When is an Ofcom sanction NOT an Ofcom sanction?

This issue was highlighted by the recent Ofcom decision to order Channel 4 News to broadcast a summary of its determination that the programme had seriously breached Rule 5.1 of the Broadcasting Code (lack of due accuracy in news).

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Ofcom, BBC and due impartiality: six months on

No – they are not hunting for an Ofcom decision on the BBC and due impartiality – but for snails. They might as well have been hunting for that elusive Ofcom published decision though because there have not been any.

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The issue worth £150m a year to broadcasters

While you were away on holiday you may not have noticed that the issue of children’s exposure to gambling adverts exploded into the headlines again. The amount spend on TV gambling adverts last year jumped by 43% to £150 million compared to 2012.

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Keep Up to Date with Ofcom Guidance

Ofcom publishes Guidance online to supplement the Ofcom Broadcasting Code. It is important and regularly updated. Although allegedly only Guidance, Ofcom must take account of it when applying the Code. So always be alert to changes to Ofcom Guidance and… Continue

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Three things you should know about Ofcom and terrorism

FIRST – Ofcom has new powers to revoke licences of radio stations that broadcast terrorist material. This week saw Ofcom use for the first time its powers to suspend and then close down a radio station for serious breaches of the Broadcasting Code.

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Freaking Versus Fu**ing: Broadcasters Beware?

Has Ofcom increased the liability of broadcasters for the most offensive language? That may be the implication of the Resolved finding against Channel 5 for an edition of the ‘Wright Stuff’ published in today’s Ofcom Bulletin.

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