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Ofcom

Ofcom: GB News breached due impartiality rules

An investigation by UK broadcast regulator Ofcom has concluded that an episode of Saturday Morning with Esther and Phil, which aired on GB News on March 11th 2023, breached due impartiality rules. Saturday Morning with Esther and Phil is a weekly two-hour discussion programme presented by Esther McVey and Philip Davies, two sitting Conservative Party […]

September 18, 2023By Colin Mann

Ofcom boost for maritime satellite connectivity

UK comms regulator Ofcom has made changes to its Earth Station Networks licence to confirm that non-geostationary orbit (NGSO) satellites can deliver the latest space-based broadband services to ships and boats. At the same time, the new measures are designed to help Ofcom protect other services, such as radio astronomy, from harmful interference. Every satellite […]

September 15, 2023By Colin Mann

Research: UK broadband speeds on the rise

UK comms regulator Ofcom has published its latest research into the performance of home broadband services in the UK, obtained by measuring the performance delivered to customers’ routers, and data provided to by the UK’s four largest broadband providers. Download speeds on the rise Ofcom’s research shows that average download speeds for home broadband have […]

September 14, 2023By Colin Mann

MPs to probe kids’ screen time

The Education Committee of the UK House of Commons is launching a new inquiry into the effects of screen time on education and wellbeing. MPs will look into how apps, the Internet and access to smart phones and tablets can impact children’s education and wellbeing, from the early years to the start of adulthood. As […]

September 11, 2023By Colin Mann

Report: Full-fibre broadband for over half UK homes

UK comms regulator Ofcom’s latest Connected Nations report updates mobile coverage and broadband availability across the UK – revealing full-fibre broadband is now on offer to the majority of UK homes. Based on findings from April and May 2023, it shows the extent to which people in the UK are able to access the broadband […]

September 7, 2023By Colin Mann

Virgin Media slammed by consumer group

Which?, the UK consumer organisation, has called on regulator Ofcom to look into “egregious” pricing tactics by Virgin Media and its “woeful” customer service. Which? argues that Virgin Media could be breaking the law and has given itself “sweeping powers” to hike broadband fees by unlimited sums whenever it wants. The consumer organisation says that […]

August 24, 2023By Chris Forrester

Ofcom spectrum boost for satellite gateways

UK comms regulator Ofcom has set out proposals to make more radio spectrum available for use by ‘earth station gateways’ – large dishes on the ground that connect a satellite network to the Internet. Gateways allow satellite operators to support a range of broadband services in the UK, such as helping to better connect homes […]

August 18, 2023By Colin Mann

Ofcom: VSP rules hard to understand

A report, Regulating Video-Sharing Platforms (VSPs), from UK comms regulator Ofcom lifts the lid, for the first time, on how easy it is for people to access, use and understand the terms and conditions set by six platforms: BitChute, Brand New Tube, OnlyFans, Snapchat, TikTok and Twitch. It also scrutinises how these VSPs communicate what […]

August 9, 2023By Colin Mann

Ofcom: 4 new GB News impartiality probes

UK broadcast regulator Ofcom has opened four further investigations into GB News’s compliance with its due impartiality rules. The first investigation concerns an episode of Friday Morning with Esther and Phil, which aired on May 12th. During the programme, there was discussion about a range of issues including relating to a teenager who was being […]

August 7, 2023By Colin Mann

Ofcom: Linear broadcast slump as boomers switch to streaming

The media diets of viewers and listeners in the UK appear to be more diverse and fragmented than ever, according to broadcast regulator Ofcom’s latest annual report on the TV, online video, radio and audio sectors. As competition for the nation’s attention intensifies, Media Nations 2023 finds that the proportion of viewers who tune in […]

August 3, 2023By Colin Mann