Media Act 2024

30 C4C’s duties in relation to commissioning programmes U.K.

(1) The Communications Act 2003 is amended as follows.

(2) After section 198A insert—

“198AA C4C’s duties in relation to commissioning programmes

(1) C4C must take steps to enable competition for commissions from C4C to make programmes, other than advertisements, for inclusion in services provided by C4C that fall within subsection (2).

(2) A service falls within this subsection if it is—

(a) a television broadcasting service,

(b) a television licensable content service,

(c) a digital television programme service,

(d) an on-demand programme service that is or forms part of a designated internet programme service, or

(e) a non-UK on-demand programme service that is or forms part of a designated internet programme service.

(3) C4C must put in place and adhere to procedures that facilitate fair competition for such commissions, including procedures for referring disputes with C4C to mediation.

(4) In this section, “designated internet programme service” has the same meaning as in Part 3A (see section 362AZ12).”

(3) In section 198B (statement of media content policy)—

(a) in the heading—

(i) for “Statement” substitute “Statements”;

(ii) at the end insert “and commissioning policy”;

(b) after subsection (1) insert—

“(1A) C4C must prepare a statement of commissioning policy at the same time as they prepare a statement of media content policy.”;

(c) in subsection (2), after “policy” insert “or commissioning policy”;

(d) after subsection (3) insert—

“(3A) A statement of commissioning policy must—

(a) set out C4C’s proposals for securing that, during the following year, they will discharge their duties under section 198AA, and

(b) include a report on their performance in carrying out the proposals contained in the previous statement.”;

(e) in subsection (4), for “the statement” substitute “a statement of media content policy or commissioning policy”;

(f) in subsection (5), after “policy” insert “or commissioning policy”.

(4) In section 198C (OFCOM reports on C4C’s media content duties)—

(a) in the heading, at the end insert “and commissioning duties”;

(b) in subsection (1), in paragraph (a), for “section 198A” substitute “sections 198A and 198AA”.

(5) In section 198D (directions in relation to C4C’s media content duties)—

(a) in the heading, at the end insert “and commissioning duties”;

(b) in subsection (1), in paragraph (a)—

(i) after “198A” insert “, 198AA”;

(ii) for “198B(1), (3)” substitute “198B(1), (1A), (3), (3A)”;

(c) in subsection (2)(a), after “policy” insert “or (as the case may be) commissioning policy”;

(d) in subsection (3)(a), after “policy” insert “or (as the case may be) commissioning policy”.

(6) In section 271A (remedying failure by C4C to perform media content duties)—

(a) in subsection (1)(a), after “198A” insert “or 198AA”;

(b) in subsection (2), after “198A” insert “or 198AA”.

Commencement Information

I1 S. 30 not in force at Royal Assent, see s. 55(3)(c)

I2 S. 30 in force at 23.8.2024 for specified purposes by S.I. 2024/858, reg. 3, Sch.