Part 3

Television and Radio Services ETC
Chapter 5

Media ownership and control

Restrictions on licence holders

Modification of disqualification provisions
348
1
In Part 2 of Schedule 2 to the 1990 Act (disqualification from holding licences), paragraphs (a) and (b) of paragraph 1(1) (individuals and bodies from outside the member States) shall cease to have effect.
2
In sub-paragraph (1) of paragraph 2 of that Part (disqualification of religious bodies etc.), for the words before paragraph (a) there shall be substituted—
2
1
The following persons are disqualified persons in relation only to licences falling within sub-paragraph (1A)—
.
3
For sub-paragraphs (2) and (3) of that paragraph there shall be substituted—
1A
A licence falls within this sub-paragraph if it is—
a
a Channel 3 licence;
b
a Channel 5 licence;
c
a national sound broadcasting licence;
d
a public teletext licence;
e
an additional television service licence;
f
a television multiplex licence; or
g
a radio multiplex licence.
1B
In this paragraph—
“additional television service licence” means a licence under Part 1 of this Act to provide an additional television service within the meaning of Part 3 of the Communications Act 2003;
“Channel 3 licence” and “Channel 5 licence” each has the same meaning as in Part 1 of this Act;
“national sound broadcasting licence” means a licence to provide a sound broadcasting service (within the meaning of Part 3 of this Act) which is a national service (within the meaning of that Part);
“public teletext licence” means a licence to provide the public teletext service (within the meaning of Part 3 of the Communications Act 2003);
“radio multiplex licence” means a licence under Part 2 of the Broadcasting Act 1996 to provide a radio multiplex service within the meaning of that Part; and
“television multiplex licence” means a licence under Part 1 of the Broadcasting Act 1996 to provide a multiplex service within the meaning of that Part.
4
In paragraph 4(2)(b) of that Part (bodies that are relevant bodies for the purposes of general disqualification on grounds of undue influence) for “as mentioned in paragraph (a)(i) or (ii) above” there shall be substituted—
i
by a person falling within paragraph 1(1)(c) to (g) above;
ii
by a person falling within paragraph 3 above; or
iii
by two or more persons taken together each of whom falls within sub-paragraph (i) or (ii) (whether or not they all fall within the same sub-paragraph).
5
The Secretary of State may by order make provision—
a
for repealing paragraph 2 of Part 2 of Schedule 2 to the 1990 Act; or
b
for making such other modifications of that paragraph and any enactment referring to it as he thinks fit.
6
Before making an order under subsection (5) (other than one that is confined to giving effect to recommendations made by OFCOM in a report of a review under section 391), the Secretary of State must consult OFCOM.
7
No order is to be made containing provision authorised by subsection (5) unless a draft of the order has been laid before Parliament and approved by a resolution of each House.

Licence holding by local authorities
349
1
In Part 2 of Schedule 2 to the 1990 Act (disqualification from holding licences), in paragraph 1 (which includes a disqualification for local authorities)—
a
in sub-paragraph (1), for “sub-paragraph (2)” there shall be substituted “ sub-paragraph (1A) ”; and
b
after that sub-paragraph there shall be inserted—
1A
Where a service is provided exclusively for the purposes of the carrying out of the functions of a local authority under section 142 of the Local Government Act 1972 (provision by local authorities of information relating to their activities), a person is disqualified by virtue of sub-paragraph (1) in relation to a licence to provide that service only if he would be so disqualified disregarding paragraph (c) of that sub-paragraph.
2
In section 142 of the Local Government Act 1972 (c. 70)
(provision by local authorities of information relating to their activities), after subsection (1A) there shall be inserted—
1AA
A local authority may—
a
for the purpose of broadcasting or distributing information falling within subsection (1AB), provide an electronic communications network or electronic communications service, or
b
arrange with the provider of such a network or service for the broadcasting or distribution of such information by means of the network or service.
1AB
Information falls within this subsection, in relation to a local authority, if it is one or both of the following—
a
information concerning the services within the area of the authority that are provided either by the authority themselves or by other authorities mentioned in subsection (1B) below;
b
information relating to the functions of the authority.
1AC
Nothing in subsection (1AA) entitles a local authority to do anything in contravention of a requirement or restriction imposed by or under—
a
the Wireless Telegraphy Act 1949,
b
the Broadcasting Act 1990,
c
the Broadcasting Act 1996, or
d
the Communications Act 2003,
and in that subsection “electronic communications network” and “electronic communications service” each has the same meaning as in the Communications Act 2003.
3
In section 2(1) of the Local Government Act 1986 (c. 10)
(restriction on publication by a local authority of material designed to affect support for a political party), after “publish” there shall be inserted “ , or arrange for the publication of, ”.

