Ofcom

BBC’s Clementi makes case against subscription model

A move away from licence fee finding to a subscription model means that the BBC would “no longer be the BBC you and I know” and would undermine the public service broadcaster principle of universality, according to Sir David Clementi, the pubcaster’s governor. Speaking at the Voice of the Listener and Viewer at the end […]

Ofcom names interim CEO

UK media and telecom regulator Ofcom has named Jonathan Oxley as its interim chief executive, succeeding Sharon White. Oxley is currently group director for competition and a board member for Ofcom. He will take up the CEO role when White leaves at the end of this month. Ofcom said that the process to name a […]

Ofcom: BBC sustainability at risk as ‘lost generation’ switches off

The BBC risks a “lost generation” of younger viewers as its reach among 16-24 drops below 50% for the first time, according to Ofcom’s latest annual report on the public broadcaster. The regulator said that the pubcaster will face a threat to its future sustainability if it cannot engage young people sufficiently. Ofcom’s study of […]

Half of UK homes now take streaming services as broadcast viewing slides

Half of UK homes now subscribe to streaming services, according to regulator Ofcom’s latest Media Nations report. According to the report, the number of UK households signed up to the most popular streaming platforms – Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Now TV and Disney Life – increased from 11.2 million or 39% of all homes in 2018 to […]

Ofcom greenlights BBC iPlayer plan, despite concerns over BritBox

Ofcom has confirmed that the BBC can extend the window under which it makes most of its programmes available on the BBC iPlayer service to one year, with some content, including kids content, available for longer. “We have decided that the public value of the proposed changes to BBC iPlayer justifies the adverse impact on […]

RT faces £200k Ofcom fine, but retains licence

British regulator Ofcom has fined Kremlin-funded RT £200,000 (€222,741) for breaching impartiality rules. An investigation into RT found that the network breached the British broadcasting code on seven occasions in six weeks following the 2018 Salsibury novichok attack, and in regards to its reporting of the Syrian conflict. It had been speculated that the network […]

Ofcom starts search for new chief

British media regulator Ofcom has stepped up its search for a new CEO following the departure of Sharon White in June. White stepped down from the role to join the John Lewis Partnership as chairman on a reportedly near-£1m salary. As reported by the Financial Times, recruitment company Russell Reynolds has started advertising the Ofcom […]

Chinese state broadcaster hires former Ofcom director

China Global Television Network (CGTN), the Chinese state broadcaster, has hired former board member of Ofcom Nick Pollard. As per the Financial Times, Ofcom is currently investigating CGTN over a complaint filed by a British citizen who accused the channel of broadcasting a confession made under duress. A second complaint was made by a UK-based […]

Ofcom prominence measures “warmly welcomed” by UK PSBs

British PSBs have responded to Ofcom’s proposed measures to aid PSBs in the streaming era. On Thursday, July 4, broadcast regulator Ofcom announced its measures to ensure “that PSBs continue to deliver high-quality content for UK viewers and listeners”. These include improving the prominence of PSB content on major viewing platforms, a renewed focus on […]

Ofcom sets out new PSB measures in face of “unprecedented challenges”

UK regulator Ofcom has announced a new set of measures to improve the chances of PSBs against the threat posed by international streaming services like Netflix and Amazon Prime Video. In an announcement made on July 4, Ofcom detailed that it is setting out a “package of measures, including recommendations to Government, to support PSB […]