Page 298 - Law and the Media

Professional Regulatory Bodies
Any satellite service that is broadcast into the United Kingdom from any non-United
Kingdom supplier does not fall within the scope of the ITC. The codes only apply to
broadcasters who hold an ITC licence.

From the public’s point of view, the most significant of the existing codes is the ITC
programme code, which covers matters such as taste, decency, the portrayal of violence,
privacy, impartiality, charitable appeals and religious programmes.

There are also ITC codes covering advertising standards and practice to prevent
advertisements that are misleading, offensive or likely to encourage dangerous or anti-social
attitudes or behaviour, and programme sponsorship to protect editorial independence and
prevent sponsor credits from intruding unacceptably on programmes.

The ITC’s powers are fairly wide. Apart from directing that an apology or correction should
be broadcast by an offending channel, it can also order the company involved not to repeat
the programme. In more serious cases the company can be given a formal warning that it is
in breach of its licence, be fined (often in large amounts), or have its licence shortened or,
in extreme circumstances, even revoked altogether.

The ITC, of course, has no jurisdiction over the BBC.

17.7 The Radio Authority

The Radio Authority is a statutory body, set up by the government, which derives its powers
from the Broadcasting Act 1990 and the Broadcasting Act 1996. It licenses and regulates all
commercial radio services comprising of national, local, cable, national FM subcarrier,
satellite and restricted services. It will also license national and local digital radio services
over the next few years.

The Radio Authority is responsible for planning frequencies, appointing licensees and
regulating programming and advertising. It is required to publish codes, to which licensees
must adhere, covering programming, advertising and sponsorship, and engineering. It also
regulates ownership. It can apply sanctions, including broadcast apologies and/or
corrections, fines, and the shortening or revocation of licences.

The Radio Authority does not license or regulate any BBC radio services.

17.8 Other broadcast bodies

Apart from the BSC and ITC, complaints can also be directed to the BBC Viewer and
Listener Correspondence in respect of BBC TV and radio. The BBC’s internal guidelines for
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