OFCOM:
Is the communications regulator in the UK, that regulates the TV and radio sectors and other media items.
All industries have regulators that regulate their conduct and are prescribed by an authority (usually the Government.) An example is PEGI which regulates Game Ratings within the UK Gaming Industry.
All industries have regulators that regulate their conduct and are prescribed by an authority (usually the Government.) An example is PEGI which regulates Game Ratings within the UK Gaming Industry.
As shown in my History of UK Radio Industry Post, they are responsible in the radio industry for ensuring:
- the UK has high quality Radio programmes, appealing to a wide range of tastes and interests
-people are protected from harmful or offensive material on the radio
-people are protected from unfair treatment in radio programmes and having their privacy protected
-the radio spectrum is used in the most effective way, and not abused by pirate radio stations
-providing licenses for radio stations so that they are broadcasting legally, such as DAB licenses and RSL licenses
-reviewing radio stations they've licensed, ensuring they broadcast as effectively as they can
They aren't responsible for the content of radio adverts or the BBC License Fee, these are managed by the Stations and the Companies/Consortium's/Broadcasting Services that manage the stations.
It has a governing board of directors responsible for decision making who run the company to the standard that the board of OFCOM approves. All results from their meetings are published online to make the public as aware as possible of decisions and changes being proposed or made, so they feel involved in the services being broadcast for them.
Although their regulation ensures that no content is in breach of what the authorities deem acceptable, I believe it can lead to audiences declining, as too much regulation will result in boring radio content and a lack of free speech from the audiences perspective. Therefore, many will tune out and listen to different stations which aren't being regulated so aggressively, hence why Pirate Radio Stations were so popular, do to their lack of regulation when they were established.
The Broadcasting Code, was first issued by OFCOM in May 2005 and contains the rules, meanings and principles that the stations must abide by in order to remain broadcasting. The most recent version was published in July this year (2015,) proving that OFCOM is prepared to adapt its codes, to ensure that the industry remains correctly and securely regulated as new developments in the industry could have caused the previous broadcasting code to become outdated.
OFCOM also manages complaints from the public towards the Media Industry which they regulate. If complaints towards the same item/situation are made on mass (by many people), OFCOM will investigate the complaints made and will publish their report upon whether the complaints were justified, whether it breached the broadcasting code, broke the watershed etc. Consequently, they can enforce sanctions, to punish them, to ensure they don't break the code again, these, for Radio Stations can include:
-The Broadcast having their broadcasting license revoked
-The Broadcaster making an official apology or appropriate correction whilst broadcasting live on air.
-The Broadcaster may have to pay a substantial fine, dependent upon the severity of the rule broken, the size of the audience impacted on and the type of Radio Station it is and whom manages it.
An example of this is that OFCOM in 2007 fined Gcap Media £1.11 million for its competition, Secret Sound which ran on 30 of its 'One Network' Group of stations. OFCOM was alerted after a whistle-blower alleged that GCap had deliberately selected entrants with wron answers to go on air, therefore prolonging the amount of time the competition ran and encouraging more people to pay to enter. OFCOM said the commercial radio group hindered its own investigation by reusing to provide details and submitting ambiguous information. OFCOM added a total of 297,215 entries were made, totaling revenue of £104,536 unfairly.
Although their regulation ensures that no content is in breach of what the authorities deem acceptable, I believe it can lead to audiences declining, as too much regulation will result in boring radio content and a lack of free speech from the audiences perspective. Therefore, many will tune out and listen to different stations which aren't being regulated so aggressively, hence why Pirate Radio Stations were so popular, do to their lack of regulation when they were established.
The Broadcasting Code, was first issued by OFCOM in May 2005 and contains the rules, meanings and principles that the stations must abide by in order to remain broadcasting. The most recent version was published in July this year (2015,) proving that OFCOM is prepared to adapt its codes, to ensure that the industry remains correctly and securely regulated as new developments in the industry could have caused the previous broadcasting code to become outdated.
OFCOM also manages complaints from the public towards the Media Industry which they regulate. If complaints towards the same item/situation are made on mass (by many people), OFCOM will investigate the complaints made and will publish their report upon whether the complaints were justified, whether it breached the broadcasting code, broke the watershed etc. Consequently, they can enforce sanctions, to punish them, to ensure they don't break the code again, these, for Radio Stations can include:
-The Broadcast having their broadcasting license revoked
-The Broadcaster making an official apology or appropriate correction whilst broadcasting live on air.
-The Broadcaster may have to pay a substantial fine, dependent upon the severity of the rule broken, the size of the audience impacted on and the type of Radio Station it is and whom manages it.
An example of this is that OFCOM in 2007 fined Gcap Media £1.11 million for its competition, Secret Sound which ran on 30 of its 'One Network' Group of stations. OFCOM was alerted after a whistle-blower alleged that GCap had deliberately selected entrants with wron answers to go on air, therefore prolonging the amount of time the competition ran and encouraging more people to pay to enter. OFCOM said the commercial radio group hindered its own investigation by reusing to provide details and submitting ambiguous information. OFCOM added a total of 297,215 entries were made, totaling revenue of £104,536 unfairly.
Some good notes here on OFCOM, including an example of a real case. Well done!
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