Relaxation of licence-holding restrictions
350
1
Parts 3 to 5 of Schedule 2 to the 1990 Act (restrictions on accumulations of interests and on licence holding by newspaper proprietors and public telecommunications providers) shall cease to have effect.
2
In each of sections 5 and 88 of the 1990 Act and of sections 5 and 44 of the 1996 Act (under which the provisions of Schedule 2 to the 1990 Act are given effect), for paragraph (b) of subsection (1) there shall be substituted—
b
that a person does not become the holder of a licence if requirements imposed by or under Schedule 14 to the Communications Act 2003 would be contravened were he to do so; and
c
that those requirements are not contravened in the case of a person who already holds a licence.
3
Schedule 14 (which provides for the imposition of requirements which, in the case of Channel 3 services and certain radio services, replace those imposed by or under Parts 3 and 4 of Schedule 2 to the 1990 Act and requires approval for the holding of certain licences by religious bodies etc.) shall have effect.
4
The Secretary of State must not by order under section 411 appoint a day falling before the commencement day for paragraph 11 of Schedule 14 as the day for the coming into force of the repeal by this Act of any of the provisions of Parts 3 and 4 of Schedule 2 to the 1990 Act so far as they relate to the holding of licences for the provision of any local services (within the meaning of Part 3 of that Act).
5
The Secretary of State must not by order under section 411 appoint a day falling before the commencement day for paragraph 12 of Schedule 14 as the day for the coming into force of the repeal by this Act of any of the provisions of Parts 3 and 4 of Schedule 2 to the 1990 Act so far as they relate to the holding of local digital sound programme licences or the provision of local digital sound programme services.
6
In this section “the commencement day”, in relation paragraph 11 or 12 of Schedule 14, means the day on which the first order to be made under that paragraph comes into force.

Changes of control

Changes of control of Channel 3 services
351
1
The regulatory regime for every Channel 3 service provided by a body corporate includes—
a
a condition requiring the licence holder to give OFCOM advance notification of any proposals known to the body that may give rise to a relevant change of control; and
b
a condition requiring the licence holder to provide OFCOM, in such manner and at such times as they may reasonably require, with such information as they consider necessary for the purposes of exercising their functions under this section and section 352.
2
OFCOM must carry out a review where—
a
they receive notification, in accordance with a condition of a Channel 3 licence, of proposals that may give rise to a relevant change of control; or
b
a relevant change of control takes place (whether or not that change has been previously notified to OFCOM).
3
The review shall be a review of the effects or likely effects, in relation to the matters mentioned in subsections (4) to (7), of—
a
the change to which the proposals may give rise; or
b
the change that has taken place.
4
The matters mentioned in this subsection are—
a
the extent to which time available for broadcasting programmes included in the service is allocated to programmes of each of the following descriptions—
i
original productions;
ii
news programmes; and
iii
current affairs programmes;
b
the extent to which programmes of each of those descriptions that are included in the service are broadcast at peak viewing times.
5
The matters mentioned in this subsection are—
a
the extent to which Channel 3 programmes made in the United Kingdom that are included in the service are programmes made outside the M25 area;
b
the range of Channel 3 programmes made in the United Kingdom outside that area that are included in the service;
c
the extent to which the expenditure of the provider of the service on Channel 3 programmes is referable to programme production at different production centres outside the M25 area;
d
the range of different such production centres to which that expenditure is referable.
6
The matters mentioned in this subsection are—
a
the quality and range of regional programmes included in the service;
b
the quality and range of other programmes included in the service which contribute to the regional character of the service;
c
the quality and range of the programmes made available by the licence holder for the purposes of inclusion in the nationwide system of services referred to in section 14(1) of the 1990 Act (nationwide Channel 3 service).
7
The matters mentioned in this subsection are—
a
the amount of time given, in the programmes included in the service—
i
to regional programmes; and
ii
to programmes included in the service which contribute to the regional character of the service;
b
the proportion of regional programmes included in the service which are made within the area for which the service is provided;
c
the extent of the use, in connection with the service, of the services of persons employed (whether by the licence holder or any other person) within that area;
d
the extent to which managerial or editorial decisions relating to programmes to be included in the service are taken by persons so employed within that area.
8
In relation to a national Channel 3 service, subsections (3) to (7) have effect as if—
a
subsection (5) applied only where the service is subject to conditions imposed by virtue of a decision of OFCOM under section 286(2) or OFCOM otherwise consider, having regard to the nature of the service, that it is appropriate to consider the matters mentioned in that subsection;
b
references to regional programmes were references to programmes which are regional programmes (within the meaning of section 287) in relation to that service and are included in it in accordance with a condition imposed under subsection (4)(a) of that section;
c
references to the regional character of the service were references to the regional character of parts of the service;
d
subsection (6)(c) of this section were omitted; and
e
references, in relation to programmes such as are mentioned in paragraph (b), to the area for which the service is provided were references to the part of that area where the people are living to whom those programmes are likely to be of particular interest.
9
Where OFCOM carry out a review under subsection (2), they must publish a report of that review—
a
setting out their conclusions; and
b
specifying any steps which they propose to take under section 352.
10
In this section—
- “Channel 3 programmes” and “expenditure” each has the same meaning as in section 286;
- “original production” has the same meaning as in section 278;
- “peak viewing time”—
  1. in relation to original productions, means a time determined by OFCOM for the purposes of section 278 to be a peak viewing time for the service in question; and
  2. in relation to news programmes or current affairs programmes, means a time so determined for the purposes of section 279;
- “regional programme”, in relation to a Channel 3 service, means (subject to subsection (8)) a programme (including a news programme) which is of particular interest—
  1. to persons living within the area for which the service is provided;
  2. to persons living within a part of that area; or
  3. to particular communities living within that area;
- “relevant change of control” means a change in the persons having control over—
  1. a body holding the licence to provide a Channel 3 service; or
  2. any body which—
    1. is connected with a body holding such a licence; and
    2. is involved, to a substantial extent, in the provision of the programmes included in the service provided under that licence, or is likely to become so involved.
11
Expressions used in this section and in Part 1 of Schedule 2 to the 1990 Act (restrictions on licence holders) have the same meanings in this section as in that Part.

