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Section 267: Changes of programme policy

Communications Act 2003 · 2003 c. 21View on legislation.gov.uk

Part 3: Television and Radio Services ETC — Chapter 4: Regulatory provisions

The regulatory regime for every licensed public service channel includes a condition requiring compliance with subsection (2) in the case of a statement of programme policy containing proposals for a significant change.

This subsection requires the provider of the channel—

to consult OFCOM before preparing the statement; and
to take account, in the preparation of the statement, of any opinions expressed to the provider of the channel by OFCOM.

A condition imposed under this section must further provide that, if it appears to OFCOM that a statement of programme policy has been prepared by the provider of the channel in contravention of a condition imposed under subsection (1), the provider is—

to revise that statement in accordance with any directions given to him by OFCOM; and
to publish a revision of the statement in accordance with any such directions only after the revision has been approved by OFCOM.

A change is a significant change for the purposes of this section if it is a change as a result of which—

the channel, or
any other relevant audiovisual service which is being used to fulfil the public service remit for the channel,

In determining for the purposes of any condition under this section whether a change is a significant change—

regard must be had to any guidance issued by OFCOM;
the changes to be considered include any changes that, together with any proposed change for a particular year, would constitute a change occurring gradually over a period of not more than three years; and
the previous years with which a comparison is to be made must be those immediately preceding the year in which the change is made, or in which the changes comprised in it began to occur.

It shall be the duty of OFCOM—

from time to time to review the guidance for the time being in force for the purposes of this section; and
to make such revisions of that guidance as they think fit.

About this text

This legislation text comes from legislation.gov.uk. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. These source and reuse terms cover the legislation text, not Remedy's commentary.

Reuse reviewed 21 August 2026 under Open Government Licence v3.0.