Broadcasting Act 1990

Additional restrictions applying where control of or by newspaper proprietor may operate against public interest U.K.

F1 9 (1) A licence to provide any of the services specified in sub-paragraph (4) may not be granted to a body corporate which is, or is connected with, the proprietor of a national or local newspaper if the relevant authority determine that in all the circumstances the holding of the licence by that body corporate could be expected to operate against the public interest. U.K.

(2) Subject to sub-paragraph (3), a body corporate which holds a licence to provide any of the services specified in sub-paragraph (4) shall not become, or become connected with, the proprietor of a national or local newspaper and continue to hold the licence if the relevant authority determine within the permitted period that in all the circumstances the continued holding of the licence by that body corporate operates, or could be expected to operate, against the public interest.

(3) Sub-paragraph (2) does not apply in any case where the body corporate holding the licence—

(a) is already the proprietor of some other national or local newspaper, or is already connected with such a proprietor, and

(b) does not become connected with any other person who holds a licence to provide any of the services specified in sub-paragraph (4).

(4) The services referred to in sub-paragraphs (1) to (3) are—

(a) a national Channel 3 service or Channel 5,

(b) a national radio service, and

(c) national digital sound programme services.

(5) Subject to sub-paragraph (6), in this paragraph “the permitted period” means a period beginning with the day on which the licence holder becomes, or becomes connected with, the proprietor of the national or local newspaper (“the relevant day”) and ending—

(a) in a case where the licence holder has, before the relevant day, notified the relevant authority that he will become, or become connected with, the proprietor of that national or local newspaper on that day, at the end of the period of three months beginning with the relevant day, or

(b) in any other case, at the end of the period of three months beginning with the day on which the licence holder notifies the relevant authority that he has become, or has become connected with, the proprietor of that national or local newspaper.

(6) The relevant authority may in a particular case, after consultation with the licence holder, notify him, before the time when the permitted period would (apart from this sub-paragraph) have ended, that the permitted period in that case is to be calculated as if the references in sub-paragraph (5) to three months were references to such longer period specified in the notification as the relevant authority reasonably consider necessary in the circumstances.

(7) Nothing in any of the preceding provisions of this Schedule shall be construed as affecting the operation of this paragraph or paragraph 10 or 11.

Textual Amendments

F1 Sch. 2 Pt. IV substituted (10.8.1996 for certain purposes, 1.11.1996 for certain further purposes and otherwise 1.4.1997) by 1996 c. 55, s. 73, Sch. 2 Pt. III para. 11 (with s. 43(1)(6)); S.I. 1996/2120, arts. 3, 5, Sch. 2; S.I. 1997/1005, art. 4

F2 10 (1) A licence to provide a regional Channel 3 service or a local radio service may not be granted to a body corporate which is, or is connected with, the proprietor of a national newspaper or a relevant local newspaper if the relevant authority determine that in all the circumstances the holding of the licence by that body corporate could be expected to operate against the public interest. U.K.

(2) Subject to sub-paragraph (3), a body corporate which holds a licence to provide a regional Channel 3 service or a local radio service shall not become, or become connected with, the proprietor of a national newspaper and continue to hold the licence if the relevant authority determine within the permitted period that in all the circumstances the continued holding of the licence by that body corporate operates, or could be expected to operate, against the public interest.

(3) Sub-paragraph (2) does not apply in any case where the body corporate holding the licence—

(a) is already the proprietor of some other national newspaper or is already connected with such a proprietor, and

(b) does not become connected with—

(i) any other person who holds a licence to provide a regional Channel 3 service or a local radio service, or

(ii) any person who holds a licence to provide digital programme services and is providing a service under that licence.

(4) Subject to sub-paragraph (5), a body corporate which holds a licence to provide a regional Channel 3 service or a local radio service shall not become, or become connected with, the proprietor of a relevant local newspaper and continue to hold the licence if the relevant authority determine within the permitted period that in all the circumstances the continued holding of the licence by that body corporate operates, or could be expected to operate, against the public interest.