Action following review under s. 351
352
1
If, on a review under subsection (2) of section 351, it appears to OFCOM that the relevant change of control is or would be prejudicial to one or more of the matters mentioned in subsections (4) to (6) of that section, they shall vary the licence in accordance with subsection (2).
2
The variation—
a
must be made with a view to ensuring that the relevant change of control is not prejudicial to any of the matters so mentioned; and
b
must be a variation for the inclusion in the licence of such conditions relating to any of those matters as they consider appropriate.
3
If it appears to OFCOM, having regard to the matters mentioned in subsection (7) of section 351—
a
that the proposed change of control would be prejudicial to the regional character of the service or (as the case may be) of any parts of it, or
b
that the actual change of control is so prejudicial,
they may vary the licence so as to include in it such conditions relating to any of those matters as they consider appropriate.
4
Subject to subsection (5), any new or varied condition imposed under this section in relation to any matter may be more onerous than the conditions relating to that matter having effect before the relevant change of control.
5
A variation under this section must not provide for the inclusion of a new or varied condition in a licence unless the new condition, or the condition as varied, is one which (with any necessary modifications) would have been satisfied by the licence holder throughout the twelve months immediately before the relevant date.
6
In subsection (5)
“the relevant date” is the date of the relevant change of control or, if earlier, the date on which OFCOM exercise their powers under this section.
7
A variation of a licence under this section shall be effected by the service of a notice of the variation on the licence holder.
8
OFCOM are not to serve a notice of a variation under this section unless they have given the body on whom it is served a reasonable opportunity, after the publication of the report of the review under section 351, of making representations to them about the variation.
9
Where, in a case of a proposed change of control, a notice varying a licence under this section is served before the change to which it relates takes place, the variation is not to take effect until the change takes place.
10
A condition included in a licence by a variation under this section may be further varied by OFCOM either—
a
with the consent of the licence holder; or
b
in any other case, after complying with the requirements of section 3(4)(b) of the 1990 Act (variation after giving opportunity for representations by the licence holder).
11
Expressions used in this section and section 351 have the same meanings in this section as in that.

