Broadcasting Act 1981

PART IThe Independent Broadcasting Authority

1The Independent Broadcasting Authority

2Function and duties of Authority

3Powers of Authority

General provisions as to programmes

4General provisions as to programmes

Programmes other than advertisements

5Code for programmes other than advertisements

6Submission of programme schedules for Authority's approval

7Programme prizes

8Advertisements

9Code for advertisements

Special provisions relating to the Fourth Channel

10Provision by Authority of second television service

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

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

13Advertisements on the Fourth Channel

Teletext services

14Provision of teletext services by Authority

15Code for teletext transmissions

Advisory committees

16General advisory council and specialist advisory committees etc.

17National advisory committees for Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland

18Local advisory committees for local sound broadcasts

Provisions applying to all contracts for programmes

19Duration of contracts for programmes and prior consultation etc.

20Programme contractors

21Provisions to be included in contracts for programmes

22Provision for news broadcasts

23Newspaper shareholdings in programme contractors

24Buying and selling of programmes by programme contractors

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

Sound programme contracts

26Accumulation of interests in sound programme contracts.

Information as to programme contracts etc.

27Information as to programme contracts and applications for such contracts

Powers of Government in relation to Authority

28Government control over Authority as to hours of broadcasting

29Government control over Authority as to certain other matters

30Prevention of exclusive arrangements for broadcasting events of national interest

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

Rental payments

32Rental payments by programme contractors

33Provisions supplemental to s. 32

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

35Provision for supplementing additional payments

Finances of Authority

36Television and sound broadcasting to be separately financed by Authority

37Application of any excess of revenues over expenditure

38Advances to Authority for purposes of local sound broadcasting

Payments by Authority

39Payments by Authority to Welsh Authority

40Contributions towards cost of Broadcasting Complaints Commission

41Grants by Authority to local sound programme contractors

Accounts, audit and annual reports

42Accounts and audit

43Annual reports

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

45Audience research

PART IIThe Fourth Channel in Wales

46The Welsh Fourth Channel Authority

47Function, powers and duties of Welsh Authority

48Sources of programmes (other than advertisements) in Welsh

49Advertisements on the Fourth Channel in Wales

50Modification of certain provisions relating to the IBA

51Advisory bodies

52Finances of Welsh Authority and accounts, audit and reports

PART IIIThe Broadcasting Complaints Commission

53The Broadcasting Complaints Commission

54Function of Commission

55Making and entertaining of complaints

56Consideration of complaints

57Publication of Commission's findings

58Duty to publicise Commission

59Annual reports of Commission

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

61Approvals by Authority

62Variation and revocation of directions and notices

63Interpretation

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

65Consequential and transitional provisions and savings

66Short title, extent and commencement

SCHEDULE 1The Independent Broadcasting Authority: Supplementary Provisions

Appointment of members

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

Tenure of office

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

Remuneration and pensions of members

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

Capacity and status of Authority

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

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

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

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

Officers and employees of Authority

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

Authentication of Authority's seal

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

Presumption of authenticity of documents issued by Authority

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

SCHEDULE 2Rules as to Advertisements

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

SCHEDULE 3Teletext Services

PART IProvisions of Act Applied by Section 14(5)

PART IIOther Provisions Applied by Section 14(5)

SCHEDULE 4Rental Payments

Advertising receipts

1(1) In the principal sections and this Schedule " advertising...

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

Computation of profits of programme contractors

3(1) It shall be the duty of the Authority—

4(1) For the purposes of the principal sections and this...

Accounting periods

5(1) Subject to the provisions of this Schedule, each period...

6If the programme contractor is not a body corporate the...

7(1) Every contract shall impose on the contractor such requirements...

8It shall be the duty of the Authority in framing...

9(1) In this Schedule, and in the principal sections, except...

SCHEDULE 5The Welsh Fourth Channel Authority : Supplementary Provisions

Tenure of office of members

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

Remuneration and pensions of members

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

Capacity and status of Welsh Authority

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

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

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

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

Officers and employees of Welsh Authority

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

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

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

Authentication of Welsh Authority's seal

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

Presumption of authenticity of documents issued by Welsh Authority

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

SCHEDULE 6Modifications of Act in Relation to the Fourth Channel in Wales

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

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

Sections 5 and 7

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

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

SCHEDULE 7The Broadcasting Complaints Commission : Supplementary Provisions

Tenure of office

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

Remuneration and pensions of members

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

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

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

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

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

Financial provisions

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

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

Status of Commission

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

SCHEDULE 8Transitional Provisions and Savings

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

Programme contracts

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

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

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

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

Expenditure relevant for the purposes of s.35

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

Saving of amendments

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

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

SCHEDULE 9Repeals

Royal arms

Broadcasting Act 1981

1981 CHAPTER 68

M1An Act to consolidate the Independent Broadcasting Authority Acts 1973, 1974 and 1978 and the Broadcasting Act 1980.

[30th October 1981]

Be it enacted by the Queen's most Excellent Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Lords Spiritual and Temporal, and Commons, in this present Parliament assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:—