Broadcasting Act 1990

Chapter VI U.K. Television Broadcasting by Welsh Authority

56 Welsh Authority to continue in existence as Sianel Pedwar Cymru. U.K.

(1) The authority which at the commencement of this section is called the Welsh Fourth Channel Authority shall continue in existence as a body corporate but—

(a) shall be known as Sianel Pedwar Cymru (or S4C); and

(b) shall be constituted in accordance with, and have the functions conferred by, this Act;

and in this Act references to the Welsh Authority are references to that authority.

(2) The Welsh Authority shall consist of—

(a) a chairman appointed by the Secretary of State; and

(b) such number of other members appointed by the Secretary of State, not being less than four nor more than eight, as he may from time to time determine.

(3) Schedule 6 to this Act shall have effect with respect to the Welsh Authority.

57 Function and duties of Welsh Authority. U.K.

(1) The function of the Welsh Authority shall be to provide a television broadcasting service of high quality for reception wholly or mainly in Wales to be known as Sianel Pedwar Cymru (or S4C); and in this Part references to S4C are references to that service.

[F1 (1A) The Welsh Authority shall also have power—

(a) (subject to and in accordance with Part I of the Broadcasting Act 1996) to provide a further service as a qualifying service (within the meaning of that Part), and to arrange for the broadcasting of that service in digital form, and

(b) to establish qualifying companies, to purchase or otherwise acquire shares, stocks or other securities of qualifying companies and to assist any qualifying company.

(1B) In subsection (1A)(b) “qualifying company” means any company (whether incorporated under the law of the United Kingdom or of any other country) which is or will be wholly or mainly engaged in one or more of the following activities—

(a) the provision of one or more services which are licensed by the Commission or by the Radio Authority or which, if provided in the United Kingdom, would be required to be so licensed,

(b) activities incidental to such provision, and

(c) the holding of shares in any other company which is wholly or mainly engaged in such provision or in activities incidental to such provision.]

(2) It shall be the duty of the Welsh Authority—

(a) to provide S4C as a public service for disseminating information, education and entertainment;

(b) to ensure that a substantial proportion of the programmes broadcast on S4C are in Welsh and that the programmes broadcast on S4C between 6.30 pm and 10 pm consist mainly of programmes in Welsh; and

(c) to ensure that the programmes in Welsh which are broadcast on S4C maintain—

(i) a high general standard in all respects (and, in particular, in respect of their content and quality), and

(ii) a wide range in their subject matter, having regard both to the programmes as a whole and also to the days of the week on which, and the times of the day at which, the programmes are broadcast.

(3) The Welsh Authority shall secure that, during any period allocated by them to the broadcasting of a programme not in Welsh, the programme broadcast by them on S4C is normally a programme which is being, has been or is to be broadcast on Channel 4.

(4) The Welsh Authority may use part of the signals carrying S4C to provide—

(a) subtitling in connection with programmes on S4C, and

(b) other services which are ancillary to such programmes and directly related to their contents;

and in this subsection “subtitling” means any subtitling provided by means of a teletext service.

(5) In this section and section 58 “programme” does not include an advertisement.

Textual Amendments

F1 S. 57(1A)(1B) inserted (1.10.1996) by 1996 c. 55, s. 84(3) (with s. 43(1)(6)); S.I. 1996/2120, art. 4, Sch. 1

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C1 S. 57(1A)(a) applied (1.10.1996) by 1996 c. 55, s. 84(3) (with s. 43(1)(6)); S.I. 1996/2120, art. 4, Sch. 1

C2 S. 57(4) applied (1.10.1996) by 1996 c. 55, s. 29(2) (with s. 43(1)(6)); S.I. 1996/2120, art. 4, Sch. 1

58 Sources of programmes for S4C. U.K.

(1) For the purpose of enabling the Welsh Authority to comply with their duty under section 57(2)(b) it shall be the duty of the BBC to provide the Authority (free of charge) with sufficient television programmes in Welsh to occupy not less than ten hours’ transmission time per week, and to do so in a way which meets the reasonable requirements of the Authority.

(2) It shall be the duty of the Channel Four Television Corporation—

(a) to provide the Welsh Authority with programme schedules for the programmes broadcast on Channel 4, including information as to the periods available for the broadcasting of advertisements, far enough in advance to enable the Welsh Authority to comply with section 57(3); and

(b) to provide the Welsh Authority (free of charge) with any programmes which are required by the Authority for the purpose of complying with that provision.

(3) The programmes broadcast on S4C may, to the extent that they are not provided under subsection (1) or (2), be obtained by the Welsh Authority from such persons as they think fit.

(4) Where any programmes provided under subsection (2) each form part of a series of programmes, the Welsh Authority shall ensure that the intervals between those programmes when broadcast on S4C normally correspond to the intervals between them when broadcast on Channel 4.

(5) The Welsh Authority shall publish, in such manner as they consider appropriate, advance notice of the programme schedules for the programmes to be broadcast on S4C.

