Section 231: Replacement of Channel 4 licence
521.When subsection (1) comes into force, Channel 4 shall be granted a new licence under this section. Its licence granted under section 24(3) of the Broadcasting Act 1990 shall no longer apply. In advance of this, OFCOM must prepare a draft replacement licence and consult the Channel Four Television Corporation on its contents. The replacement licence must provide for the service to be broadcast digitally and may provide that the service is also to be provided in analogue form until such time as is determined according to conditions in the licence giving effect to the Secretary of State’s directions as to how long the service must continue to be provided in analogue form. The programming of the analogue service should replicate that of the digital service, or such part of it as is specified by the licence conditions included under subsection (3)(b). There can be no charge levied for the use of such a service or for any assistance for disabled people or for other ancillary services included in the service.
522.Subsection (6) provides that such a replacement licence must continue in force until the end of 2014. The licence may be renewed as OFCOM think fit.