Edwards 1 - Broadcasting Act
Posted: Sat May 22, 2021 7:31 pm
Key provisions:
[- Privatises the Channel Four Television Corporation with an IPO on the London Stock Exchange]
-Decriminalises non-payment of the television licence fee, making it a civil offence only
-Introduces a code of conduct for persons employed by the BBC in an[y] on-screen capacity to maintain political impartiality and objectivity both on and off the airwaves
-Caps BBC salaries to £500,000 p/a and requires that all staff earning more than £99,999 /p/a be named with details of their salaries published
[-Defines Government spending on the BBC World Service as a component of Overseas Development Aid]
-Sets out a requirement for the BBC World Service to offer own-language services in specific countries as defined by the Government
[-Requires all terrestrial channels to broadcast party political broadcasts concurrently]
-Renames OFCOM the Broadcasting Standards Authority and gives the BSA new powers to fine channels and producers which are found to have displayed political bias
-Requires broadcasters to make British Sign Language interpretation available for all programming at all times
-Requires broadcasters to implement subtitles on all content displayed via streaming services, like iPlayer or Netflix, and all other online video services supported by the broadcaster