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C3 S. 58(5) applied (1.10.1996) by 1996 c. 55, s. 29(2) (with s. 43(1)(6)); S.I. 1996/2120, art. 4, Sch. 1

59 Requirements to be complied with in relation to S4C programmes. U.K.

(1) The Welsh Authority shall ensure that the following requirements are complied with in relation to S4C, namely—

(a) that nothing is included in its programmes which offends against good taste or decency or is likely to encourage or incite to crime or to lead to disorder or to be offensive to public feeling;

(b) that any news given (in whatever form) in its programmes is presented with due accuracy and impartiality;

(c) that due impartiality is preserved on the part of the Authority as respects matters of political or industrial controversy or relating to current public policy;

(d) that due responsibility is exercised with respect to the content of any of its programmes which are religious programmes, and that in particular any such programmes do not involve—

(i) any improper exploitation of any susceptibilities of those watching the programmes, or

(ii) any abusive treatment of the religious views and beliefs of those belonging to a particular religion or religious denomination; and

(e) that its programmes do not include any technical device which, by using images of very brief duration or by any other means, exploits the possibility of conveying a message to, or otherwise influencing the minds of, persons watching the programmes without their being aware, or fully aware, of what has occurred.

(2) In applying subsection (1)(c) a series of programmes may be considered as a whole.

(3) Without prejudice to the generality of subsection (1), the Welsh Authority shall ensure that there are excluded from the programmes broadcast on S4C all expressions of the views and opinions of the Authority on matters (other than broadcasting) which are of political or industrial controversy or relate to current public policy.

(4) The code referred to in section 6(3) shall have effect in relation to the application of subsection (1)(c) above in relation to S4C as it has effect in relation to the application of section 6(1)(c) in relation to a licensed service; and the code referred to in section 7 shall have effect in relation to S4C as it has effect in relation to a licensed service.

(5) The Welsh Authority shall observe the provisions of those codes (as they have effect in accordance with subsection (4)) in the provision of S4C.

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C4 S. 59 applied (1.10.1996) by 1996 c. 55, s. 29(2) (with s. 43(1)(6)); S.I. 1996/2120, art. 4, Sch. 1

60 Advertising on S4C. U.K.

(1) The Welsh Authority shall ensure that the following rules are complied with in relation to S4C, namely—

(a) S4C must not include—

(i) any advertisement which is inserted by or on behalf of any body whose objects are wholly or mainly of a political nature,

(ii) any advertisement which is directed towards any political end, or

(iii) any advertisement which has any relation to any industrial dispute (other than an advertisement of a public service nature inserted by, or on behalf of, a government department);

(b) in the acceptance of advertisements for inclusion in S4C there must be no unreasonable discrimination either against or in favour of any particular advertiser; and

(c) (except in the case of any programme to which the Welsh Authority determine that this paragraph is not to apply) S4C must not include a programme which is sponsored by any person whose business consists, wholly or mainly, in the manufacture or supply of a product, or in the provision of a service, which the Welsh Authority are prohibited from advertising by virtue of subsection (2) or (4) below.

(2) The code under section 9 shall have effect in relation to advertisements broadcast on S4C as it has effect in relation to advertisements broadcast on Channel 4; and the Welsh Authority shall observe the provisions of that code (as it so has effect) in the provision of S4C.

(3) Where the Commission give any directions under subsection (7) of that section to the Channel Four Television Corporation, they shall send a copy of those directions to the Welsh Authority; and, so long as the directions remain in force, the Welsh Authority shall, in broadcasting advertisements on S4C, give effect to the provisions of the directions as if they were provisions regulating the times when advertisements are to be allowed to be broadcast on S4C.

(4) The Welsh Authority shall—

(a) from time to time consult the Secretary of State as to the classes and descriptions of advertisements which must not be broadcast on S4C and the methods of advertising or sponsorship which must not be employed in, or in connection with, the provision of S4C; and

(b) carry out any directions which he may give to them in respect of such matters.

(5) The Welsh Authority shall not act as an advertising agent.

(6) After consultation with the Welsh Authority the Secretary of State may make regulations amending, repealing or adding to the rules specified in subsection (1); but no such regulations shall be made unless a draft of the regulations has been laid before and approved by a resolution of each House of Parliament.

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C5 S. 60 applied (1.10.1996) by 1996 c. 55, s. 29(2) (with s. 43(1)(6)); S.I. 1996/2120, art. 4, Sch. 1

[F2 61 Funding of Welsh Authority. U.K.

(1) The Secretary of State shall, in the year 1998 and in each subsequent year, pay to the Welsh Authority the prescribed amount as increased by the appropriate percentage.

(2) In this section “the prescribed amount” means the 1997 amount or such amount as may from time to time be prescribed under subsection (4).

(3) In this section “the 1997 amount” means the amount paid by the Secretary of State to the Welsh Authority by way of interim payment for the year 1997 (under this section as originally enacted).

