UK Act of Parliament
1996
United Kingdom
Broadcasting Act 1996
At a glance
Enforced by
What's here
32 compliance obligations, 2 practical guides across 2 topics
Penalty landscape
7 of 32 obligations carry a fine up to £250,000. 4 carry different penalties and 21 have no criminal penalty — flagged in the list below.
Who this Act binds
Business-side actors with duties under this Act, ranked by how often they appear.
- Any Person 12
- Responsible Person 2
- Distributor 1
- Licence Holder 1
Plus 16 non-business duties on Crown ministers, regulators, local authorities or tribunals — shown collapsed under each section below.
Relevant guidance
Practical guides for businesses affected by this Act, ordered by how closely they engage with it.
Supporting — topic alignment
2 guidesOther Acts binding the same actors
For each actor bound by this Act, the other UK Acts that bind them most often. Useful for understanding the full compliance landscape facing each role.
Any Person also bound by 2338 other Acts (top 5 shown)
- Human Medicines Regulations 2012 2012 169 duties
- Merchant Shipping Act 1995 1995 144 duties
- Insolvency (England and Wales) Rules 2016 2016 101 duties
- Road Traffic Act 1988 1988 95 duties
- Air Navigation Order 2016 2016 95 duties
Responsible Persons also bound by 104 other Acts (top 5 shown)
- MH(CT)(S)A 2003 2003 45 duties
- Climate Change Levy (General) Regulations 2001 2001 24 duties
- The Offshore Installations (Prevention of Fire and Explosion, and Emergency Response) Regulations 1995 1995 21 duties
- Offshore Installations (Offshore Safety Directive) (Safety Case ) Regulations 2015 2015 21 duties
- The Offshore Installations (Safety Case) Regulations 2005 2005 19 duties
Distributors also bound by 177 other Acts (top 5 shown)
- The Marketing of Fruit Plant and Propagating Material (England) Regulations 2017 2017 28 duties
- The Marketing of Fruit Plant and Propagating Material (Wales) Regulations 2017 2017 26 duties
- The Marketing of Fruit Plant and Propagating Material Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2017 2017 25 duties
- Electricity Safety, Quality and Continuity Regulations 2002 2002 21 duties
- THE ELECTRICITY SAFETY, QUALITY AND CONTINUITY REGULATIONS (NORTHERN IRELAND) 2012 2012 19 duties
Licence Holders also bound by 221 other Acts (top 5 shown)
- Petroleum (Current Model Clauses) Order 1999 1999 317 duties
- The Petroleum Licensing (Exploration and Production) (Seaward and Landward Areas) Regulations 2004 2004 123 duties
- Human Medicines Regulations 2012 2012 76 duties
- Space Industry Regulations 2021 2021 68 duties
- The Petroleum (Production) (Landward Areas) Regulations 1991 1991 65 duties
What this Act requires
Sections that create concrete duties on businesses or carry penalties. Procedural and definitional sections are folded into the “Browse other sections” expander at the bottom of each group. Click any section title to read the source text on legislation.gov.uk.
Part I — Digital terrestrial television broadcasting
Restrictions on holding of licences under Part I.
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Ofcom must prevent disqualified persons from holding broadcasting licences Statutory regulator
Award of multiplex licences.
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Ofcom must follow specific criteria when awarding multiplex licences Statutory regulator
Failure to begin providing licensed service and financial penalties on revocation of licence.
Unlimited fine- Fail to provide licensed broadcasting service or face licence revocation Any Person
Enforcement of multiplex licences.
Fine up to £250,000- Breach of multiplex licence conditions or Ofcom directions Any Person
Enforcement of digital programme licences.
Fine up to £250,000- Breach of digital programme licence conditions Any Person
Duty to prevent access to seriously harmful extrinsic material
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Ofcom must prevent access to seriously harmful extrinsic material Statutory regulator
Enforcement of digital additional services licences.
