Broadcasting Act 1990

[F1 194A Modification of Restrictive Trade Practices Act 1976 in its application to agreements relating to Channel 3 news provision. U.K.

(1) In this section a “relevant agreement” means an agreement—

(a) which is made between all holders of regional Channel 3 licences for securing the appointment by them, in accordance with conditions included in their licences by virtue of [F2 section 280 of the Communications Act 2003], of a single body corporate to be the appointed news provider for the purposes of [F3 that section], or

(b) which is made between them and the body corporate appointed to be the appointed news provider for the purposes of [F3 that section] for purposes connected with the appointment.

[F4 (2) If, having sought the advice of the [F5 OFT] [F6 and OFCOM], it appears to the Secretary of State, in relation to some or all of the provisions of a relevant agreement, that the conditions mentioned in subsection (3) are satisfied, he may make a declaration to that effect.

(3) The conditions are that—

(a) the provisions in question do not have, and are not intended or likely to have, to any significant extent the effect of restricting, distorting or preventing competition; or

(b) the effect of restricting, distorting or preventing competition which the provisions in question do have or are intended or are likely to have, is not greater than is necessary—

(i) in the case of a relevant agreement falling within subsection (1)(a), for securing the appointment by holders of regional Channel 3 licences of a single body corporate to be the appointed news provider for the purposes of [F7 section 280 of the Communications Act 2003], or

(ii) in the case of a relevant agreement falling within subsection (1)(b), for compliance by them with conditions included in their licences by virtue of [F8 that section of that Act of 2003].

(4) If the Secretary of State makes a declaration under this section, the Chapter I prohibition does not apply to the agreement to the extent to which the agreement consists of provisions to which the declaration relates.

(5) If the Secretary of State is satisfied that there has been a material change of circumstances, he may—

(a) revoke a declaration made under this section, if he considers that the grounds on which it was made no longer exist;

(b) vary such a declaration, if he considers that there are grounds for making a different declaration; or

(c) make a declaration, even though he has notified the [F5 OFT] [F9 or OFCOM or both of them] of his intention not to do so.

(6) If the Secretary of State makes, varies or revokes a declaration under this section, he must notify the [F5 OFT] [F10 and OFCOM] of his decision.

(7) [F11 Neither the OFT nor OFCOM may] exercise any Chapter III powers in respect of a relevant agreement, unless—

[F12 (a) the Secretary of State has been notified by the OFT or (as the case may be) by OFCOM of its or their intention to do so; and]

(b) the Secretary of State—

(i) has notified the [F5 OFT] [F13 and OFCOM] that he has not made a declaration in respect of the agreement, or provisions of the agreement, under this section and that he does not intend to make such a declaration; or

(ii) has revoked a declaration under this section and a period of six months beginning with the date on which the revocation took effect has expired.

(8) [F14 Where the OFT or OFCOM is or are proposing to exercise any Chapter III powers in respect of a relevant agreement, it or they must give the Secretary of State particulars of the agreement and such other information—

(a) it considers or (as the case may be) they consider will assist] the Secretary of State to decide whether to exercise his powers under this section; or

(b) as the Secretary of State may request.

(9) In this section–

• “the Chapter I prohibition” means the prohibition imposed by section 2(1) of the Competition Act 1998;

• “Chapter III powers” means the powers [F15 of the OFT and of OFCOM under] Chapter III of Part I of that Act so far as they relate to the Chapter I prohibition;

• [F16 “OFT” means the Office of Fair Trading;]

• F17 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

• “regional Channel 3 licence” has the same meaning as in Part I;

and expressions used in this section which are also used in Part I of the Competition Act 1998 are to be interpreted in the same way as for the purposes of that Part of that Act.

(10) In this section references to an agreement are to be read as applying equally to, or in relation to, a decision or concerted practice.

(11) In the application of this section to decisions and concerted practices, references to provisions of an agreement are to be read as references to elements of a decision or concerted practice.]]