(5) Sub-paragraph (4) does not apply in any case where the body corporate which holds the licence—

(a) is already the proprietor of some other local newspaper which is a relevant local newspaper in relation to the service referred to in that sub-paragraph, or is already connected with such a proprietor, and

(b) does not become connected with—

(i) any other person who holds a licence to provide a regional Channel 3 service or local radio service in relation to which that other local newspaper is also a relevant local newspaper, or

(ii) any person who holds a licence to provide digital programme services and is providing a service under that licence in relation to which that other local newspaper is also a relevant local newspaper.

(6) For the purposes of this paragraph a local newspaper is a “relevant local newspaper”, in relation to any service, if it serves an area which is to a significant extent the same as the coverage area of the service..

(7) In this paragraph “the permitted period” has the meaning given by paragraph 9(5) and (6).

Textual Amendments

F2 Sch. 2 Pt. IV substituted (10.8.1996 for certain purposes, 1.11.1996 for certain further purposes and otherwise 1.4.1997) by 1996 c. 55, s. 73, Sch. 2 Pt. III para. 11 (with s. 43(1)(6)); S.I. 1996/2120, arts. 3, 5, Sch. 2; S.I. 1997/1005, art. 4

F3 11 (1) A body corporate which holds a licence to provide digital programme services and is, or is connected with, the proprietor of a national newspaper or a relevant local newspaper, shall not begin to provide a digital programme service if the Commission determine before the end of the period specified in sub-paragraph (2) that in all the circumstances the provision of that service by that body corporate could be expected to operate against the public interest. U.K.

(2) The period referred to in sub-paragraph (1) is the period of three months beginning with the day on which the Commission are notified pursuant to section 19(3) of the 1996 Act of an agreement to provide the digital programme service, or such longer period beginning with that day as the Commission may in a particular case, after consultation with the licence holder, notify him during those three months as being the period which they reasonably consider necessary in the circumstances.

(3) Subject to sub-paragraph (4), a body corporate which is providing a digital programme service shall not become, or become connected with, the proprietor of a national newspaper and continue to provide the service if the Commission determine within the permitted period that in all the circumstances the continued provision of the service by that body corporate operates, or could be expected to operate, against the public interest.

(4) Sub-paragraph (3) does not apply in any case where the body corporate which is providing the digital programme service—

(a) is already the proprietor of some other national newspaper or is already connected with such a proprietor, and

(b) does not become connected with—

(i) the holder of a licence to provide a regional Channel 3 service or a local radio service, or

(ii) the holder of another licence to provide digital programme services who is providing a service under that licence.

(5) Subject to sub-paragraph (6), a body corporate which is providing a digital programme service shall not become, or become connected with, the proprietor of a relevant local newspaper and continue to provide the service if the Commission determine within the permitted period that in all the circumstances the continued provision of the service by that body corporate operates, or could be expected to operate, against the public interest.

(6) Sub-paragraph (5) does not apply in any case where the body corporate which is providing the digital programme service—

(a) is already the proprietor of some other local newspaper which is a relevant local newspaper in relation to the service referred to in that sub-paragraph, or is already connected with such a proprietor, and

(b) does not become connected with—

(i) the holder of a licence to provide a regional Channel 3 service or local radio service in relation to which that other local newspaper is also a relevant local newspaper, or

(ii) the holder of another licence to provide digital programme services who is providing a service under that licence in relation to which that other local newspaper is also a relevant local newspaper.

(7) In this paragraph—

(a) references to a relevant local newspaper shall be construed in accordance with paragraph 10(6), and

(b) “the permitted period” has the meaning given by paragraph 9(5) and (6).

Textual Amendments

F3 Sch. 2 Pt. IV substituted (10.8.1996 for certain purposes, 1.11.1996 for certain further purposes and otherwise 1.4.1997) by 1996 c. 55, s. 73, Sch. 2 Pt. III para. 11 (with s. 43(1)(6)); S.I. 1996/2120, arts. 3, 5, Sch. 2; S.I. 1997/1005, art. 4

F4 12 (1) Notice may be given to the relevant authority in accordance with this paragraph of proposed arrangements which might result— U.K.

