Commentary on Sections Part 3: Television and Radio Services Chapter 4: Regulatory Provisions Section 299: Categorisation of listed events
641.This section amends section 97 of the Broadcasting Act 1996 to provide for the existing concept of ‘listed events’ to be divided into two categories, called ‘group A’ and ‘group B’. Listed events are sporting or other events of national interest, which the Secretary of State has listed for the purpose of attracting the legal consequences provided for by Part 4 of the 1996 Act. The amendment requires all listed events to be allocated to one of these groups. When an event is listed, the Secretary of State will allocate it to a group, and she may decide to move a listed event from one group to another, subject to the same consultation requirements that already apply to a decision to list an event. The existing requirement to consult the ITC is replaced by one to consult OFCOM.