Section 244: Local digital television services, Communications Act 2003

The Secretary of State may by order provide for—

any of the provisions of this Part (apart from this section and the provisions relating exclusively to sound services), or

any provision of Part 1 of the 1990 Act or of Part 1 of the 1996 Act (regulation of television services),

to have effect, in relation to services of such descriptions as may be set out in an order under this section, with such modifications as he considers necessary or appropriate for services of that description.

The Secretary of State is not to make an order under this section in relation to a description of services except where—

the description is of services to be provided in digital form with a view to their being included in a television multiplex service;

the description is confined to services falling within one or both of subsections (3) and (4); and

the Secretary of State is satisfied that the making of an order under this section in relation to that description of services will make possible, facilitate or encourage the provision of services so falling.

Services fall within this subsection if they are—

intended for reception only at a particular establishment or otherwise on particular premises; or

provided for the purposes only of a particular event.

Services fall within this subsection if the Secretary of State considers that they are services in relation to which all the following conditions are satisfied—

they are intended for reception only within a particular area or locality;

their provision meets, or would meet, the needs of the area or locality where they are received;

their provision is or would be likely to broaden the range of television programmes available for viewing by persons living or working in that area or locality; and

their provision is or would be likely to increase the number and range of the programmes about that area or locality that are available for such viewing, or to increase the number of programmes made in that area or locality that would be so available.

Services shall be taken for the purposes of subsection (4) to meet the needs of an area or locality if, and only if—

their provision brings social or economic benefits to the area or locality, or to different categories of persons living or working in that area or locality; or

they cater for the tastes, interests and needs of some or all of the different descriptions of people living or working in the area or locality (including, in particular, tastes, interests and needs that are of special relevance in the light of the descriptions of people who do so live and work).

In subsections (4) and (5), the references to persons living or working in an area or locality include references to persons undergoing education or training in that area or locality.

An order under this section in relation to a description of services may, in particular, impose prohibitions or limitations on the inclusion of advertisements in services of that description and on the sponsorship of programmes included in the services.

The power, by an order under this section, to make incidental, supplemental or consequential provision in connection with provision authorised by subsection (1) includes power to make incidental, supplemental or consequential provision modifying provisions of the 1990 Act, the 1996 Act or this Act that are not mentioned in that subsection.

No order is to be made containing provision authorised by this section unless a draft of the order has been laid before Parliament and approved by a resolution of each House.

Section 244: Local digital television services

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