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Public Service Broadcasting

Volume 459: debated on Monday 30 April 2007

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport whether she plans to bring forward the review of public sector broadcasting in view of the effect of Web 2.0. (134467)

[holding answer 27 April 2007]: Under the Communications Act 2003 Ofcom has the responsibility of periodically reviewing public service television broadcasting. The timing of such reviews is a matter for Ofcom, subject to a requirement that they take place at least once every five years. I understand that Ofcom intends to begin the next review in 2008.

For their part, the Government intend to conduct a review of the case for distributing public funding more widely beyond the BBC before the end of the current licence fee settlement.