Love Lie-Land?: what that Love Island dossier means for broadcasters
It is not every day that I am phoned up by The Sun on Sunday to comment on one of their exclusives. But this happened on Saturday when the newspaper was preparing its… Continue
Up-to-date and expert comment on the latest Ofcom Broadcast Bulletins, compliance issues, Ofcom investigations and sanctions, and broadcasting issues in general
Ofcom: why new privacy cases matter
Cliff Richard is not the only person looking pensive after his High Court privacy victory over the BBC on 18 July. Many broadcasters are asking what it means for them in terms of their fairness and privacy (F&P) duties under… Continue
England Win Penalty Shoot Out – and Ofcom Shoots at Hate Speech
Ofcom’s tough line on hate speech is illustrated in its latest Bulletin (2 July 2018). A number of Ofcom-licensed channels aimed at Muslim viewers in the UK have in recent years seriously breached the Broadcasting Code by televising material encouraging… Continue
Ofcom: smoking, a long delayed privacy case, and bleeped language
Ofcom has been under pressure from the anti-smoking lobby for many years with complaints about the prominence of smoking in drama series – or even cartoons like Tom and Jerry. Ofcom has steered… Continue
(Late) May compliance tip – yes, it can be boring but…
…do have periodic compliance reviews! Many broadcasters have set up arrangements for their compliance of TV and radio programmes, advertising, sponsorship and premium rate phone calls, and on demand services, for example and become comfortable with them. Like those… Continue
Ofcom to dispel “the fog of lies” with new fake news and on line projects?
On the day the head of MI5, Andrew Parker (pictured), makes a headline grabbing speech warning about Russia creating a “fog of lies” over the Skripal poisoning, it is worth noting Ofcom is setting up new projects to investigate fake… Continue
Will Ofcom revoke RT’s licence over the Skripal poisoning?
Ofcom’s unprecedented announcement (18 April 2018) that it is opening seven new due impartiality investigations into the RT (formerly Russia Today) channel in the wake of the Skripal poisoning raises several fascinating legal and compliance questions. There has been… Continue
Ofcom Crosses the Rubicon
Yes, Caesar did it on 10 January 49BC – Ofcom on Monday of this week (9 April 2108). The significance of this Ofcom move however was not recognised by commentators or the press at the time. Ofcom’s Rubicon was publishing… Continue
April tip – how to win a judicial review against Ofcom
It is very difficult to win a judicial review (JR) against an expert regulator like Ofcom so think carefully – very carefully – before starting it. A JR is expensive and time-consuming. So choose your JR prudently. (By the way… Continue