Broadcasting Act 1990 — United Kingdom law | Esheria

Broadcasting Act 1990

OFCOM controls broadcasting licences, including who may hold them, transfers, licence conditions, and enforcement for unauthorised services.

AI-assisted research synopsis — verify against the official legal text below.

Jurisdiction
United Kingdom
Instrument
Act or statute
Version
Undated source snapshot
Language
en
Official source
View official record ↗
additional services licences advertising annual reporting audit and accounts board appointments broadcast regulation broadcast service conditions broadcast standards broadcasting commencement complaints handling compliance conflicts of interest corporate administration editorial governance fees financial penalties financial reporting funding governance government shareholding insertions legislative history licence conditions +18 more

Statute overview

About this statute

OFCOM controls broadcasting licences, including who may hold them, transfers, licence conditions, and enforcement for unauthorised services. This provision sets rules for regional Channel 3 networking arrangements, OFCOM licensing and enforcement powers, and S4C/BBC public-service broadcasting duties. Licence holders remain subject to OFCOM licence conditions, compliance checks, fees, renewal rules, and possible enforcement even after a licence is granted. This provision gives OFCOM powers to warn, suspend, and revoke certain licences, sets penalty caps tied to qualifying revenue or £250,000, and sets out complaint-handling and transfer-related powers. The provision sets complaint-handling duties for broadcasters and the BCC, including supplying recordings, transcripts, documents, and statements, retaining programme recordings, and publishing complaint-related reports and announcements.