UK broadcast regulator Ofcom has confirmed changes to its Broadcasting Code and Code on the Scheduling of Television Advertising following consultation. The changes reflect new requirements on broadcasters under the revised Audiovisual Media Services Regulation 2020, and also take account of legislative changes following the end of the transition period for the UK’s withdrawal from the European Union. In brief, Ofcom is amending: the […]

Eight million UK homes can now access gigabit-speed broadband according to UK comms regulator Ofcom’s annual Connected Nations report, which analyses the availability of broadband and mobile services across the UK and each of its nations. This year’s report comes as millions of people continue to work from home as a result of the coronavirus […]

Traditional UK broadcasting is unlikely to survive in the online world, unless broadcasting laws and regulation are overhauled and broadcasters speed up their transformation for the digital age, concludes regulator Ofcom in its Small Screen: Big Debate review of public service broadcasting (PSB). Ofcom is looking at how to strengthen and maintain PSB for the […]

UK broadcast regulator Ofcom has found that commercial PSB ITV failed properly to implement and execute procedures that are fundamental to ensuring compliance with rules regarding the operation of its broadcast competitions and the relevant licence conditions. The broadcaster identified six broadcast competitions, which ran between 2016 and 2019, where a proportion of eligible postal […]

Supporting innovation is at the heart of UK comms regulator Ofcom’s new vision for managing spectrum in the future. To support innovation, it wants to make it easier for organisations to access the spectrum they need for new and exciting uses. For example, this could include remote healthcare applications to support people taking medication and […]

Ofcom has granted a licence for Rupert Murdoch to launch a new TV news service in the UK. The channel, simply branded News UK, will now go live next year, with a spring launch mooted. Although no on-screen talent has yet been revealed for the “opinionated” new channel, rumoured names include Piers Morgan and Lord […]

Tech giants will be subject to a new regime to give UK consumers more choice and control over their data, help small businesses thrive, and ensure news outlets are not forced out by their bigger rivals. A dedicated Digital Markets Unit, which will be set up within the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA), will work […]

UK comms regulator Ofcom has published its annual monitoring report on the progress towards delivering a more independent Openreach, the digital infrastructure subsidiary of dominant telco BT. In 2017, BT notified Ofcom of its voluntary commitments to reform Openreach. This included Openreach becoming a legally separate entity with its own board, management and staff. In […]

The next UK spectrum auction has moved a significant step closer, with comms regulator Ofcom publishing the final regulations, application form and guidance for those looking to take part in the auction. To help improve mobile services and give more people access to 5G networks, Ofcom will release 200 MHz of spectrum in two frequency […]