Media Act 2024

23 Regulations about coverage of listed events

(1) Section 104ZA of the Broadcasting Act 1996 (regulations about coverage of listed events) is amended as follows.

(2) In subsection (1)—

(a) in paragraph (a)—

(i) for “televising” substitute “coverage”;

(ii) after “live” insert “coverage”;

(b) after paragraph (a) insert—

“(aa) what (whether generally or in relation to particular circumstances) is to be taken to represent the provision of adequate live coverage for the purposes of section 101(4)(c);”;

(c) in paragraph (b), after “coverage” insert “for the purposes of section 101(6)(c)”;

(d) in paragraph (c), for “section 101(1C)(d)” substitute “section 101(6)(d)”.

(3) In subsection (2), for ““live”” substitute ““live coverage””.

(4) After subsection (2) insert—

“(2A) Regulations made by virtue of subsection (1)(aa) may, in particular—

(a) describe what represents the provision of adequate live coverage by reference to—

(i) the duration of the live coverage (whether expressed as a percentage of the duration of the proceedings or otherwise),

(ii) the numbers of relevant services of particular descriptions in which the live coverage is included (subject to section 101(4)(d)), or

(iii) a combination of those matters;

(b) provide for live coverage not to be taken into account if the provider of the service is unable to select what parts of the proceedings are covered.

(2B) When making regulations by virtue of subsection (1)(aa), OFCOM must have regard to—

(a) the forms of live coverage that OFCOM consider are likely to satisfy the interest of members of the public in the United Kingdom or an area of the United Kingdom in listed events of the sort to which section 101(4)(c) relates;

(b) the desirability of facilitating the making of arrangements under which rights to include live coverage of sporting events that involve different sports are acquired by providers of relevant services in both of the categories of relevant service set out in section 98(1).”