(4) The Secretary of State may, if he is satisfied that it is appropriate to do so having regard to the cost to the Welsh Authority of transmitting S4C and the service referred to in section 57(1A)(a), by order provide that the prescribed amount is to be an amount which is greater than the 1997 amount and is specified in the order.

(5) Before making an order under subsection (4) the Secretary of State shall consult the Welsh Authority.

(6) In this section “the appropriate percentage”, in relation to any year (“the relevant year”), means the percentage which corresponds to the percentage increase between—

(a) the retail prices index for November 1996, and

(b) the retail prices index for the month of November in the year preceding the relevant year;

and for this purpose “the retail prices index” has the same meaning as in section 19(10).

(7) Any sums required by the Secretary of State under this section shall be paid out of money provided by Parliament.

(8) An order shall not be made under subsection (4) unless a draft of the order has been laid before and approved by a resolution of each House of Parliament.]

Textual Amendments

F2 S. 61 substituted (24.7.1996) by 1996 c. 55, ss. 80(1), 149(1)(c) (with s. 43(1)(6), 80(3))

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C6 S. 61(3)(4) restricted (24.7.1996) by 1996 c. 55, ss. 80(4), 149(c)

[F3 61A Welsh Authority public service fund. U.K.

(1) The Welsh Authority shall not exercise their powers under section 57(1A)(b) before such date (in this section referred to as “the notified date”) as they may notify to the Secretary of State for the purposes of this section.

(2) All amounts received by the Welsh Authority under section 61 on or after the notified date shall be kept by the Authority in a separate fund (in this section referred to as “the public service fund”) which may be applied only for the purposes of their functions under section 57(1) or (1A)(a).

(3) No S4C company shall receive any direct or indirect subsidy from the public service fund.

(4) The Welsh Authority shall secure that no television programme which has been wholly or partly financed out of the public service fund is included in a television programme service provided by an S4C company before it is first broadcast on S4C or in the service referred to in section 57(1A)(a).

(5) On the notified date—

(a) all the assets then held by the Welsh Authority other than cash, together with the appropriate proportion of any cash then held by them, shall be taken to be comprised in the public service fund, and

(b) the remainder of any cash then held by the Authority shall be taken to be comprised in a general fund.

(6) In subsection (5)(a) “the appropriate proportion” means the proportion which, in the last financial year in respect of which a statement of accounts has been prepared under paragraph 12(1) of Schedule 6 before the notified date, the total amount received by the Welsh Authority under section 61 bears to the total amount of its income from all sources.]

Textual Amendments

F3 S. 61A inserted (1.10.1996) by 1996 c. 55, s. 81(1); S.I. 1996/2120, art. 4 Sch. 1

62 Information to be supplied to Commission by Welsh Authority. U.K.

The Welsh Authority shall provide the Commission with such forecasts, estimates, information and documents as the Commission may reasonably require for the purpose of enabling them to perform their functions under [F4 section 26]

Textual Amendments

F4 Words in S. 62 substituted (24.7.1996) by 1996 c. 55, ss. 80(2), 149(1)(c) (with s. 80(3))

63 Government control over S4C. U.K.

(1) If it appears to him to be necessary or expedient to do so in connection with his functions as such, the Secretary of State or any other Minister of the Crown may at any time by notice require the Welsh Authority to broadcast, at such times as may be specified in the notice, any announcement specified in the notice, with or without visual images of any picture, scene or object mentioned in the announcement; and it shall be the duty of the Authority to comply with the notice.

(2) Where the Welsh Authority broadcast any announcement in pursuance of a notice under subsection (1), they may announce that they are doing so in pursuance of such a notice.

(3) The Secretary of State may at any time by notice require the Welsh Authority to refrain from broadcasting any matter or classes of matter specified in the notice; and it shall be the duty of the Authority to comply with the notice.

(4) Where the Secretary of State has given the Welsh Authority a notice under subsection (3), the Authority may broadcast an announcement of the giving of the notice or, when it has been revoked or has expired, of its revocation or expiration.

(5) The powers conferred by this section are in addition to any power specifically conferred on the Secretary of State by any other provision of this Act.

64 Audience research by Welsh Authority. U.K.

(1) The Welsh Authority shall make arrangements for ascertaining—

(a) the state of public opinion concerning programmes broadcast on S4C;

(b) any effects of such programmes on the attitudes or behaviour of persons who watch them; and

(c) the types of programme that members of the public would like to be broadcast on S4C.

(2) Those arrangements shall—

(a) secure that, so far as is reasonably practicable, any research undertaken in pursuance of the arrangements is undertaken by persons who are neither members nor employees of the Welsh Authority; and

(b) include provision for full consideration by the Authority of the results of any such research.

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C7 S. 64 applied (1.10.1996) by 1996 c. 55, s. 29(2) (with s. 43(1)(6)); S.I. 1996/2120, art. 4, Sch. 1