Media Act 2024

14 Regional programme-making: Channels 3, 4 and 5 U.K.

(1) Section 286 of the Communications Act 2003 (regional programme-making for Channels 3 and 5) is amended in accordance with subsections (2) to (6).

(2) In subsection (1)—

(a) in the words before paragraph (a), after “securing” insert “in each year”;

(b) for paragraph (a) substitute—

“(a) that the provider of that service makes available qualifying audiovisual content that, so far as it consists of Channel 3 programmes made in the United Kingdom, includes Channel 3 programmes made outside the M25 area;

(aa) that the duration (in total) of the Channel 3 programmes that are made in the United Kingdom outside the M25 area is at least the number of hours that OFCOM consider appropriate;”;

(c) in paragraph (b), for the words from “the Channel 3 programmes” to “the M25 area” substitute “those programmes”;

(d) in paragraph (c), for “a suitable proportion” substitute “a suitable amount”.

(3) In subsection (3)—

(a) in the words before paragraph (a), after “securing” insert “in each year”;

(b) for paragraph (a) substitute—

“(a) that the provider of that Channel makes available qualifying audiovisual content that, so far as it consists of programmes made in the United Kingdom, includes programmes made outside the M25 area;

(aa) that the duration (in total) of the programmes that are made in the United Kingdom outside the M25 area is at least the number of hours that OFCOM consider appropriate;”;

(c) in paragraph (b), for the words from “the programmes” to “the M25 area” substitute “those programmes”;

(d) in paragraph (c), for “a suitable proportion” substitute “a suitable amount”;

(e) in that paragraph, after “that Channel” insert “, or for viewing by means of any other qualifying audiovisual service provided by the provider of that Channel,”.

(4) In subsection (6)—

(a) for “A proportion” substitute “An amount of expenditure”;

(b) for “a significant proportion of the programmes or expenditure” substitute “a significant amount of the expenditure”.

(5) In subsection (7), in the definition of “Channel 3 programmes” after “on Channel 3” insert “, or for viewing by means of any other qualifying audiovisual service provided by a provider of a Channel 3 service,”.

(6) After subsection (7) insert—

“(8) See also sections 278B and 278C (which make further provision for the interpretation of this section etc).”

(7) Section 288 of the Communications Act 2003 (regional programme-making for Channel 4) is amended in accordance with subsections (8) to (10).

(8) In subsection (1)—

(a) in the words before paragraph (a), after “securing” insert “in each year”;

(b) for paragraph (a) substitute—

“(a) that the provider of that Channel makes available qualifying audiovisual content that, so far as it consists of programmes made in the United Kingdom, includes programmes made outside the M25 area;

(aa) that the duration (in total) of the programmes that are made in the United Kingdom outside the M25 area is at least the number of hours that OFCOM consider appropriate;”;

(c) in paragraph (b), for the words from “the programmes” to “the M25 area” substitute “those programmes”;

(d) in paragraph (c), for “a suitable proportion” substitute “a suitable amount”;

(e) in that paragraph, after “Channel 4” insert “, or for viewing by means of any other qualifying audiovisual service provided by the provider of Channel 4,”.

(9) In subsection (4)—

(a) for “A proportion” substitute “An amount of expenditure”;

(b) for “a significant proportion of the programmes or expenditure” substitute “a significant amount of the expenditure”.

(10) After subsection (5) insert—

“(6) See also sections 278B and 278C (which make further provision for the interpretation of this section etc).”

Commencement Information

I1 S. 14 not in force at Royal Assent, see s. 55(3)(a)

I2 S. 14 in force at 23.8.2024 for specified purposes by S.I. 2024/858, reg. 3, Sch.