Sep 3rd 2007
By: Russ
By: Russ
Ofcom and broadcast complaints, Part 2
Here we go… In this video OfcomWatch takes a quick look at 3 cases where Ofcom resolves broadcast complaints. While broadcast complaints sometimes raise important issues, these cases illustrate that there are many situations where people simply waste Ofcom’s (and the broacasters’) time. The system clearly needs reform.
If you have any ideas or comments about this — get in touch. And stay tuned for Part 3…
Sep 3rd 2007
Russ, Interesting examples chosen. I think in the TV3 Sweden case is even more interesting as, whilst TV3 Sweden (as many other Viasat channel’s) are based and licenced here, I don’t think they broadcast ‘to’ the uk as such, just the countries named, hence also a TV3 Denmark and Norway. You could argue this makes it an even more weird decision … BUT … as you’re moving onto the ‘legal’ side of things in part 3, I’ll leave it you to cover the legal reasons why Ofcom is, in this case, apparently regulating Swedish TV, and why Ofcom bother with any of these cases in the first place. Look forward to your suggested solution(s) to the situation too.
Sep 10th 2007
Agree that the Swedish example is the most interesting in public policy terms. EU regulators have got themselves into a tangle trying to reconcile the single market-inspired Country of Origin principle and the nature of media regulation - which is really all about the politics and values of the “Country of Consumption”.
This can get particularly messy where the broadcaster is, in fact, not broadcasting to multiple countries including the Country of Origin, but is located in one country for business (or regulatory!) reasons and broadcasts primarily to a single other country. Oddly enough this has the capability to annoy the regulators in that other country.
Rob B