Communications Act 2003

18 (1) It shall be the duty of [F1 S4C] to include— U.K.

(a) party political broadcasts, and

(b) referendum campaign broadcasts,

in every designated public service of theirs.

(2) [F2 S4C] must prepare, publish and from time to time review and revise their policy with respect to—

(a) party political broadcasts and referendum campaign broadcasts; and

(b) the manner in which they propose to perform their duty under sub-paragraph (1).

(3) [F3 S4C’s] policy may, in particular, include provision for determining—

(a) the political parties on whose behalf party political broadcasts may be made;

(b) in relation to each political party on whose behalf such broadcasts may be made, the length and frequency of the broadcasts; and

(c) in relation to each designated organisation on whose behalf referendum campaign broadcasts are required to be broadcast, the length and frequency of such broadcasts.

(4) That policy is to have effect subject to sections 37 and 127 of the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000 (c. 41) (only registered parties and designated organisations to be entitled to party political broadcasts or referendum campaign broadcasts).

(5) In preparing or revising their policy with respect to the inclusion of party political broadcasts or referendum campaign broadcasts in their designated public services, [F4 S4C] must have regard to—

(a) any views expressed for the purposes of this paragraph by the Electoral Commission; and

(b) any rules made by OFCOM under section 333.

(6) The services that are designated public services for the purposes of this paragraph are—

F5 (a) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(b) S4C Digital; and

(c) any of [F6 S4C’s] other public television services which is designated for the purposes of this paragraph by the order under section 205 approving its provision.

(7) In this paragraph—

• “designated organisation”, in relation to a referendum, means a person or body designated by the Electoral Commission under section 108 of the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000 in respect of that referendum; and

• “referendum campaign broadcast” has the meaning given by section 127 of that Act.

Textual Amendments

F1 Word in Sch. 12 para. 18(1) substituted (23.8.2024) by Media Act 2024 (c. 15), s. 55(3)(c), Sch. 4 para. 65(2); S.I. 2024/858, reg. 2(1)(x)

F2 Word in Sch. 12 para. 18(2) substituted (23.8.2024) by Media Act 2024 (c. 15), s. 55(3)(c), Sch. 4 para. 65(3); S.I. 2024/858, reg. 2(1)(x)

F3 Word in Sch. 12 para. 18(3) substituted (23.8.2024) by Media Act 2024 (c. 15), s. 55(3)(c), Sch. 4 para. 65(4); S.I. 2024/858, reg. 2(1)(x)

F4 Word in Sch. 12 para. 18(5) substituted (23.8.2024) by Media Act 2024 (c. 15), s. 55(3)(c), Sch. 4 para. 65(2); S.I. 2024/858, reg. 2(1)(x)

F5 Sch. 12 para. 18(6)(a) omitted (23.8.2024) by virtue of Media Act 2024 (c. 15), s. 55(3)(c), Sch. 4 para. 65(5)(a); S.I. 2024/858, reg. 2(1)(x)

F6 Word in Sch. 12 para. 18(6)(c) substituted (23.8.2024) by Media Act 2024 (c. 15), s. 55(3)(c), Sch. 4 para. 65(5)(b)(i); S.I. 2024/858, reg. 2(1)(x)

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C1 Sch. 12 para. 18 excluded (13.2.2013) by The Scotland Act 1998 (Modification of Schedule 5) Order 2013 (S.I. 2013/242), arts. 2, 4(3)(c)

Commencement Information

I1 Sch. 12 para. 18 in force at 29.12.2003 by S.I. 2003/3142, art. 3(1), Sch. 1 (with art. 11)