Archives for the 'Broadcasting' Category

Webcasters and mobisode providers face fees for the first time, or a fine

Published on 4 Dec 2009 at 11:11 am. No Comments.
Filed under Misc, Broadcasting, AVMS Directive, Internet, IPTV.

Blog Author: Tony Ballard
On 19 December 2009 the provision of television programme services on the internet or on mobile platforms without an Ofcom licence becomes an offence.
 
This is one of the lesser known consequences of the implementation of the AVMS Directive.  Since 2003, when the Communications Act was enacted, webcasters and mobisode providers, and indeed […]

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Public service broadcasting and the Digital Economy Bill

Published on 25 Nov 2009 at 3:08 pm. No Comments.
Filed under Misc, Broadcasting, AVMS Directive, Digital Britain.

Blog Author: Tony Ballard
The Digital Economy Bill proposes a reformulation of the public service broadcasting principle.
 
Not so long ago, the Government spoke of digital television bringing about the end of television as broadcasting and the beginning of electronic communications as a seamless web which transcended the old distinctions between television, computer and the telephone.  It […]

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The BBC – The Solution to Universal Connectivity?

Published on 24 Mar 2009 at 1:19 pm. No Comments.
Filed under Misc, Broadcasting, Digital Britain, Broadband.

Blog author: Tony Ballard 
The interim Digital Britain report proposes a digital “Universal Service Commitment” (USC) in broadband by 2012.  This is not quite the same kind of thing as the universal service obligation (USO), which requires BT (and Kingston) to provide basic voice and data to all at affordable prices and which is regulated pursuant […]

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Project Canvas - IPTV in the Living Room

Published on 25 Feb 2009 at 1:51 pm. 1 Comment.
Filed under Misc, Broadcasting, Internet, Television Licensing, IPTV, Project Canvas.

Blog author: Tony Ballard
In an article in the Financial Times in early January this year, Mark Thompson wrote that the debates last year on the future of public service television had missed the most serious challenge - how it could migrate beyond traditional television to digital platforms, and how demand for universal high speed broadband […]

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Broadcasting Regulation Extension: Linear Services on the Internet

Published on 19 Feb 2009 at 3:41 pm. No Comments.
Filed under Misc, On-demand, Broadcasting, AVMS Directive.

Blog author: Tony Ballard 
Discussion about the implementation of the AVMS Directive has tended to focus on such eye-catching topics as product placement and the extension of broadcasting regulation to VOD.  As we await the publication by DCMS of its policy decisions, the timetable for which has been slipping recently, it is worth reflecting on another less […]

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On-demand Audiovisual Media Services: Transposing the Requirements of the AVMS Directive

Published on 8 Oct 2008 at 12:09 pm. No Comments.
Filed under On-demand, Broadcasting, AVMS Directive.

Blog Author: Tony Ballard
When the Communications Act was enacted in 2003, on-demand services on the internet and elsewhere ceased to be regulated under the Broadcasting Acts.  Content regulation was withdrawn.   It was sufficient to comply with the law of the land (such as the Obscene Publications Act and the laws of defamation). 
This new freedom is, […]

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