Communications Act 2003 Explanatory Notes

Section 358: Annual factual and statistical report

755.OFCOM are under a duty to carry out a review of the provision of the television and radio programmes in the United Kingdom and to prepare and publish a factual and statistical report setting out their findings twelve months after the commencement of this section and annually thereafter. In carrying out the review, OFCOM must consider each of the matters listed in subsection (3). These include: the extent to which television and radio programmes are representative of the principal genres of such programmes; the extent to which OFCOM’s codes relating to, for example, provision for the deaf and visually impaired, listed events and fairness have been complied with; trends in audience behaviour; the financial condition of the television and radio programme market(s); the operation of the independent productions quota in section 277 and paragraphs 1 and 7 of Schedule 12; relevant intellectual property matters that have been significant during the period; technological developments; the availability of people with skills used to provide television and radio services and programmes; and the availability of facilities for the provision of and training in such skills. OFCOM’s duty under this section is in addition to their duty to prepare a report on the current state of public service television broadcasting under section 264.

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