Broadcasting Act 1981

1. Introductory Text

2. Part I The Independent Broadcasting Authority

   1. The Authority

      1. 1. The Independent Broadcasting Authority.

      2. 2. Function and duties of Authority.

      3. 3. Powers of Authority.

   2. General provisions as to programmes

      1. 4. General provisions as to programmes.

   3. Programmes other than advertisements

      1. 5. Code for programmes other than advertisements.

      2. 6. Submission of programme schedules for Authority’s approval.

      3. 7. Programme prizes.

   4. Advertisements

      1. 8. Advertisements.

      2. 9. Code for advertisements.

   5. Special provisions relating to the Fourth Channel

      1. 10. Provision by Authority of second television service.

      2. 11. Nature of the Fourth Channel, and its relation to ITV.

      3. 12. Provision of programmes (other than advertisements) for the Fourth Channel.

      4. 13. Advertisements on the Fourth Channel.

   6. Teletext services

      1. 14. Provision of teletext services by Authority.

      2. 15. Code for teletext transmissions.

   7. Advisory committees

      1. 16. General advisory council and specialist advisory committees etc.

      2. 17. National advisory committees for Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

      3. 18. Local advisory committees for local sound broadcasts.

   8. Provisions applying to all contracts for programmes

      1. 19. Duration of contracts for programmes and prior consultation etc.

      2. 20. Programme contractors.

      3. 21. Provisions to be included in contracts for programmes.

      4. 22. Provision for news broadcasts.

      5. 23. Newspaper shareholdings in programme contractors.

      6. 24. Buying and selling of programmes by programme contractors.

      7. 25. Wages, conditions of employment, and training of persons employed by programme contractors.

   9. Sound programme contracts

      1. 26. Accumulation of interests in sound programme contracts.

   10. Information as to programme contracts etc.

       1. 27. Information as to programme contracts and applications for such contracts.

   11. Powers of Government in relation to Authority

       1. 28. Government control over Authority as to hours of broadcasting.

       2. 29. Government control over Authority as to certain other matters.

       3. 30. Prevention of exclusive arrangements for broadcasting events of national interest.

       4. 31. Co-operation of Authority with BBC in the use of broadcasting installations.

   12. Rental payments

       1. 32. Rental payments by programme contractors.

       2. 33. Provisions supplemental to s. 32.

       3. 34. Instalments payable on account by programme contractors in respect of additional payments.

       4. 35. Provision for supplementing additional payments.

   13. Finances of Authority

       1. 36. Television and sound broadcasting to be separately financed by Authority.

       2. 37. Application of any excess of revenues over expenditure.

       3. 38. Advances to Authority for purposes of local sound broadcasting.

   14. Payments by Authority

       1. 39. Payments by Authority to Welsh Authority.

       2. 40. Contributions towards cost of Broadcasting Complaints Commission.

       3. 41. Grants by Authority to local sound programme contractors.

   15. Accounts, audit and annual reports

       1. 42. Accounts and audit.

       2. 43. Annual reports.

   16. Miscellaneous

       1. 44. Machinery for settling terms and conditions of employment of Authority’s staff, etc.

       2. 45. Audience research.

3. Part II The Fourth Channel in Wales

   1. 46. The Welsh Fourth Channel Authority.

   2. 47. Function, powers and duties of Welsh Authority.

   3. 48. Sources of programmes (other than advertisements) in Welsh.

   4. 49. Advertisements on the Fourth Channel in Wales.

   5. 50. Modification of certain provisions relating to the IBA.

   6. 51. Advisory bodies.

   7. 52. Finances of Welsh Authority and accounts, audit and reports.

4. Part III The Broadcasting Complaints Commission

   1. 53. The Broadcasting Complaints Commission.

   2. 54. Function of Commission.

   3. 55. Making and entertaining of complaints.

   4. 56. Consideration of complaints.

   5. 57. Publication of Commission’s findings.

   6. 58. Duty to publicise Commission.

   7. 59. Annual reports of Commission.

   8. 60. Power to modify Part III in relation to programmes broadcast on the Fourth Channel in Wales.

5. Part IV General

   1. 61. Approvals by Authority.

   2. 62. Variation and revocation of directions and notices.

   3. 63. Interpretation.

   4. 64. Power to repeal or modify provisions of Act which relate to television in Wales.

   5. 65. Consequential and transitional provisions and savings.

   6. 66. Short title, extent and commencement.

6. SCHEDULES

   1. SCHEDULE 1

      The Independent Broadcasting Authority: Supplementary Provisions

      1. Appointment of members

         1. 1. (1) All the members of the Authority (including the Chairman...

      2. Tenure of office

         1. 2. (1) Subject to sub-paragraphs (2) and (3), every member of...

      3. Remuneration and pensions of members

         1. 3. (1) The Authority shall pay to each of their members,...

      4. Capacity and status of Authority

         1. 4. (1) It shall be within the capacity of the Authority...

      5. Proceedings

         1. 5. (1) The quorum of the Authority shall be four or...

         2. 6. (1) A member of the Authority who is in any...

         3. 7. Subject to paragraphs 5 and 6, the Authority may regulate...

      6. Officers and employees of Authority

         1. 8. (1) The Authority may appoint a secretary and such other...