(a) in the application of paragraph 9(2) to a body corporate which holds a licence to provide any of the services specified in paragraph 9(4),

(b) in the application of paragraph 10(2) or (4) to a body corporate which holds a licence to provide a regional Channel 3 service or a local radio service, or

(c) in the application of paragraph 11(1), (3) or (5) to a body corporate which holds a licence to provide digital programme services.

(2) A notice under sub-paragraph (1)—

(a) may be given by the licence holder or any other person appearing to the relevant authority to be concerned,

(b) shall state that the existence of the proposal has been made public, and

(c) shall be in such form as the relevant authority may require.

(3) The relevant authority may, at any time before making a determination under this paragraph, require the person who gave the notice to provide them with such further information with respect to the notified arrangements as they think fit.

(4) The relevant authority shall, as soon as reasonably practicable, determine whether in all the circumstances, if the notified arrangements were carried into effect, the continued holding of the licence by the body corporate could be expected to operate against the public interest.

(5) If—

(a) the relevant authority determine, in relation to any notified arrangements, that the fact referred to in sub-paragraph (4) could not be expected to operate against the public interest, and

(b) the notified arrangements are carried into effect within the period of 12 months beginning with the date of the determination,.

the relevant authority may not make any determination under paragraph 9(2), 10(2) or (4) or 11(1), (3) or (5) arising out of the carrying into effect of the notified arrangements.

(6) Sub-paragraph (5) does not prevent any determination under paragraph 9(2), 10(2) or (4) or 11(1), (3) or (5) being made if—

(a) any information given to the relevant authority in respect of the notified arrangements by the person who gave the notice is in any material respect false or misleading, or

(b) since the making of the determination there has been a material change of circumstances (other than such a change of which notice was given to the relevant authority under sub-paragraph (3) before the making of the determination).

(7) In this paragraph “the notified arrangements” means the arrangements mentioned in the notice under sub-paragraph (1) or arrangements not differing from them in any material respect.

Textual Amendments

F4 Sch. 2 Pt. IV substituted (10.8.1996 for certain purposes, 1.11.1996 for certain further purposes and otherwise 1.4.1997) by 1996 c. 55, s. 73, Sch. 2 Pt. III para. 11 (with s. 43(1)(6)); S.I. 1996/2120, arts. 3, 5, Sch. 2; S.I. 1997/1005, art. 4

F5 13 (1) The matters to which the relevant authority shall have regard in determining, for the purposes of paragraph 9, 10, 11 or 12, whether the holding of a licence by a body corporate which is, or is connected with, the proprietor of a newspaper operates, or could be expected to operate, against the public interest include— U.K.

(a) the desirability of promoting—

(i) plurality of ownership in the broadcasting and newspaper industries, and

(ii) diversity in the sources of information available to the public and in the opinions expressed on television or radio or in newspapers,

(b) any economic benefits (such as, for example, technical development or an increase in employment or in the value of goods or services exported) that might be expected to result from the holding of the licence by that body but could not be expected to result from the holding of the licence by a body corporate which was not, and was not connected with, the proprietor of a newspaper, and

(c) the effect of the holding of the licence by that body on the proper operation of the market within the broadcasting and newspaper industries or any section of them

(2) References in paragraphs 9, 10, 11 and 12 to the public interest include references to the public interest within any area of the United Kingdom.

Textual Amendments

F5 Sch. 2 Pt. IV substituted (10.8.1996 for certain purposes, 1.11.1996 for certain further purposes and otherwise 1.4.1997) by 1996 c. 55, s. 73, Sch. 2 Pt. III para. 11 (with s. 43(1)(6)); S.I. 1996/2120, arts. 3, 5, Sch. 2; S.I. 1997/1005, art. 4

• In relation to any determination under paragraph 11(1), (3) or (5), references in paragraphs 12 and 13 to the holding of the licence shall have effect as references to the provision of the service.

Textual Amendments

F6 Sch. 2 Pt. IV substituted (10.8.1996 for certain purposes, 1.11.1996 for certain further purposes and otherwise 1.4.1997) by 1996 c. 55, s. 73, Sch. 2 Pt. III para. 11 (with s. 43(1)(6)); S.I. 1996/2120, arts. 3, 5, Sch. 2; S.I. 1997/1005, art. 4