31 Provision of news on Channels 3 and 5.U.K.
(1)A Channel 3 or Channel 5 licence shall include conditions requiring the licence holder—
(a)to broadcast in the licensed service news programmes of high quality dealing with national and international matters; and
(b)to broadcast such programmes in that service at intervals throughout the period for which the service is provided, and in particular (except in the case of a national Channel 3 licence) at peak viewing times.
(2)[F1For the purpose of securing the nationwide broadcast, by holders of regional channel 3 licenses (taken together), of news programmes which are able to compete effectively with other news programmes broadcast nationwide in the United Kingdom,] regional Channel 3 licence shall, in addition, include conditions requiring the news programmes broadcast by the licence holder in compliance with conditions imposed in pursuance of subsection (1) to be programmes provided by [F2the appointed news provider] which are—
(a)presented live, and
(b)broadcast simultaneously with the broadcasts of news programmes provided by [F3the appointed] news provider which are made by other holders of regional Channel 3 licences in compliance with conditions so imposed.
[F4(3)In subsection (2) “appointed news provider” means, subject to subsection (4), the body corporate for the time being appointed for the purposes of subsection (2), from among the bodies corporate nominated by the Commission under section 32, in accordance with conditions included by virtue of section 31A in regional Channel 3 licences.
(4)A body corporate ceases by virtue of this subsection to be the appointed news provider if its nomination is terminated by the Commission under any provision of section 32.]
Textual Amendments
F1Words at the beginning of s. 31(2) inserted (24.7.1996) by 1996 c. 55, ss. 74(2)(a), 149(1)(b) (with s. 43(1)(6))
F2Words in s. 31(2) substituted (24.7.1996) by 1996 c. 55, ss. 74(2)(b), 149(1)(b) (with s. 43(1)(6))
F3Words in s. 31(2)(b) substituted (24.7.1996) by 1996 c. 55, ss. 74(2)(c), 149(1)(b) (with s. 43(1)(6))
F4Ss. 31(3)(4) substituted (24.7.1996) by 1996 c. 55, s. 74(3), 149(1)(b) (with s. 43(1)(6))