Commentary on Sections Part 3: Television and Radio Services Chapter 4: Regulatory Provisions Section 266: Statements of programme policy
575.The provider of a licensed public service channel must publish an annual statement of programme policy, and must review its performance against this statement. The statement must demonstrate how, in the coming year, the broadcaster will satisfy its public service remit, as well as those more specific programming obligations under sections 277 to 296 of the Act, and report on how successful it was in doing so in the previous year.
576.Subsection (4) provides that the statement should take account of OFCOM’s guidance on its preparation, and should have regard to the reports of OFCOM as described in the notes to section 264 above and section 358 below. Particular regard should be had to the latest such report. Subsection (7) states that licences for public service channels may include conditions relating to the treatment of any “previous statement of policy” made by the licensee. However, subsection (9) provides that such conditions may not postpone the time at which the licensee is required to make his first statement of programme policy under this section.
577.The first statement should be published as soon as possible after this section comes into force. The term “previous statement of policy” is defined in subsection (8).