UPDATE / 3 Dec 08: Another critique of Ofcom in the junk food advertising matter — I having a difficult time verbalising this properly, but it has to do with public outreach:
In Aug 2006 Ofcom put adverts in newspapers about the elimination of some telecoms price regulations. No similar outreach was done with HFSS. [...]
Folks, it’s Friday afternoon — you made it…
* Roger Darlington reports that we should see a new Ofcom chair announced soon. I agree with Roger that Lord Currie has been an excellent leader. It will be interesting to see who Lord Carter appoints; it will speak volumes about Ofcom’s independence from government.
* Who is with [...]
From our friend Yves Blondeel:
Today, the Dutch regulatory authority OPTA issued a consultation document entitled “Tariff Regulation for Unbundled Fibre Access – Policy Rules” (available in Dutch language only).
OPTA puts forward regulatory principles, as well as tangible one-off and monthly maximum fees (e.g. monthly rental €14.5-€17.5 per FttH fibre pair), for the Optical Distribution Frame [...]
Sections 4.63 – 4.65:
Information and communication technologies (ICT) play a critical role in underpinning commercial activity and driving economic growth. Digital technology creates significant opportunities for business and consumers alike but, going forward, a range of decisions willbe required from Government and industry to maintain the UK’s position at the forefront of the digital [...]
[Memo from the OfcomWatch research department]
I was doing some research for another purpose today and had reason to consult Ofcom’s ICMR 2008. Section 4.1.4.1 (p. 146) of the ICMR deals with digital video recorders (DVRs), but can lead to a poor understanding of the TV market in some respects. Here’s my take:
DVRs / PVRs / [...]
The interview is here. I thought this was the most interesting nugget:
While ruling out any immediate attack on the licence fee, Carter makes it clear that he feels differently about the “money for digital switchover” in considering the “right here and right now answer to alternative funding”. This is the £600m or so that has [...]
UPDATE: What a massive report. Some work… congratulations to the Ofcom team that created it! I did notice, however, that the report was prepared before the dramatic fall of the pound. I wonder how using today’s currency exchange rates would change some of the findings on comparative pricing…?
Released today by Ofcom: (click: here)
20|11|08
UK leading [...]
Ofcom seem to be encouraging complaints lately:
18|11|08
Audience complaints
Viewers and listeners in the UK have long enjoyed a rich heritage of broadcasting and quality programming.
But sometimes you may see something on TV – or hear a programme on radio – which you find offensive or think is harmful.
Every time Ofcom receives a complaint from a viewer [...]
The Ofcom Consumer Panel, and independent panel that was created to advise Ofcom on the consumer interest in the communications markets has today rebranded as the Communications Consumer Panel. The new name, which will see no change in in the panel’s relationship with Ofcom, is aimed at emphasising the panel’s role across all communications, and [...]
Happy Monday, folks… I haven’t been up this early since 2006…
From Ofcom’s webpage main feature:
Yes you can
The recent victory of Barack Obama in the US presidential elections underlines how improved media literacy can play a major role in shaping and changing society.
His election campaign relied heavily on the internet – including sites such as YouTube [...]
Ofcom’s Pay TV consultation continues to run until 9 December 2008. As of this date, Ofcom has not published any of the responses to the consultation, but OfcomWatch received an interesting one yesterday. Pablo Ibanez, a researcher at the EUI, submitted his response to Ofcom last week. A copy is here:
pablo-ibanez-reply-to-consultation (17 page Word doc)
I [...]
Is it that time of year already?
22 Jan 2009 / Said Business School – Oxford
Expect to hear some key terms repeated frequently: ‘credit crunch’, ‘UK production’ and ‘Obama’ …
I saw this Ofcom news release yesterday… Ofcom essentially forced a mobile phone retailer into agreeing to abide by certain legal requirements related to consumer protection.
Whenever I see enforcement actions of this nature, it brings to my mind the very important issue of remedies for consumers and whether the enforcement scheme is really working in [...]
It should be interesting to see how Lord Carter’s activities at DBERR/DCMS highlight a potential shift of policy making power from Ofcom to the government. I’ve heard that one senior executive is leaving Ofcom to join Carter at DBERR. Carter has also named the Steering Board for his Digital Britain Report:
DBERR reports:
“The Steering Board will [...]
From Hansard … here are some of the more interesting nuggets:
‘The purchase of shares in ITV plc by BSkyB plc was the first time that the Government have used the Enterprise Act power to investigate the media public interest test. In light of this experience and on balance, we are satisfied that the present arrangements [...]
Folks, here’s a great event from the Reuters Institute:
Public Service Broadcasting in Britain & France compared
Saturday 22nd November
09.00 – 17.00
Maison Française, Norham Road, Oxford OX2 6SE
The Copé Commission and the new draft broadcasting law compared with the BBC Charter Renewal and the UK debate over the future of public service broadcasting.
This day [...]
Ofcom’s PSB review seems to be bouncing along pretty well for the regulator. The only real hold-up now seems to be the BBC. With the exception of some people who think ITV news is important in their area (in the Thames Valley I could live without it), all the other key players are either supportive [...]
Alert: The feral beast has reappeared in our lives:
‘There are some informative and entertaining political blogs, including those written by elected councillors. But mostly, political blogs are written by people with a disdain for the political system and politicians, who see their function as unearthing scandals, conspiracies and perceived hypocrisy.
Unless and until political blogging adds [...]
From the good folks at POLIS:
Ed Richards: The Future of Public Broadcasting, 5.30 – 6.30
Location: New Theatre, London School of Economics Date: 12 Nov, 2008
In light of the Ofcom’s review of Public Service Broadcasting in June, Ed Richards, Chief Executive of Ofcom, will join us to discuss the future of public service broadcasting [...]
Yesterday’s Guardian had a good interview (Owen Gibson) with Shadow Culture Secretary Jeremy Hunt.
While Hunt resisted offering an opinion on Ofcom’s specific proposals to potentially aid the struggling state-owned broadcaster he did offer supportive comments. Gibson reported:
Hunt broadly supports the Ofcom diagnosis and agrees with the need for swift action to preserve plurality in PSB [...]
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