Fine up to £250,000- Breach of digital additional services licence conditions Any Person
Digital broadcasting of Gaelic programmes.
- Supply Gaelic programmes to the multiplex licence holder free of charge Distributor
Review of digital television broadcasting.
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Ofcom must consult broadcasters and report on digital TV transition Statutory regulator
Enforcement of licences held by BBC companies.
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Ofcom must notify the Secretary of State of BBC licence enforcement actions Statutory regulator
Browse 31 other sections in this Part — procedural / definitional / commencement
Multiplex services and digital programme services.
Meaning of “independent analogue broadcaster” and “qualifying service”.
Meaning of “independent analogue broadcaster” and “qualifying service”.
Licences under Part I.
General licence conditions.
Assignment of frequencies by Secretary of State.
Multiplex licences.
Power to require two or more multiplex licences to be granted to one person.
Award of multiplex licence subject to conditions.
Conditions attached to multiplex licence.
Additional payments to be made in respect of multiplex licences.
Multiplex revenue.
Attribution of multiplex revenue to licence holder and others.
Duration and renewal of multiplex licences.
Licensing of digital programme services.
Duration and conditions of digital programme licence.
Code relating to provision for deaf and visually impaired.
Powers of Secretary of State in relation to code under section 20.
Compliance with code under section 20.
Digital additional services.
Licensing of digital additional services.
Duration and conditions of digital additional services licence.
Provision for broadcasting of services provided by independent analogue broadcasters.
The S4C digital service.
The qualifying teletext service.
Advertisements included in qualifying services.
Promotion of equal opportunities and fair treatment.
Power to vary amount of financial penalties.
Computation of multiplex revenue.
Certain receipts of Commission to be paid into Consolidated Fund.
Interpretation of Part I.
Part II — Digital terrestrial sound broadcasting
Restrictions on holding of licences under Part II.
Unlimited fineOther duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Ofcom must enforce broadcasting licence ownership and control restrictions Statutory regulator
Reservation of capacity for independent national broadcasters.
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Ofcom must reserve multiplex capacity for independent radio broadcasters Statutory regulator
Duty of Authority to reserve digital capacity for certain purposes of BBC.
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Ofcom must reserve digital capacity on local radio multiplexes for the BBC Statutory regulator
Enforcement of national or local radio multiplex licences.
Fine up to £250,000- Breach of radio multiplex licence conditions or directions Any Person
Enforcement of digital sound programme licences.
Fine up to £250,000- Breach of digital sound programme licence conditions Any Person
Enforcement of digital additional services licences.
Fine up to £250,000- Breach of digital additional services licence conditions Any Person
Review of digital radio broadcasting.
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Ofcom must review digital radio progress and consult broadcasters Statutory regulator
Browse 29 other sections in this Part — procedural / definitional / commencement
Radio multiplex services.
Meaning of “independent national broadcaster” and “simulcast radio service”.
Licences under Part II.
General licence conditions.
Assignment of frequencies by Secretary of State.
National radio multiplex licences.
Award of national radio multiplex licences.
Local radio multiplex licences.
Award of local radio multiplex licences.
Power to require two or more local radio multiplex licences to be granted to one person.
Failure to begin providing licensed service and financial penalties on revocation of licence.
Conditions attached to national or local radio multiplex licence.
Variation of radio multiplex licences: frequency or licensed area
Additional payments to be made in respect of national radio multiplex licences.
Multiplex revenue.
Attribution of multiplex revenue to licence holder and others.
Duration and renewal of national or local radio multiplex licences.
Renewal of radio multiplex licences: supplementary
Renewal of local radio multiplex licences
Licensing of digital sound programme services.
Duration and conditions of digital sound programme licence.
Digital additional services.
Licensing of digital additional services.
Duration and conditions of digital additional services licence.
Promotion of equal opportunities and fair treatment.
Power to vary amount of financial penalties.
Computation of multiplex revenue.
Certain receipts of Authority to be paid into Consolidated Fund.
Interpretation of Part II.
