Ofcom (partially found British broadcast communication regulator statements; 2003-present): Difference between revisions
From The Lost Media Wiki
(Hearing all the television controversies and complaints over the years is fascinating to me, ha.) |
(An Ofcom summary has been partly uploaded to YouTube. On another note, I am interested in that MATV broadcast, might be worth writing about in the future...) |
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The Office of Communications, often abbreviated as Ofcom, is the official British communication services regulator. Created as part of the Office of Communications Act 2002, it was officially formed on December 29th, 2003 after a merger of organisations like the [[Broadcasting Standards Commission (partially found British broadcast communication regulator statements; 1981-2003)|Broadcasting Standards Commission]] and the [[Independent Television Commission (partially found British broadcast communication regulator statements; 1991-2003)|Independent Television Commission]]. Since then, it has regulated broadband and phone services, as well as ensuring television and radio broadcasters conform to its Broadcasting Code.<ref>[https://www.politics.co.uk/reference/ofcom/ Politics.co.uk providing a history of Ofcom.] Retrieved 26 Jun '21</ref> Over the years, '''Ofcom has ordered various television broadcasters to read out and display its Summary of Adjudication messages as penalties for breaching the Code'''. | The Office of Communications, often abbreviated as Ofcom, is the official British communication services regulator. Created as part of the Office of Communications Act 2002, it was officially formed on December 29th, 2003 after a merger of organisations like the [[Broadcasting Standards Commission (partially found British broadcast communication regulator statements; 1981-2003)|Broadcasting Standards Commission]] and the [[Independent Television Commission (partially found British broadcast communication regulator statements; 1991-2003)|Independent Television Commission]]. Since then, it has regulated broadband and phone services, as well as ensuring television and radio broadcasters conform to its Broadcasting Code.<ref name="history">[https://www.politics.co.uk/reference/ofcom/ Politics.co.uk providing a history of Ofcom.] Retrieved 26 Jun '21</ref> Over the years, '''Ofcom has ordered various television broadcasters to read out and display its Summary of Adjudication messages as penalties for breaching the Code'''. | ||
==Background== | ==Background== | ||
The Broadcasting Code is made up of ten main sections, designed to ensure "fairness and privacy" among television and radio broadcasts. These range from ensuring that individuals and organisations presented in programmes are fairly treated, to enforcing broadcasts that are impartial and do not harm those viewing it. Broadcasters are responsible for complying with the Code. | The Broadcasting Code is made up of ten main sections, designed to ensure "fairness and privacy" among television and radio broadcasts.<ref name="code">[https://www.ofcom.org.uk/tv-radio-and-on-demand/broadcast-codes/broadcast-code The Ofcom Broadcasting Code.] Retrieved 13 May '24</ref> These range from ensuring that individuals and organisations presented in programmes are fairly treated, to enforcing broadcasts that are impartial and do not harm those viewing it. Broadcasters are responsible for complying with the Code.<ref name="code"/><ref name="history"/> | ||
In the event a broadcaster is deemed to have potentially broken the Code, Ofcom will investigate the matter. This often stems from viewer complaints, which can range from programmes they viewed or appeared in, to advertisements being broadcast during breaks in programmes.<ref>[https://www.ofcom.org.uk/complaints/complain-about-tv-radio-a-website How viewers can write complaints to Ofcom concerning television and radio programs.] Retrieved 26 Jun '21</ref> If Ofcom believes there is a possibility that a broadcast made Code violations, a full investigation is made. Upon an investigation's conclusion, Ofcom may conclude that the broadcaster has indeed violated the Code | In the event a broadcaster is deemed to have potentially broken the Code, Ofcom will investigate the matter.<ref name="investigations">[https://www.ofcom.org.uk/tv-radio-and-on-demand/advice-for-consumers/how-ofcom-deals-with-complaints How Ofcom investigates non-BBC television and radio complaints.] Retrieved 26 Jun '21</ref><ref name="code"/> This often stems from viewer complaints, which can range from programmes they viewed or appeared in, to advertisements being broadcast during breaks in programmes.<ref>[https://www.ofcom.org.uk/complaints/complain-about-tv-radio-a-website How viewers can write complaints to Ofcom concerning television and radio programs.] Retrieved 26 Jun '21</ref><ref name="code"/> If Ofcom believes there is a possibility that a broadcast made Code violations, a full investigation is made.<ref name="investigations"/> Upon an investigation's conclusion, Ofcom may conclude that the broadcaster has indeed violated the Code and will often subsequently impose sanctions against it.<ref name="investigations"/> These can include fines, as well as directing the offending broadcaster to transmit a Summary of Adjudication on its channel that briefly details the findings made by Ofcom and additional sanctions it may impose on the broadcaster.<ref name="investigations"/> The full Adjudications are available on Ofcom's website.<ref>[https://www.ofcom.org.uk/about-ofcom/latest/bulletins/broadcast-bulletins List of full Adjudications made over the years.] Retrieved 13 May '24</ref> | ||
