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Ringing in changes?

13 September 2007 / Helen Hart , Beverley Flynn
Issue: 7288 / Categories: Features , Media
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Beverley Flynn and Helen Hart examine the recent premium phone-in competition débâcle

Television programmes which run phone-ins—often using premium rate numbers—for the audience to participate in have come under the spotlight recently. Audience participation can include the opportunity to enter a competition, to vote or donate to a charity.

REGULATORY FRAMEWORK

The current regulatory regime for communications in the UK is primarily contained in the Communications Act 2003 (CA 2003) and the Broadcasting Act 1996 (as amended), which implements a series of EU Directives. The sector is regulated by the Office of Communications (Ofcom).
CA 2003, s 319 requires Ofcom to set standards for the content of television/radio programmes. Its objectives must be to:
- protect under 18s;
- apply generally accepted standards to the contents of TV services; and
- provide adequate protection to the public against the inclusion of offensive and harmful material.

These objectives are contained in the Broadcasting Code issued by Ofcom which applies to broadcasters—although special rules apply in certain cases to the BBC.
Failure to comply with the Broadcasting Code enables Ofcom

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MOVERS & SHAKERS

Birketts—trainee cohort

Birketts—trainee cohort

Firm welcomes new cohort of 29 trainee solicitors for 2025

Keoghs—four appointments

Keoghs—four appointments

Four partner hires expand legal expertise in Scotland and Northern Ireland

Brabners—Ben Lamb

Brabners—Ben Lamb

Real estate team in Yorkshire welcomes new partner

NEWS
Robert Taylor of 360 Law Services warns in this week's NLJ that adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) risks entrenching disadvantage for SME law firms, unless tools are tailored to their needs
From oligarchs to cosmetic clinics, strategic lawsuits against public participation (SLAPPs) target journalists, activists and ordinary citizens with intimidating legal tactics. Writing in NLJ this week, Sadie Whittam of Lancaster University explores the weaponisation of litigation to silence critics
Delays and dysfunction continue to mount in the county court, as revealed in a scathing Justice Committee report and under discussion this week by NLJ columnist Professor Dominic Regan of City Law School. Bulk claims—especially from private parking firms—are overwhelming the system, with 8,000 cases filed weekly
Writing in NLJ this week, Thomas Rothwell and Kavish Shah of Falcon Chambers unpack the surprise inclusion of a ban on upwards-only rent reviews in the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill
Charles Pigott of Mills & Reeve charts the turbulent progress of the Employment Rights Bill through the House of Lords, in this week's NLJ
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