Part III — Amendments of the Broadcasting Act 1990
Browse 24 other sections in this Part — procedural / definitional / commencement
Restrictions on holding of licences.
Provision of news programmes by holders of regional Channel 3 licences.
Appointment of news provider by holders of regional Channel 3 licences.
Nomination by Commission for purposes of section 31(2) of Broadcasting Act 1990.
Modification of Restrictive Trade Practices Act 1976 in its application to agreements relating to Channel 3 news provision.
Variation of regional Channel 3 licence following change of control.
Powers of Commission in relation to modification or replacement of networking arrangements.
Funding of Sianel Pedwar Cymru.
Public service fund of Sianel Pedwar Cymru.
Multiplex revenue to be taken into account in connection with funding of Channel Four Television Corporation.
Application of excess revenues of Channel Four Television Corporation.
Extension of powers of Channel Four Television Corporation and Sianel Pedwar Cymru.
Restricted television services.
Award of certain licences subject to conditions.
Ancillary services.
Enforcement of licences to provide non-domestic satellite services.
Power of Independent Television Commission to suspend licence to provide non-domestic satellite service.
Enforcement of licences to provide licensable programme services.
Certain delivery services to carry certain broadcasts.
Renewal of licences to provide national radio services.
Variation of local radio licence following change of control.
Renewal of licences to provide local radio services.
Financing of Gaelic sound programmes.
Power of Radio Authority to suspend licence to provide satellite service.
Part IV — Sporting and other events of national interest
Contract for televising showing coverage of listed event must specify category of service.
Amended 6 timesRestriction on televising of listed event Restriction on showing live coverage.
Amended 5 timesDesignated events in relation to EEA States or other CTT States.
Amended 5 timesRestriction on televising of an event designated by EEA State or other CTT State.
Amended 5 times- Obtain Ofcom consent before broadcasting designated European sporting events Any Person
Power of OFCOM to impose penalty.
Amended 15 timesReport to Secretary of State.
Amended 8 timesOther duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Ofcom must report broadcasting failures and misinformation to the Secretary of State Statutory regulator
Code of guidance.
Amended 11 timesOther duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Ofcom must publish guidance on consenting to broadcast major events Statutory regulator
Provision of information.
Fine up to £250,000 Amended 11 times- Provide information to Ofcom regarding TV rights for major events Any Person
Penalties for failure to provide information
Amended 11 timesRegulations about coverage of listed events
Amended 11 timesInterpretation of Part IV and supplementary provisions.
Amended 17 timesBrowse 3 other sections in this Part — procedural / definitional / commencement
Part V — The Broadcasting Standards Commission
The Broadcasting Standards Commission.
Amended 2 timesPreparation by OFCOM of code relating to avoidance of unjust or unfair treatment or interference with privacy.
Amended 12 timesOther duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Ofcom must create and maintain codes on fairness and privacy in broadcasting Statutory regulator
Preparation by BSC of code relating to broadcasting standards generally.
Amended 1 timeMonitoring by BSC of broadcasting standards.
Amended 1 timeGeneral functions of OFCOM in relation to complaints.
Amended 5 timesOther duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Ofcom must investigate and resolve broadcasting fairness and privacy complaints Statutory regulator
Complaints of unfair treatment etc.
Amended 4 timesOther duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Ofcom must process and filter fairness complaints about broadcasts Statutory regulator
Committee to consider fairness complaints.
Amended 1 timeComplaints relating to taste and decency, etc.
Amended 1 timeSupplementary provisions as to making of complaints of either kind.
Amended 4 timesConsideration of fairness complaints.
Amended 9 times- Provide evidence and records to Ofcom during a fairness complaint Responsible Person
Consideration of standards complaints.
Amended 1 timeDuty to retain recordings.
Amended 1 time- Retain recordings of all broadcast television and sound programmes Any Person
Power to pay allowances to persons attending hearings.
Amended 1 timePublication of OFCOM ’s findings.
