Archives for the 'AVMS Directive' Category

Content regulation on the Internet

Published on 18 Mar 2010 at 10:03 am. No Comments.
Filed under Misc, AVMS Directive, Internet, Content Regulation, Social Networking.

Blog Author: Tony Ballard
 
On 12 March it was widely reported that a magistrates court in Wrexham convicted and fined one Darren Mattox for posting a message about his former girlfriend on Facebook.  Apparently he had called her by an offensive name.
 
He was prosecuted for having done so under section 127 of the Communications Act, which […]

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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 Audiovisual Media Services Regulations 2009

Published on 16 Nov 2009 at 4:20 pm. 1 Comment.
Filed under Misc, AVMS Directive.

Blog Author: Tony Ballard 
“Would you tell me please,” said Alice, “what that means?”*
After lengthy consultations and the circulation to stakeholders of drafts, the Regulations implementing the AVMS Directive have been made and laid before Parliament. Unless Parliament intervenes, they will come into force on 19 December.
In one sense, the Regulations are a tour de force […]

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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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