      7. Authentication of Authority’s seal

         1. 9. The application of the seal of the Authority shall be...

      8. Presumption of authenticity of documents issued by Authority

         1. 10. Any document purporting to be an instrument issued by the...

   2. SCHEDULE 2

      Rules as to Advertisements

      1. 1. (1) The advertisements must be clearly distinguishable as such and...

      2. 2. The standards and practice to be observed in carrying out...

      3. 3. The amount of time given to advertising in the programmes...

      4. 4. Advertisements shall not be inserted otherwise than at the beginning...

      5. 5. (1) Rules (to be agreed upon from time to time...

      6. 6. In the acceptance of advertisements there must be no unreasonable...

      7. 7. (1) The charges made by any programme contractor for advertisements...

      8. 8. No advertisement shall be permitted which is inserted by or...

      9. 9. If, in the case of any of the broadcasting stations...

   3. SCHEDULE 3

      Teletext Services

      1. Part I Provisions of Act Applied by Section 14(5)

      2. Part II Other Provisions Applied by Section 14(5)

   4. SCHEDULE 4

      Rental Payments

      1. Advertising revenue

         1. 1. (1) The advertising revenue of a programme contractor for an...

      2. Profits

         1. 2. (1) The profits of a programme contractor for an accounting...

      3. Carry forward of losses

         1. 3. (1) Where, in any accounting period, the relevant expenditure of...

      4. Computation of profits of programme contractors

         1. 4. (1) It shall be the duty of the Authority—

      5. Disputes

         1. 5. (1) For the purposes of the principal sections and this...

      6. Accounting periods

         1. 6. (1) Subject to the provisions of this Schedule, each period...

         2. 7. If a programme contractor is not a body corporate the...

      7. Information

         1. 8. (1) Every contract shall impose on the contractor such requirements...

         2. 9. It shall be the duty of the Authority in framing...

      8. Interpretation

         1. 10. (1) In this Schedule, and in the principal sections, except...

   5. SCHEDULE 5

      The Welsh Fourth Channel Authority: Supplementary Provisions

      1. Tenure of office of members

         1. 1. (1) Subject to sub-paragraphs (2) and (3), the Chairman and...

      2. Remuneration and pensions of members

         1. 2. (1) The Welsh Authority shall pay to each of their...

      3. Capacity and status of Welsh Authority

         1. 3. (1) It shall be within the capacity of the Welsh...

      4. Proceedings

         1. 4. (1) The quorum of the Welsh Authority shall be two...

         2. 5. (1) A member of the Welsh Authority who is in...

         3. 6. Subject to paragraphs 4 and 5, the Welsh Authority may...

      5. Officers and employees of Welsh Authority

         1. 7. (1) The Welsh Authority may appoint a secretary and such...

      6. Machinery for settling terms and conditions of employment of Welsh Authority’s staff etc.

         1. 8. (1) Except so far as the Welsh Authority are satisfied...

      7. Authentication of Welsh Authority’s seal

         1. 9. The application of the seal of the Welsh Authority shall...

      8. Presumption of authenticity of documents issued by Welsh Authority

         1. 10. Any document purporting to be an instrument issued by the...

   6. SCHEDULE 6

      Modifications of Act in Relation to the Fourth Channel in Wales

      1. Section 2

         1. 1. (1) So much of section 2(1) as relates to the...

      2. Section 4

         1. 2. (1) References in section 4 to programmes broadcast by the...

      3. Sections 5 and 7

         1. 3. In sections 5 and 7— (a) references to programmes broadcast...

      4. Section 45

         1. 4. In section 45— (a) references to programmes broadcast by the...

   7. SCHEDULE 7

      The Broadcasting Complaints Commission: SupplementaryProvisions

      1. Tenure of office

         1. 1. (1) Subject to the following provisions of this Schedule, a...

      2. Remuneration and pensions of members

         1. 2. (1) The Commission may pay to each member such remuneration...

      3. Staff

         1. 3. (1) The Commission may appoint such officers and servants as...

         2. 4. The Employers’ Liability (Compulsory Insurance) Act 1969 shall not require...

      4. Proceedings

         1. 5. (1) Subject to the provisions of Part III of this...

         2. 6. The validity of any proceedings of the Commission shall not...

      5. Financial provisions

         1. 7. The Secretary of State shall pay to the Commission expenses...

         2. 8. (1) It shall be the duty of the Commission—

      6. Status of Commission

         1. 9. The Commission shall not be regarded as the servant or...

   8. SCHEDULE 8

      Transitional Provisions and Savings

      1. General

         1. 1. Any reference in this Act (whether express or implied) to...

      2. Programme contracts

         1. 2. Nothing in the repeals made by this Act shall affect—...

         2. 3. In its application to contracts for the provision of local...

         3. 4. In relation to contracts for the provision of teletext transmissions...

         4. 5. Nothing in any provision of Part I relating to the...

      3. Expenditure relevant for the purposes of s. 35

         1. 6. For the purposes of section 35 (as it has effect...

      4. Saving of amendments

         1. 7. Any enactment passed before 12th June 1972, and any statutory...

         2. 8. Part II of Schedule 1 to the House of Commons...

   9. SCHEDULE 9

      Repeals