Unlimited fine Amended 15 times- Publish Ofcom's findings on fairness complaints as directed Responsible Person
Reports on action taken voluntarily in response to findings on complaints.
Amended 4 times- Report voluntary actions taken in response to fairness complaints Licence Holder
Annual reports.
Amended 3 timesInterpretation of Part V.
Amended 7 timesBrowse 8 other sections in this Part — procedural / definitional / commencement
Certain statements etc. protected by qualified privilege for purposes of defamation.
Power of BSC to commission research.
International representation by BSC of Government interests.
Duty to publicise BSC.
Reports to Secretary of State.
Contributions towards cost of BSC.
Transfer of assets of Broadcasting Complaints Commission and Broadcasting Standards Council to BSC and dissolution of those bodies.
Transitional provisions relating to complaints.
Part VI — The British Broadcasting Corporation
Powers of Secretary of State in relation to transfer schemes.
Amended 1 time- Provide information to the Secretary of State regarding transfer schemes Any Person
Browse 5 other sections in this Part — procedural / definitional / commencement
Part VII — Copyright and related matters
Avoidance of certain terms relating to use for purpose of news reporting of visual images from broadcast or cable programme.
Amended 3 timesAmendments of Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 relating to cable programme services.
Amended 1 time. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..
Amended 1 time. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..
Amended 1 timeBrowse 1 other section in this Part — procedural / definitional / commencement
Copyright licensing.
Part VIII — Miscellaneous and general
Standards for transmission systems.
Amended 2 timesDuties of Independent Television Commission and Radio Authority in cases involving disqualification on grounds related to political objects.
Amended 10 timesOther duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Ofcom must verify that broadcasting licence holders are not politically barred Statutory regulator
Offence of providing false information in certain circumstances.
3 months imprisonment Amended 4 times- Provide false or misleading information to Ofcom for a broadcast licence Any Person
Disqualification for offence of supplying false information, etc.
Amended 6 timesGeneral interpretation.
Amended 4 timesShort title and extent.
Amended 4 timesBrowse 3 other sections in this Part — procedural / definitional / commencement
Schedules
Multiplex revenue: supplementary provisions
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Ofcom must publish and maintain principles for calculating multiplex revenue Statutory regulator
Browse 137 other Schedules — structural / supplementary
Amendments of Broadcasting Act 1990 relating to restrictions on holding of licences
Transfer schemes relating to BBC transmission network: supplementary provisions
Transfer schemes relating to BBC transmission network: successor companies
Amendments of Broadcasting Act 1990 relating to services provided by BBC companies
Minor and consequential amendments
(1) It shall be the duty of OFCOM to draw...
(1) For the purposes of any provision of Part I...
(1) It shall be the duty of OFCOM to draw...
(1) For the purposes of any provision of Part II...
(1) In Part I of Schedule 2, paragraph 1 (which...
For Part III of Schedule 2 there is substituted— Part...
For Part IV of Schedule 2 there is substituted— Part...
(1) Section 5 of the 1990 Act (restrictions on the...
(1) Section 88 of the 1990 Act (restrictions on the...
(1) Paragraph 2 of Part I of Schedule 2 is...
For paragraph 3 of Part I of Schedule 2 there...
After paragraph 3 of Part I of Schedule 2 there...
In paragraph 4 of Part I of Schedule 2 (affirmative...
(1) In Part II of Schedule 2, paragraph 1 (general...
In paragraph 3 of Part II of Schedule 2 (disqualification...
In paragraph 5 of Part II of Schedule 2 (general...
After paragraph 5 of Part II of Schedule 2 there...