Changes of control of Channel 5
353
1
The regulatory regime for Channel 5 includes, in every case where it is provided by a body corporate—
a
a condition requiring the licence holder to give OFCOM advance notification of any proposals known to the body that may give rise to a relevant change of control; and
b
a condition requiring the licence holder to provide OFCOM, in such manner and at such times as they may reasonably require, with such information as they consider necessary for the purposes of exercising their functions under this section and section 354.
2
OFCOM must carry out a review where—
a
they receive notification, in accordance with a condition of the licence to provide Channel 5, of proposals that may give rise to a relevant change of control; or
b
a relevant change of control takes place (whether or not that change has been previously notified to OFCOM).
3
The review shall be a review of the effects or likely effects, in relation to the matters mentioned in subsections (4) and (5), of—
a
the change to which the proposals may give rise; or
b
the change that has taken place.
4
The matters mentioned in this subsection are—
a
the extent to which time available for broadcasting programmes included in Channel 5 is allocated to programmes of each of the following descriptions—
i
original productions;
ii
news programmes; and
iii
current affairs programmes;
b
the extent to which programmes of each of those descriptions that are included in that Channel are broadcast at peak viewing times.
5
The matters mentioned in this subsection are—
a
the extent to which programmes made in the United Kingdom that are included in the service are programmes made outside the M25 area;
b
the range of programmes made in the United Kingdom outside that area that are included in Channel 5;
c
the extent to which the expenditure of the provider of Channel 5 on programmes made in the United Kingdom is referable to programme production at different production centres outside the M25 area;
d
the range of different such production centres to which that expenditure is referable.
6
Where OFCOM carry out a review under subsection (2), they must publish a report of that review—
a
setting out their conclusions; and
b
specifying any steps which they propose to take under section 354.
7
In this section—
- “expenditure”, in relation to a programme, means—
  1. expenditure which constitutes an investment in or is otherwise attributable to the making of the programme; or
  2. expenditure on the commissioning or other acquisition of the programme or on the acquisition of a right to include it in a service or to have it broadcast;
- “original production” has the same meaning as in section 278;
- “peak viewing time”—
  1. in relation to original productions, means a time determined by OFCOM for the purposes of section 278 to be a peak viewing time for Channel 5; and
  2. in relation to news programmes or current affairs programmes, means a time so determined for the purposes of section 279;
- “relevant change of control” means a change in the persons having control over—
  1. a body holding a licence to provide Channel 5; or
  2. any body which—
    1. is connected with a body holding such a licence; and
    2. is involved, to a substantial extent, in the provision of the programmes included in that channel, or is likely to become so involved.
8
Expressions used in this section and in Part 1 of Schedule 2 to the 1990 Act (restrictions on licence holders) have the same meanings in this section as in that Part.

Action following review under s. 353
354
1
If, on a review under subsection (2) of section 353, it appears to OFCOM that the relevant change of control is or would be prejudicial to one or more of the matters mentioned in subsections (4) and (5) of that section, they shall vary the licence in accordance with subsection (2).
2
The variation—
a
must be made with a view to ensuring that the relevant change of control is not prejudicial to any of the matters so mentioned; and
b
must be a variation for the inclusion in the licence of such conditions relating to any of those matters as they consider appropriate.
3
Subject to subsection (4), any new or varied condition imposed under this section in relation to any matter may be more onerous than the conditions relating to that matter having effect before the relevant change of control.
4
A variation under this section must not provide for the inclusion of a new or varied condition in a licence unless the new condition, or the condition as varied, is one which (with any necessary modifications) would have been satisfied by the licence holder throughout the twelve months immediately before the relevant date.
5
In subsection (4)
“the relevant date” is the date of the relevant change of control or, if earlier, the date on which OFCOM exercise their powers under this section.
6
A variation of a licence under this section shall be effected by the service of a notice of the variation on the licence holder.
7
OFCOM are not to serve a notice of a variation under this section unless they have given the body on whom it is served a reasonable opportunity, after the publication of the report of the review under section 353, of making representations to them about the variation.
8
Where, in a case of a proposed change of control, a notice varying a licence under this section is served before the change to which it relates takes place, the variation is not to take effect until the change takes place.
9
A condition included in a licence by a variation under this section may be further varied by OFCOM either—
a
with the consent of the licence holder; or
b
in any other case, after complying with the requirements of section 3(4)(b) of the 1990 Act (variation after giving opportunity for representations by the licence holder).
10
Expressions used in this section and section 353 have the same meanings in this section as in that.