Based on the available Adjudications, summaries are often broadcast upon a broadcaster breaking regulations concerning phone-in competitions, as well as broadcasting harmful material. Infamous examples include Channel 4 being found to have breached the Code on four separate occasions following Ofcom receiving 44,500 complaints concerning racist comments primarily made by British contestants Jade Goody, Danielle Lloyd, and Jo O'Meara against Indian contestant Shilpa Shetty during the fifth season of ''Celebrity Big Brother''.<ref>[https://www.theguardian.com/media/2007/may/25/ofcom.broadcasting Guardian article detailing the Ofcom investigation into the racist behaviour broadcast on ''Celebrity Big Brother''.] Retrieved 26 Jun '21</ref> Another involved GMTV being fined £2 million in October 2007, upon Ofcom finding that the premium rate telephone services used by GMTV for its phone-in competitions resulted in most viewers having a diminished or non-existent of winning.<ref>[https://www.theguardian.com/media/2007/sep/26/business.ITV Guardian article concerning the Ofcom investigation into GMTV's premium-rate phone-in competitions.] Retrieved 26 Jun '21</ref> | Based on the available Adjudications, summaries are often broadcast upon a broadcaster breaking regulations concerning phone-in competitions, as well as broadcasting harmful material. Infamous examples include Channel 4 being found to have breached the Code on four separate occasions following Ofcom receiving 44,500 complaints concerning racist comments primarily made by British contestants Jade Goody, Danielle Lloyd, and Jo O'Meara against Indian contestant Shilpa Shetty during the fifth season of ''Celebrity Big Brother''.<ref>[https://www.theguardian.com/media/2007/may/25/ofcom.broadcasting Guardian article detailing the Ofcom investigation into the racist behaviour broadcast on ''Celebrity Big Brother''.] Retrieved 26 Jun '21</ref> Another involved GMTV being fined £2 million in October 2007, upon Ofcom finding that the premium rate telephone services used by GMTV for its phone-in competitions resulted in most viewers having a diminished or non-existent of winning.<ref>[https://www.theguardian.com/media/2007/sep/26/business.ITV Guardian article concerning the Ofcom investigation into GMTV's premium-rate phone-in competitions.] Retrieved 26 Jun '21</ref> | ||
==Availability== | ==Availability== | ||
A Summary of Adjudication can be broadcast at any time that Ofcom sees fit, and on any television channel. Since they are not repeated beyond their original broadcasts, most summaries are now lost media. Of the many summaries broadcast over the years, only five are | A Summary of Adjudication can be broadcast at any time that Ofcom sees fit, and on any television channel. Since they are typically not repeated beyond their original broadcasts, most summaries are now lost media. Of the many summaries broadcast over the years, only five are fully available online, with another being partially lost. The full Adjudications provide evidence of other summaries being broadcast, including one concerning the Channel 4 programme ''The Great Global Warming Swindle''.<ref>[https://www.ofcomswindlecomplaint.net/About/Ruling/SummaryOfAdjudication.htm An example of a lost Summary of Adjudication, concerning complaints made against Channel 4 program ''The Great Global Warming Swindle''.] Retrieved 26 Jun '21</ref> | ||
==Gallery== | ==Gallery== | ||
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|description2 =Summary where Ofcom announced it fined GMTV for the issues concerning the premium-rate phone-in competitions. | |description2 =Summary where Ofcom announced it fined GMTV for the issues concerning the premium-rate phone-in competitions. | ||
|service3 =youtube | |service3 =youtube | ||
|id3 = | |id3 =ri9BYVSRtIY | ||
|description3 =Summary of Adjudication regarding viewer voting in ''Soapstar Superstar''. | |description3 =Summary of Adjudication regarding viewer voting in ''Soapstar Superstar''. | ||
}} | }} | ||
{{Video|perrow = | {{Video|perrow =3 | ||
|service1 =youtube | |service1 =youtube | ||
|id1 = | |id1 =hW9i29r5Atw | ||
|description1 = | |description1 =Partially found summary concerning viewer competitions for ''Ant & Dec's Saturday Night Takeaway'' and ''Ant & Dec's Gameshow Marathon''. | ||
|service2 =youtube | |service2 =youtube | ||
|id2 =fksNQjNRmAE | |id2 =VLq_udoup5c | ||
| | |description2 =Ofcom upholding a complaint made by Dr Roger Mugford about the ''Insight'' episode "Bad Dog." | ||
|service3 =youtube | |||
|id3 =fksNQjNRmAE | |||
|description3 =Ofcom investigating a complaint centring around an accusation of theft made during a live MATV broadcast. | |||
}} | }} | ||
==External Links== | ==External Links== | ||
*[https://www.ofcom.org.uk/tv-radio-and-on-demand/broadcast-codes/broadcast-code The Ofcom broadcasting code. | *[https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLU89Xl6ONSljcgoAnvgOQcFmhUsBQftAZ YouTube playlist containing summaries from Ofcom and other communication regulators]. | ||
*[https://www.ofcom.org.uk/about-ofcom/latest/bulletins/broadcast-bulletins List of full Adjudications. | *[https://www.ofcom.org.uk/tv-radio-and-on-demand/broadcast-codes/broadcast-code The Ofcom broadcasting code]. | ||
*[https://www.ofcom.org.uk/about-ofcom/latest/bulletins/broadcast-bulletins List of full Adjudications made over the years]. | |||
==See Also== | ==See Also== | ||
Latest revision as of 17:45, 13 May 2024
Ofcom logo.