Broadcasting Standards Commission: supplementary provisions
Broadcasting Standards Commission: supplementary provisions
Broadcasting Standards Commission: supplementary provisions
Broadcasting Standards Commission: supplementary provisions
Broadcasting Standards Commission: supplementary provisions
Broadcasting Standards Commission: supplementary provisions
Broadcasting Standards Commission: supplementary provisions
Broadcasting Standards Commission: supplementary provisions
Broadcasting Standards Commission: supplementary provisions
Broadcasting Standards Commission: supplementary provisions
Broadcasting Standards Commission: supplementary provisions
Broadcasting Standards Commission: supplementary provisions
Broadcasting Standards Commission: supplementary provisions
Broadcasting Standards Commission: supplementary provisions
Broadcasting Standards Commission: supplementary provisions
Supplementary provisions relating to dissolution of Broadcasting Complaints Commission and Broadcasting Standards Council
Supplementary provisions relating to dissolution of Broadcasting Complaints Commission and Broadcasting Standards Council
Supplementary provisions relating to dissolution of Broadcasting Complaints Commission and Broadcasting Standards Council
Supplementary provisions relating to dissolution of Broadcasting Complaints Commission and Broadcasting Standards Council
Supplementary provisions relating to dissolution of Broadcasting Complaints Commission and Broadcasting Standards Council
Supplementary provisions relating to dissolution of Broadcasting Complaints Commission and Broadcasting Standards Council
Supplementary provisions relating to dissolution of Broadcasting Complaints Commission and Broadcasting Standards Council
Supplementary provisions relating to dissolution of Broadcasting Complaints Commission and Broadcasting Standards Council
Supplementary provisions relating to dissolution of Broadcasting Complaints Commission and Broadcasting Standards Council
(1) A transfer scheme may define the property, rights and...
(1) A transfer in accordance with a transfer scheme may...
(1) For the purposes of making any such division as...
(1) The property, rights and liabilities that shall be capable...
(1) A transfer scheme may contain supplemental, incidental, consequential and...
A certificate issued by the Secretary of State to the...
(1) It shall be the duty of the BBC and...
(1) This paragraph applies where any person to whom anything...
(1) Where, in consequence of any provisions included in a...
(1) It shall be the duty of the BBC, where...
(1) In this Schedule— “the Charter” means the Royal Charter...
(1) The following provisions of this paragraph shall have effect...
(1) Where statutory accounts of a successor company prepared as...
(1) Where a distribution is proposed to be declared during...
(1) For the purpose of applying paragraph 3(b) of Part...
Transfer schemes relating to BBC transmission network: taxation provisions
(1) In this Schedule, unless the context otherwise requires— ....
(1) Subsection (4) of section 23 of the Gains Act...
(1) This paragraph applies in any case where—
(1) This paragraph applies in any case where, as a...
(1) This paragraph applies in any case where there is...
(1) For the purposes of Part 2 of the Capital...
(1) This paragraph applies to any lease which is granted...
In Part 2 of the Capital Allowances Act (plant and...
(1) This paragraph applies where there is a relevant transfer...
(1) If any property, rights or liabilities are transferred to...
In determining for the purposes of Case I of Schedule...
(1) For the purposes of corporation tax on chargeable gains,...
(1) None of the following, namely— (a) the existence of...
(1) Section 222 of the Corporation Tax Act 2009 (lease...
(1) Sections 838 and 839 of the Corporation Tax Act...
(1) Chapter 2 of Part 19 of the Corporation Tax...
(1) For the purposes of Chapter 4 of Part 19...
(1) Stamp duty shall not be chargeable on any agreement...
(1) An agreement to transfer chargeable securities, as defined in...
(1) If the effect of any transfer scheme is modified...
(1) The Secretary of State shall not make an order...
In section 35(3)(d) of the Gains Act (list of provisions...
Subsection (1) of section 174 of the Gains Act (which...
Schedule 2 to the Gains Act (assets held on 6th...
(1) For the purposes of section 179 of the Gains...
(1) Where a company issues shares or debentures to the...
(1) For the purposes of corporation tax on chargeable gains,...
(1) Nothing in Part VI of this Act, and no...
In section 3 of the 1990 Act (licences under Part...
(1) Section 5 of that Act (restrictions on the holding...