Variation of local licence following change of control
355. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Action following review under s. 355
356. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Meaning of control

Meaning of “control”
357
1
In paragraph 1(3)(b) of Part 1 of Schedule 2 to the 1990 Act (control where a person will be able, without having at least a 50 per cent. interest in it, to have the affairs of a body conducted in accordance with his wishes)—
a
for “will be able” there shall be substituted “ would (if he chose to) be able in most cases or in significant respects ”; and
b
for “the affairs” there shall be substituted “ affairs ”.
2
It shall be the duty of OFCOM to publish guidance setting out their intentions concerning the inclusion of particular matters in the matters that they will take into account when determining whether a person has control of a body, within the meaning of paragraph 1(3)(b) of Part 1 of Schedule 2 to the 1990 Act.
3
OFCOM may from time to time revise the guidance issued by them under this section.
4
OFCOM must publish the guidance and, where they revise it, the revised guidance in such manner as they consider appropriate for bringing it to the attention of the persons who, in their opinion, are likely to be affected by it.
S. 351(1)-(3) (4)(a)(ii) (iii) (b) (5)-(9) (11) in force at 29.12.2003 by S.I. 2003/3142, art. 3(1), Sch. 1 (with art. 11)
S. 348 in force at 29.12.2003 by S.I. 2003/3142, art. 3(1), Sch. 1 (with art. 11)
S. 350(3) in force at 29.12.2003 in so far as not already in force by S.I. 2003/3142, art. 3(1), Sch. 1 (with art. 11)
S. 353(7) in force at 1.7.2004 in so far as not already in force by S.I. 2003/3142, art. 4(4)(b) (with art. 11) (as amended (4.3.2004) by S.I. 2004/545, art. 2(2)(3)(a))
S. 350(1) (2) (4)-(6) in force at 29.12.2003 by S.I. 2003/3142, art. 3(1), Sch. 1 (with art. 11)
Word in Pt. 3 inserted (8.6.2010) by Digital Economy Act 2010 (c. 24), ss. 22(4), 47(1)
S. 351(10) in force at 29.12.2003 for specified purposes by S.I. 2003/3142, art. 3(1), Sch. 1 (with art. 11)
Pt. 3 applied (with modifications) (14.2.2012) by The Local Digital Television Programme Services Order 2012 (S.I. 2012/292), arts. 1, 4, Sch. Pt. 2
S. 354 in force at 29.12.2003 by S.I. 2003/3142, art. 3(1), Sch. 1 (with art. 11)
S. 355 omitted (17.10.2024) by virtue of Media Act 2024 (c. 15), ss. 43(4), 55(3)(e); S.I. 2024/1033, reg. 3(c) (with reg. 5(1))
S. 352 in force at 29.12.2003 by S.I. 2003/3142, art. 3(1), Sch. 1 (with art. 11)
S. 349 in force at 29.12.2003 by S.I. 2003/3142, art. 3(1), Sch. 1 (with art. 11)
S. 350(3) in force at 18.9.2003 for specified purposes by S.I. 2003/1900, art. 2(2), Sch. 2
S. 353(7) in force at 29.12.2003 for specified purposes by S.I. 2003/3142, art. 3(1), Sch. 1 (with art. 11)
S. 353(4)(a)(i) in force at 1.7.2004 by S.I. 2003/3142, art. 4(4)(b) (with art. 11) (as amended (4.3.2004) by S.I. 2004/545, art. 2(2)(3)(a))
S. 357 in force at 29.12.2003 by S.I. 2003/3142, art. 3(1), Sch. 1 (with art. 11)
S. 353(1)-(3) (4)(a)(ii) (iii) (b) (5) (6) (8) in force at 29.12.2003 by S.I. 2003/3142, art. 3(1), Sch. 1 (with art. 11)
S. 356 omitted (17.10.2024) by virtue of Media Act 2024 (c. 15), ss. 43(4), 55(3)(e); S.I. 2024/1033, reg. 3(c) (with reg. 5(1))
S. 348(2) (3) (5)-(7) in force at 18.9.2003 by S.I. 2003/1900, art. 2(2), Sch. 2 (with art. 5)
S. 351(10) in force at 1.7.2004 in so far as not already in force by S.I. 2003/3142, art. 4(4)(b) (with art. 11) (as amended (4.3.2004) by S.I. 2004/545, art. 2(2)(3)(a))
S. 351(4)(a)(i) in force at 1.7.2004 by S.I. 2003/3142, art. 4(4)(b) (with art. 11) (as amended (4.3.2004) by S.I. 2004/545, art. 2(2)(3)(a))
Pt. 3: amendment to earlier affecting provision S.I. 2012/292, Sch. Pt. 2 (12.7.2012) by The Broadcasting (Local Digital Television Programme Services and Independent Productions) (Amendment) Order 2012 (S.I. 2012/1842), art. 4
Pt. 3 modified (1.4.2025) by The Community Radio Order 2025 (S.I. 2025/160), arts. 1(2), 4, Sch. (with art. 8)