Broadcasting Act 1981

6 Submission of programme schedules for Authority’s approval. U.K.

(1) In the case of programmes other than advertisements, the methods by which the Authority discharge their duties under sections 2(2) and 5 in relation to television broadcasts shall, and in relation to local sound broadcasts (to such extent as the Authority consider appropriate) may, include consideration of programme schedules submitted by programme contractors to the Authority for approval in accordance with this section.

(2) Subject to subsection (6), no programme (other than an advertisement) provided by a programme contractor—

(a) if it is a television programme, or

(b) if it is a local sound broadcast which the Authority have required to be made in accordance with a programme schedule so approved,

shall be broadcast by the Authority unless it forms part of a programme schedule approved by them in accordance with this section.

(3) A programme schedule—

(a) shall be drawn up in consultation with the Authority, and

(b) shall be for a period determined by them;

and the Authority may give to programme contractors such directions as appear to the Authority expedient for the purpose of ensuring that the Authority have sufficient time to discharge their responsibilities in the consideration of programme schedules.

(4) The Authority may give directions, which may be, to any degree, either general or specific and qualified or unqualified—

(a) as to the exclusion of any item from a programme schedule;

(b) as to the inclusion in, or in a particular part of, a programme schedule of an item, or items, of a particular category; or

(c) as to the inclusion in a particular part of a programme schedule of a particular item;

and the Authority shall not approve a programme schedule until they are satisfied that it conforms with any directions given under this section.

(5) Without prejudice to the Authority’s power to approve for the purposes of this section a revised or amended version of a programme schedule previously approved by them, the Authority may, if they think fit to do so in view of any change of circumstances occurring after a programme schedule has been approved by them, permit the programme contractor to make such alterations in that programme schedule as the Authority may approve, being alterations proposed to them in any convenient manner; and a programme schedule in which alterations have been made by virtue of this subsection shall, as so altered, be treated as having been approved by the Authority in accordance with this section.

(6) The Authority may give directions, which may be, to any degree, either general or specific and conditional or unconditional, authorising the making of alterations in any approved programme schedule without prior reference to the Authority—

(a) where it is difficult or impracticable for the programme contractor to communicate with the Authority in the time available, or

(b) in the event of a technical breakdown;

and the programmes contained in a programme schedule in which alterations are made by virtue of this subsection may be broadcast by the Authority notwithstanding those alterations.

(7) The Authority’s approval under this section may be given subject to such exceptions, reservations and qualifications as the Authority think fit; and the Authority may at any time call for further particulars of a programme schedule submitted to them, or of any item in the programme schedule.