After section 66 of that Act there is inserted— Enforcement...
In section 81 of that Act (enforcement of local delivery...
In section 86 of that Act (licences under Part III)...
(1) Section 88 of that Act (restrictions on the holding...
After section 111 of that Act there is inserted— Enforcement...
In section 202 of that Act (interpretation), after the definition...
Amendments of Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 relating to cable programme services
Amendments of Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 relating to cable programme services
Amendments of Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 relating to cable programme services
Amendments of Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 relating to cable programme services
Amendments of Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 relating to cable programme services
Amendments of Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 relating to cable programme services
Amendments of Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 relating to cable programme services
(1) Section 2 of the 1990 Act (regulation by Commission...
In section 176 of the 1990 Act (duty to provide...
In section 201 of the 1990 Act (meaning of “programme...
In section 2 of the 1990 Act (regulation by Commission...
In section 6 of the 1990 Act (general requirements as...
In section 33 of the 1990 Act (conditions requiring holder...
(1) Section 43 of the 1990 Act (domestic and non-domestic...
In section 46 of the 1990 Act (licensable programme services),...
In section 71 of the 1990 Act (interpretation of Part...
In section 72 of the 1990 Act (local delivery services),...
(1) Section 84 of the 1990 Act (regulation by Radio...
In section 13 of the 1990 Act (prohibition on providing...
In section 188 of the 1990 Act (power to give...
In section 202(1) of the 1990 Act (interpretation)—
In paragraph 2(1) of Schedule 1 to the 1990 Act...
In paragraph 2(1) of Schedule 3 to the 1990 Act...
In paragraph 2(1) of Schedule 6 to the 1990 Act...
In paragraph 2(1) of Schedule 8 to the 1990 Act...
In Schedule 19 to the 1990 Act (the Gaelic Broadcasting...
In section 19 of the Welsh Development Agency Act 1975...
In section 75 of the Representation of the People Act...
In section 69 of the 1990 Act (frequency planning and...
Without prejudice to the generality of section 20(2) of the...
In section 69 of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act...
In Schedule 2 to the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act...
In section 72 of the 1990 Act (local delivery services),...
In section 84 of the 1990 Act (regulation by Authority...
In section 85 of the 1990 Act (licensing functions of...
In section 97 of the 1990 Act (prohibition on providing...
In section 112 of the 1990 Act (licensable sound programme...
In section 126 of the 1990 Act (interpretation of Part...
Repeals and revocations
Official guidance
Authoritative sources published by regulators or government explaining this legislation.
- Approved application: World Athletics Championships 2022-23 (opens in a new tab) from Ofcom Detailed Guidance
- Approved application: Wimbledon Championships 2023 (opens in a new tab) from Ofcom Detailed Guidance
- Approved application: Wimbledon Championships 2022 (opens in a new tab) from Ofcom Detailed Guidance
- UEFA European Football Championship Tournaments 2024 and 2028 (opens in a new tab) from Ofcom Detailed Guidance
- Approved application: The Open Championship 2022-24 (opens in a new tab) from Ofcom Detailed Guidance
- Statement: Six Nations Rugby Union Championship 2026 (opens in a new tab) from Ofcom Detailed Guidance
- Approved application: Six Nations 2022-24 (opens in a new tab) from Ofcom Detailed Guidance
- Ryder Cup 2023 (opens in a new tab) from Ofcom Detailed Guidance
- Rugby World Cup Finals Tournament 2023 (opens in a new tab) from Ofcom Detailed Guidance
- Approved application: Paralympic Games 2022-24 (opens in a new tab) from Ofcom Detailed Guidance
- ... and 45 more
Enforcement and responsible bodies
The regulators that administer or enforce this legislation.
Office of Communications
Regulates telecoms, TV, radio, video-on-demand, postal services, and online safety. Issues licences for telecoms providers, manages spectrum. Now enforces Online Safety Act …
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Browse legislation
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Regulators
Learn more about the bodies that enforce this legislation.