Broadcasting Act 1996

Miscellaneous and supplemental U.K.

32 Digital broadcasting of Gaelic programmes. U.K.

(1) The Secretary of State may by order provide for the Commission to include in any multiplex licence granted in respect of one frequency to which section 28 applies such conditions relating to the broadcasting of programmes in Gaelic for reception wholly or mainly in Scotland as may be specified in, or determined by them under, the order.

(2) The Secretary of State may by order require the holder of a multiplex licence (“the holder”), in complying with any such conditions, to broadcast programmes in Gaelic supplied by each of the persons mentioned in subsection (4) (“the suppliers”) amounting to such minimum number of hours (if any) of transmission time per year as may be specified in the order in relation to that supplier.

(3) For the purpose of enabling the holder to comply with any such conditions and any obligation imposed by virtue of subsection (2), it shall be the duty of each supplier to provide the holder, free of charge, with such programmes in Gaelic which have been broadcast by the supplier as the holder may request.

(4) The suppliers are—

(a) the BBC,

(b) the Channel Four Television Corporation,

(c) any holder of a Channel 3 licence to provide a regional Channel 3 service (within the meaning of Part I of the 1990 Act) for reception wholly in Scotland, and

(d) such other persons providing television broadcasting services as may be specified by order by the Secretary of State.

(5) Subsection (3) shall not apply in relation to any programme first broadcast by the supplier concerned—

(a) before 1st January 1993, or

(b) in the period beginning on 1st January 1993 and ending on 31st March 1997, if the supplier has no right to broadcast it again or has such a right but is not entitled to transfer it to the holder.

(6) The holder may broadcast any programme supplied by virtue of subsection (3) on one occasion only.

(7) The holder shall consult Comataidh Craolaidh Gaidhlig and the suppliers about—

(a) the quantity of programmes likely to be requested by the holder from each supplier by virtue of subsection (3), and

(b) the schedules proposed for the broadcast by the holder of programmes supplied by virtue of that subsection,

and shall have regard to any comments made as a result of such consultation.

(8) Any order under this section shall be subject to annulment in pursuance of a resolution of either House of Parliament.

(9) In this section “Gaelic” means the Gaelic language as spoken in Scotland.

33 Review of digital television broadcasting. U.K.

(1) For the purpose of considering for how long it would be appropriate for television broadcasting services to continue to be provided in analogue form, the Secretary of State—

(a) shall keep under review the extent of—

(i) the provision in the United Kingdom of multiplex services,

(ii) the availability in the United Kingdom in digital form of the services specified in section 2(3), S4C Digital, the qualifying teletext service, and the television broadcasting services of the BBC, and

(iii) the ownership or possession in the United Kingdom of equipment capable of receiving the services referred to in sub-paragraph (ii) when broadcast or transmitted in digital form,

and the likely future extent of such provision, such availability and such ownership or possession, and

(b) shall, on or before the fourth anniversary of the day on which the first multiplex licence is granted under section 8, and at such time or times thereafter as he thinks fit, require the Commission and the BBC to report to him on the matters referred to in paragraph (a).

(2) If the Commission or the BBC are required to submit a report under subsection (1)(b), they shall submit the report within twelve months of the date of the requirement.

(3) Before making any report under subsection (1)(b), the Commission shall consult—

(a) the holders of all multiplex licences,

(b) the holders of digital programme licences who are providing digital programme services which are being broadcast,

(c) such other persons providing services licensed by the Commission under this Part or Part I or II of the 1990 Act as the Commission think fit, and

(d) the Welsh Authority;

and the Commission shall include in their report a summary of representations made to them by the persons consulted.

(4) For the purpose mentioned in subsection (1), the Secretary of State shall, on requiring reports under subsection (1)(b), consult—

(a) such persons appearing to him to represent viewers as he thinks fit, and

(b) such other persons as he thinks fit,

in connection with the matters referred to in subsection (1)(a) and also, if the Secretary of State thinks fit, as to the likely effects on viewers of any television broadcasting service ceasing to be broadcast in analogue form.

(5) In this section “television broadcasting service” has the same meaning as in Part I of the 1990 Act.

34 Promotion of equal opportunities and fair treatment. U.K.

(1) Any multiplex licence or digital programme licence shall include conditions requiring the licence holder—

(a) to make arrangements for promoting, in relation to employment by him, equality of opportunity between men and women and between persons of different racial groups,

(b) to make arrangements for promoting, in relation to employment by him, the fair treatment of disabled persons, and

(c) to review those arrangements from time to time.

(2) In subsection (1) “racial group” has the same meaning as in the M1 Race Relations Act 1976 [F1 or, in Northern Ireland, the Race Relations (Northern Ireland) Order 1997], and “disabled person” has the same meaning as in the M2 Disability Discrimination Act 1995.