Textual Amendments

F1 Shoulder heading and s. 194A inserted (24.7.1996) by 1996 c. 55, s. 77(1)(2) (with s. 43(1)(6))

F2 Words in s. 194A(1) substituted (29.12.2003) by Communications Act 2003 (c. 21), ss. 372(2)(a), 411(2) (with Sch. 18); S.I. 2003/3142, art. 3(1), Sch. 1 (with art. 11)

F3 Words in s. 194A(1) substituted (29.12.2003) by Communications Act 2003 (c. 21), ss. 372(2)(b), 411(2) (with Sch. 18); S.I. 2003/3142, art. 3(1), Sch. 1 (with art. 11)

F4 S. 194A(2)-(11) substituted (1.3.2000) by 1998 c. 41, s. 3(1)(b), Sch. 2 Pt. III para. 4(2); S.I. 2000/344, art. 2, Sch.

F5 Word in s. 194A substituted (1.4.2003) by Enterprise Act 2002 (c. 40), s. 279, Sch. 25 para. 24(7)(a); S.I. 2003/766, art. 2, Sch. (with art. 3) (as amended (20.7.2007) by S.I. 2007/1846, reg. 3(2), Sch.)

F6 Words in s. 194A(2) inserted (29.12.2003) by Communications Act 2003 (c. 21), ss. 372(3), 411(2) (with Sch. 18); S.I. 2003/3142, art. 3(1), Sch. 1 (with art. 11)

F7 Words in s. 194A(3)(b) substituted (29.12.2003) by Communications Act 2003 (c. 21), ss. 372(4)(a), 411(2) (with Sch. 18); S.I. 2003/3142, art. 3(1), Sch. 1 (with art. 11)

F8 Words in s. 194A(3)(b) substituted (29.12.2003) by Communications Act 2003 (c. 21), ss. 372(4)(b), 411(2) (with Sch. 18); S.I. 2003/3142, art. 3(1), Sch. 1 (with art. 11)

F9 Words in s. 194A(5)(c) inserted (29.12.2003) by Communications Act 2003 (c. 21), ss. 372(5), 411(2) (with Sch. 18); S.I. 2003/3142, art. 3(1), Sch. 1 (with art. 11)

F10 Words in s. 194A(6) inserted (29.12.2003) by Communications Act 2003 (c. 21), ss. 372(3), 411(2) (with Sch. 18); S.I. 2003/3142, art. 3(1), Sch. 1 (with art. 11)

F11 Words in s. 194A(7) substituted (29.12.2003) by Communications Act 2003 (c. 21), ss. 372(6)(a), 411(2) (with Sch. 18); S.I. 2003/3142, art. 3(1), Sch. 1 (with art. 11)

F12 S. 194A(7)(a) substituted (29.12.2003) by Communications Act 2003 (c. 21), ss. 372(6)(b), 411(2) (with Sch. 18); S.I. 2003/3142, art. 3(1), Sch. 1 (with art. 11)

F13 Words in s. 194A(7)(b)(i) inserted (29.12.2003) by Communications Act 2003 (c. 21), ss. 372(3), 411(2) (with Sch. 18); S.I. 2003/3142, art. 3(1), Sch. 1 (with art. 11)

F14 Words in s. 194A(8) substituted (29.12.2003) by Communications Act 2003 (c. 21), ss. 372(7), 411(2) (with Sch. 18); S.I. 2003/3142, art. 3(1), Sch. 1 (with art. 11)

F15 Words in s. 194A(9) substituted (29.12.2003) by Communications Act 2003 (c. 21), ss. 372(8), 411(2) (with Sch. 18); S.I. 2003/3142, art. 3(1), Sch. 1 (with art. 11)

F16 Words in s. 194A(9) inserted (1.4.2003) by Enterprise Act 2002 (c. 40), s. 279, Sch. 25 para. 24(7)(d)(ii); S.I. 2003/766, art. 2, Sch. (with art. 3) (as amended (20.7.2007) by S.I. 2007/1846, reg. 3(2), Sch.)

F17 Words in s. 194A(9) repealed (1.4.2003) by Enterprise Act 2002 (c. 40), s. 279, Sch. 25 para. 24(7)(d)(i), Sch. 26; S.I. 2003/766, art. 2, Sch. (with art. 3) (as amended (20.7.2007) by S.I. 2007/1846, reg. 3(2), Sch.)