Broadcasting Act 1981

36 Television and sound broadcasting to be separately financed by Authority. U.K.

(1) The provision by the Authority of television broadcasting services, and the provision by them of local sound broadcasting services, shall for financial purposes constitute separate branches of their undertaking; and references in this Act to a branch of the Authority’s undertaking shall be construed accordingly.

(2) For each branch of their undertaking it shall be the duty of the Authority so to conduct their affairs as to secure that their revenues from that branch become at the earliest possible date, and thereafter continue, at least sufficient—

(a) to meet all sums properly chargeable to revenue account in respect of that branch of their undertaking (including sums which, for the purposes of that branch, are required for the repayment of loans and interest thereon, for provision for depreciation and for the establishment and maintenance of the reserve fund for that branch); and

(b) to make provision towards, and as soon as practicable for, necessary capital expenditure for the purposes of that branch of their undertaking.

(3) For each branch of their undertaking the Authority shall establish and maintain a reserve fund; and, subject to the following provisions of this section, the management of that fund, the sums to be carried from time to time to the credit of the fund, and the application of the fund, shall be as the Authority may determine.

(4) No part of either of those funds shall be applied otherwise than for the purposes of the branch of the Authority’s undertaking for which the fund was established.

(5) The Secretary of State may, with the approval of the Treasury, give to the Authority such directions as he may think fit as to any matter relating to the establishment or management of either of those funds, to the carrying of sums to the credit thereof, or to the application thereof; and the Authority shall comply with the directions.