Textual Amendments

F1 Words in s. 34(2) inserted (4.8.1997) by S.I. 1997/869, art. 73, Sch. 2 para. 9; S.R. 1997/273, art. 2(4)

Marginal Citations

M1 1976 c. 74.

M2 1995 c. 50.

35 Enforcement of licences held by BBC companies. U.K.

Where the Commission—

(a) give a direction to a BBC company under section 40(1) of the 1990 Act as applied by section 23(8) or 27(8),

(b) serve a notice on a BBC company under any provision of section 17, 23 or 27, or

(c) receive any representations from a BBC company under section 17(4), 23(6) or 27(6) or under section 42 of the 1990 Act as so applied,

the Commission shall send a copy of the direction, notice or representations to the Secretary of State.

36 Power to vary amount of financial penalties. U.K.

(1) The Secretary of State may by order amend any of the provisions specified in subsection (2) by substituting a different sum for the sum for the time being specified there.

(2) The provisions referred to in subsection (1) are—

• section 11(5)(a);

• section 17(2)(a);

• section 23(2)(a); and

• section 27(2)(a).

(3) An order under subsection (1) shall be subject to annulment in pursuance of a resolution of either House of Parliament.

37 Computation of multiplex revenue. U.K.

Part I of Schedule 1 (which contains provisions relating to the computation of multiplex revenue for the purposes of this Part) shall have effect.

38 Certain receipts of Commission to be paid into Consolidated Fund. U.K.

(1) Where, in respect of any licence granted under this Part, the Commission receive any of the amounts specified in subsection (2), that amount shall not form part of the revenues of the Commission but shall—

(a) if the licence is for the provision of a service for any area in Great Britain, be paid into the Consolidated Fund of the United Kingdom,

(b) if the licence is for the provision of a service for any area in Northern Ireland, be paid into the Consolidated Fund of Northern Ireland, or

(c) in any other case, be paid into whichever of those Funds the Commission consider appropriate or into both of those Funds in such proportions as the Commission consider appropriate.

(2) The amounts referred to in subsection (1) are amounts payable to the Commission by virtue of any of the following provisions—

• section 11(5);

• section 13(1);

• section 17(1);

• section 23(1);

• section 27(1).

(3) Subsection (1) shall not be construed as applying to any amount which is required by the Commission for the making of an adjustment in respect of an overpayment made by any person.

(4) Any amount payable by any person to the Commission under or by virtue of this Part shall be recoverable by them as a debt due to them from that person; and, where any amount is so payable by a person as the holder of a licence granted under this Part, his liability to pay it shall not be affected by his licence ceasing (for any reason) to be in force.

(5) The Commission shall, in respect of each financial year, prepare an account showing—

(a) all such amounts falling within subsection (1) as have been received by them, and

(b) the sums paid into the Consolidated Funds of the United Kingdom and Northern Ireland respectively under that subsection in respect of those amounts,

and shall send that account to the Comptroller and Auditor General not later than the end of the month of November following the financial year to which it relates; and the Comptroller and Auditor General shall examine, certify and report on the account and lay copies of it, together with his report, before each House of Parliament.

39 Interpretation of Part I. U.K.

(1) In this Part—

• “ancillary service” has the meaning given by section 24(2);

• “a Channel 3 licence” has the same meaning as in Part I of the 1990 Act and “a Channel 3 service” means a regional or national Channel 3 service (within the meaning of that Part);

• “Channel 4”, “Channel 5” and “a Channel 5 licence” have the same meaning as in Part I of the 1990 Act;

• “the Commission” means the Independent Television Commission;

• “digital additional service” has the meaning given by section 24(1), and “digital additional services licence” means a licence to provide such services;

• “digital programme service” has the meaning given by section 1(4), and “digital programme licence” means a licence to provide such services;

• “independent analogue broadcaster” has the meaning given by section 2(1);

• “licence” means a licence under this Part, and “licensed” shall be construed accordingly;

• “multiplex service” has the meaning given by section 1(1), and “multiplex licence” means a licence to provide such a service;

• “public teletext provider” has the meaning given by section 2(6);

• “qualifying service” has the meaning given by section 2(2);

• “qualifying teletext service” means the public teletext service provided by the public teletext provider for broadcasting in digital form as a qualifying service;

• “S4C” and “on S4C” have the same meaning as in Part I of the 1990 Act;

• “S4C Digital” means the service referred to in section 57(1A)(a) of the 1990 Act, and “on S4C Digital” means in that service;

• “technical service” has the meaning given by section 24(3).

(2) Where the person who is for the time being the holder of any licence (“the present licence holder”) is not the person to whom the licence was originally granted, any reference in this Part (however expressed) to the holder of the licence shall be construed, in relation to any time falling before the date when the present licence holder became the holder of it, as including a reference to a person who was previously the holder of the licence.