Communications Act 2003

Communications Act 2003

2003 CHAPTER 21

Commentary on Sections

Part 3: Television and Radio Services

Chapter 2: Regulatory Structure for Independent Television Services

Section 233: Services that are not television licensable content services

526. This section sets out the services that are excluded from the definition of a television licensable content service in section 232. A service is not a television content service licence if it is broadcast by means of a multiplex service or to the extent that it consists of a service which is authorised by a licence to provide a television broadcasting service, the licence to provide the public teletext service or a licence to provide additional television services. Nor does it meet the description of a television licensable content service if it forms part only of a service provided by means of an electronic communications service or is one of a number of services that may be accessed through such a service where the purpose of the service provided by these means is not wholly or mainly to make available television and/or radio programmes for reception by members of the public. A service is also excluded if it is a two-way service (as defined in the previous section). The aim of these provisions is, broadly, to maintain licensing obligations in respect of services which are or equate to broadcasting while excluding Internet services, such as web sites or web-casting, from OFCOM’s regulatory powers. The effect of subsection (3) is to exclude not only any website material provided as part of another service (for example, a website which is accessed via an ISP which also provides its own in-house content) but also material provided from a stand alone site, whether it be text, web-cast or video images. Subsection (6) also excludes a service that is distributed to a single set of premises by an electronic communications network that is contained within the premises and is not connected to any external network. Subsections (7) and (8) exclude a service that is provided for the purpose only of being received by persons who have an interest in receiving the service for use in their business or employment, such as stockbrokers or bookmakers.