Status: Partially Found
The Office of Communications, often abbreviated as Ofcom, is the official British communication services regulator. Created as part of the Office of Communications Act 2002, it was officially formed on December 29th, 2003 after a merger of organisations like the Broadcasting Standards Commission and the Independent Television Commission. Since then, it has regulated broadband and phone services, as well as ensuring television and radio broadcasters conform to its Broadcasting Code.[1] Over the years, Ofcom has ordered various television broadcasters to read out and display its Summary of Adjudication messages as penalties for breaching the Code.
Background
The Broadcasting Code is made up of ten main sections, designed to ensure "fairness and privacy" among television and radio broadcasts.[2] These range from ensuring that individuals and organisations presented in programmes are fairly treated, to enforcing broadcasts that are impartial and do not harm those viewing it. Broadcasters are responsible for complying with the Code.[2][1]
In the event a broadcaster is deemed to have potentially broken the Code, Ofcom will investigate the matter.[3][2] This often stems from viewer complaints, which can range from programmes they viewed or appeared in, to advertisements being broadcast during breaks in programmes.[4][2] If Ofcom believes there is a possibility that a broadcast made Code violations, a full investigation is made.[3] Upon an investigation's conclusion, Ofcom may conclude that the broadcaster has indeed violated the Code and will often subsequently impose sanctions against it.[3] These can include fines, as well as directing the offending broadcaster to transmit a Summary of Adjudication on its channel that briefly details the findings made by Ofcom and additional sanctions it may impose on the broadcaster.[3] The full Adjudications are available on Ofcom's website.[5]
Based on the available Adjudications, summaries are often broadcast upon a broadcaster breaking regulations concerning phone-in competitions, as well as broadcasting harmful material. Infamous examples include Channel 4 being found to have breached the Code on four separate occasions following Ofcom receiving 44,500 complaints concerning racist comments primarily made by British contestants Jade Goody, Danielle Lloyd, and Jo O'Meara against Indian contestant Shilpa Shetty during the fifth season of Celebrity Big Brother.[6] Another involved GMTV being fined £2 million in October 2007, upon Ofcom finding that the premium rate telephone services used by GMTV for its phone-in competitions resulted in most viewers having a diminished or non-existent of winning.[7]
Availability
A Summary of Adjudication can be broadcast at any time that Ofcom sees fit, and on any television channel. Since they are typically not repeated beyond their original broadcasts, most summaries are now lost media. Of the many summaries broadcast over the years, only five are fully available online, with another being partially lost. The full Adjudications provide evidence of other summaries being broadcast, including one concerning the Channel 4 programme The Great Global Warming Swindle.[8]
Gallery
Videos
External Links
- YouTube playlist containing summaries from Ofcom and other communication regulators.
- The Ofcom broadcasting code.
- List of full Adjudications made over the years.
See Also
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Politics.co.uk providing a history of Ofcom. Retrieved 26 Jun '21
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 The Ofcom Broadcasting Code. Retrieved 13 May '24
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 How Ofcom investigates non-BBC television and radio complaints. Retrieved 26 Jun '21
- ↑ How viewers can write complaints to Ofcom concerning television and radio programs. Retrieved 26 Jun '21
- ↑ List of full Adjudications made over the years. Retrieved 13 May '24
- ↑ Guardian article detailing the Ofcom investigation into the racist behaviour broadcast on Celebrity Big Brother. Retrieved 26 Jun '21
- ↑ Guardian article concerning the Ofcom investigation into GMTV's premium-rate phone-in competitions. Retrieved 26 Jun '21
- ↑ An example of a lost Summary of Adjudication, concerning complaints made against Channel 4 program The Great Global Warming Swindle. Retrieved 26 Jun '21