Business
Government ‘to begin search for new Ofcom chair’
According to reports, current chair Lord Grade is expected to stand down at the end of his four-year tenure
ofcom
Business
Ofcom: Almost half of UK TV employees now based outside of London
Ofcom's report warned that there is still evidence of a 'revolving door' where employee retention rates remain lower than average among some underrepresented groups
Business
Ofcom extends Channel 4’s licence for a further decade
The new licence is designed to support Channel 4’s digital content and distribution strategy, while safeguarding its investment in UK content, said Ofcom
Media Consumption
Brits watched more TV in 2023, but broadcast reach declined
Video sharing platforms and broadcasters' on-demand platforms helped drive a 6 minute increase in the amount of time viewers spent watching TV and video...
Business
UK’s Media Bill heads towards Royal Assent
An amendment to the Bill includes retaining the 'Reithian' principles of public service broadcast, ensuring PSBs continue to inform, educate and entertain
Media Delivery
Ofcom: UK needs ‘common vision’ on future of DTT
Ofcom's report found broadcasters foresee a tipping point at which it will no longer be viable to support DTT in its current form
Business
Five new non-exec directors appointed to Channel 4 board
Four of the appointees begin their three year terms today, with the fifth joining in June
Business
Ofcom investigates changing way TV is distributed
The UK government has asked Ofcom to undertake an early review of market changes that may affect the future of content distribution on Digital Terrestrial...
Media Management
Cloud companies respond to CMA referral
Ofcom said the decision to refer the UK's cloud market for investigation is a "significant step" for it to take
Media Consumption
Ofcom: Broadcast TV viewing in steepest annual decline since records began
Time spent watching broadcast TV has also fallen, down from 2 hours 59 minutes in 2021, to 2 hours 38 minutes in 2022, a...
Artificial Intelligence
Ofcom issues guidance to broadcasters on use of generative AI
The regulator has suggested broadcasters may need to adapt or develop their compliance processes to account for the potential risks involved in the use...
Business
UK broadcasters warn plans to increase ad breaks will lead to “huge cut” in news coverage
A new report from COBA states that plans to allow more advertising on ITV and Channel 4 would result in 27.5 minutes of public...
Business
ITV applies to Ofcom to renew its licences
ITV is applying to continue to deliver its PSB contribution for the 10 year period from the end of 2024 when the current licences...
Media Management
Ofcom to refer UK’s cloud market for investigation
Ofcom has detailed a number of concerns, including egress fees, technical restrictions on interoperability, and committed spend discounts
Business
UK government publishes draft Media Bill, Ofcom to regulate global streamers
The global streamers could face fines of up to £250,000 or be restricted in the UK entirely if they are found to have broken...
Business
Ofcom sets ‘comprehensive requirements’ in new BBC operating licence
Ofcom introducing more than 70 quotas on the BBC's TV and radio services to ensure it delivers a minimum volume of content such as...
Business
UK government ‘to give Ofcom power to regulate the streamers’
According to reports, the government wants to give the UK regulator the power to fine the streamers up to £250,000 if they are found...
Media Delivery
Ofcom proposes changes to digital television technical codes
Proposed changes follow last year's fires at Red Bee Media's playout centre and at the Bilsdale transmitter
Media Management
Ofcom probes UK’s cloud market
Ofcom intends to consider any market features that might limit innovation and growth in the sector by making it difficult for other companies to...
Media Management
Opinion: Learning the lessons from disaster recovery
UK regulator Ofcom has made some recommendations to broadcasters so that loss of services are avoided in the future. Raj Patel, VP of sales...
Media Consumption
The generation game: Younger viewers watching 7x less scheduled TV than those 65 and over
TV viewers aged 16-24 spend less than an hour (53 minutes) in front of broadcast TV in an average day – a fall of...
Business
Ofcom: RT breached impartiality rules 29 times in four days
Ofcom said it found that RT’s coverage failed to preserve due impartiality in relation to the conflict in the Donbas region of Ukraine
Business
Ofcom proposes modernising BBC’s operating licence to enable broadcaster to be more innovative
New operating licence would give the broadcaster greater flexibility to adapt and innovate in how it delivers content for audiences
Media Management
Ofcom: Broadcasters need to urgently improve their disaster recovery plans
Regulator has found Channel 4 in breach of its licence conditions following the fire at Red Bee Media's broadcast centre last year
Media Delivery
Ofcom publishes report into Bilsdale transmitter fire
Over a million viewers lost TV signal following a fire at the transmitter last August
Business
Ofcom suspends KTV’s broadcast licence
Broadcaster now has 21 days in which to make representations to Ofcom, which will then decide whether to revoke Khalsa Television Limited’s licence
Business
Grade: You leave your opinions at the door when you arrive at Ofcom
New Ofcom chair Michael Grade has been facing MPs ahead of his official appointment
People
‘He’s the opposite in every respect to his predecessors’: Reaction to Michael Grade’s Ofcom appointment
TVBEurope talks to Enders Analysis founder Claire Enders about Michael Grade's appointment as chair of UK media regulator Ofcom
People
Michael Grade appointed Ofcom chair
The long search for Lord Burns' successor is finally over
Business
Ofcom revokes RT’s UK licence
Regulator has concluded RT's licensee ANO TV Novosti, is no "fit and proper" to hold a UK broadcast licence
Business
RT faces multiple Ofcom investigations, Roku drops broadcaster from European channel store
All 15 Ofcom investigations relate to the channel's news programme on Sunday 27th February
Business
Ofcom: “We will not hesitate to take action” against RT
Ofcom CEO Melanie Dawes writes to culture secretary regarding crisis in Ukraine
Business
Dawes: ‘Real value’ in Ofcom regulating streaming services
Ofcom CEO Melanie Dawes says she wants to be able to regulate the global streaming services in the same was the organisation oversees the...
Media Management
Ofcom to investigate Channel 4’s access services outage
The regulator said it remains "very concerned" about the incident at Red Bee Media's broadcast centre last September which took the broadcaster's access services...
Business
UK government reopens search for Ofcom chair
Julian Knight, chair of the Digital, Media Culture and Sport Committee said the on-going process would "put a reality TV series to shame"
Business
New name emerges in search for Ofcom chair
Senior civil servant Sue Gray is now leading the search for the position, which became vacant when in 2020 when Lord Burns announced his...
People
Michael Grade ‘in contention for Ofcom top job’
Former BBC, ITV and Channel 4 boss is said to be in the running for the position
People
Dawn Airey, Tess Alps join Channel 4’s board
They join fellow new appointees David Kogan and Sarah Sands in serving three year terms
Media Consumption
Ofcom approves BBC Three’s return to linear TV
BBC Three will return to linear TV in early February 2022, and will be available on Freeview, Sky, Virgin and Freesat
Business
Ofcom: More people leaving UK broadcast industry than joining
Regulator has published its Diversity in Broadcasting Report 2021
Business
Search to begin for new Channel 4 chair
Charles Gurassa will step down in January at the end of his second three-year term
Media Consumption
Ofcom: Netflix more popular with UK viewers than pay-TV
Broadcast TV’s share of all adults’ total viewing dropped from 67 per cent in 2019 to 61 per cent