Appendix 7: Communications Act 2003
Extract from the Communications Act 2003 relating to public service broadcasting
264 OFCOM reports on the fulfilment of the public service remit
(4) The purposes of public service television broadcasting in the United Kingdom are—
(a)the provision of relevant television services which secure that programmes dealing with a wide range of subject-matters are made available for viewing;
(b)the provision of relevant television services in a manner which (having regard to the days on which they are shown and the times of day at which they are shown) is likely to meet the needs and satisfy the interests of as many different audiences as practicable;
(c)the provision of relevant television services which (taken together and having regard to the same matters) are properly balanced, so far as their nature and subject-matters are concerned, for meeting the needs and satisfying the interests of the available audiences; and
(d)the provision of relevant television services which (taken together) maintain high general standards with respect to the programmes included in them, and, in particular with respect to—
(i)the contents of the programmes;
(ii)the quality of the programme making; and
(iii)the professional skill and editorial integrity applied in the making of the programmes.
(5) When—
(a)determining the extent to which any of the purposes of public service television broadcasting in the United Kingdom are fulfilled, and
(b)reviewing and reporting on that matter, OFCOM must have regard to the desirability of those purposes being fulfilled in a manner that is compatible with subsection (6).
(6) A manner of fulfilling the purposes of public service television broadcasting in the United Kingdom is compatible with this subsection if it ensures—
(a)that the relevant television services (taken together) comprise a public service for the dissemination of information and for the provision of education and entertainment;
(b)that cultural activity in the United Kingdom, and its diversity, are reflected, supported and stimulated by the representation in those services (taken together) of drama, comedy and music, by the inclusion of feature films in those services and by the treatment of other visual and performing arts;
(c)that those services (taken together) provide, to the extent that is appropriate for facilitating civic understanding and fair and well informed debate on news and current affairs, a comprehensive and authoritative coverage of news and current affairs in, and in the different parts of, the United Kingdom and from around the world;
(d)that those services (taken together) satisfy a wide range of different sporting and other leisure interests;
(e)that those services (taken together) include what appears to OFCOM to be a suitable quantity and range of programmes on educational matters, of programmes of an educational nature and of other programmes of educative value;
(f)that those services (taken together) include what appears to OFCOM to be a suitable quantity and range of programmes dealing with each of the following, science, religion and other beliefs, social issues, matters of international significance or interest and matters of specialist interest;
(g)that the programmes included in those services that deal with religion and other beliefs include—
(i)programmes providing news and other information about different religions and other beliefs;
(ii)programmes about the history of different religions and other beliefs; and
(iii)programmes showing acts of worship and other ceremonies and practices (including some showing acts of worship and other ceremonies in their entirety);
(h)that those services (taken together) include what appears to OFCOM to be a suitable quantity and range of high quality and original programmes for children and young people;
(i)that those services (taken together) include what appears to OFCOM to be a sufficient quantity of programmes that reflect the lives and concerns of different communities and cultural interests and traditions within the United Kingdom, and locally in different parts of the United Kingdom;
(j)that those services (taken together), so far as they include programmes made in the United Kingdom, include what appears to OFCOM to be an appropriate range and proportion of programmes made outside the M25 area.