM are to include in national, regional and local Channel 3 licences conditions to secure that the areas served by the licensee are provided with programmes appropriate to the area concerned. In relation to regional and national services, the objectives to be secured are set out in subsections (1) and (4), respectively, and include ensuring that a sufficient amount of time is given in the service to regional programmes, including news programmes, which are of high quality, that a suitable proportion of regional programmes included in the service consists of programmes made in the relevant regional area and that a sufficient proportion of such programmes are broadcast at or around peak time.
*“regional programme” is defined in subsection (8) as - in relation to a regional Channel 3 service – a programme included in that service as being of particular interest to persons within the area covered by the service or - in relation to a national Channel 3 service – as being of particular interest to persons within a particular area of the United Kingdom.
614.In this section, a Channel 3 service is a local service if it is required to provide programmes for specific areas or specific communities within that region (subsection (7)). In the case of a local service, OFCOM may include conditions requiring that a sufficient amount of time is given in the service to an appropriate range of local programmes, including news programmes, which are of high quality; that a sufficient proportion of such programmes are broadcast at or around peak time; and that an adequate proportion of such programmes have been produced in the relevant locality.
*“local programme” is defined in subsection (7) as a programme included in a regional Channel 3 service for part of an area, or for a particular community.
615.Before including a licence condition in this respect OFCOM must consult the licence holder on whom it is to be imposed.
