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Ofcom

MPs warn against ‘unappointable’ Ofcom candidates

Julian Knight, Chair of the UK parliament’s DCMS Committee has called for the government to rule out candidates previously deemed to be unappointable from applying again for the post of Chair of Ofcom, a clear reference to the potential renewed candidacy of former Daily Mail editor Paul Dacre. The re-running of the recruitment process to […]

September 15, 2021By Colin Mann

Data: Average UK broadband speeds increase

Around one in four UK homes can now get faster full-fibre Internet, as broadband companies have extended their networks at rapid pace during the pandemic, according to findings from comms regulator Ofcom. New figures published in Ofcom’s Connected Nations summer update show that just under seven million (24 per cent) of all UK homes can […]

September 9, 2021By Colin Mann

Ofcom: “Broadband complaints hit 3-year high”

Ofcom has published the latest data on the complaints it receives about the UK’s major home phone, broadband, mobile and pay-TV firms. The quarterly report reveals the number of complaints made to Ofcom between January and March this year about telecoms and pay-TV providers with a market share over 1.5 per cent. It therefore covers […]

September 6, 2021

The Orwellian Ofcom appointment

George Orwell’s dystopian future world of a sinister, mind-controlling dictatorship is often called upon as an analogy for political shenanigans in ‘the real world’. Usually, the comparison is overblown and inaccurate, and I’m not going to break with that tradition. However, the UK government’s manipulation of the ‘independent’ appointment of the chair of the media […]

August 31, 2021

Star China Media hit with Ofcom fines

UK media regulator Ofcom has fined Star China Media Limited a total of £200,000 (€233,0000) for serious breaches of its fairness and privacy rules on its CCTV and CGTN services. Following investigation, Ofcom upheld two complaints after it found the individuals concerned were unfairly treated and had their privacy unwarrantably infringed. Among other things, CGTN […]

August 26, 2021By Colin Mann

Data: Connectivity threat to streaming revenue

Modelling data from digital connectivity consultancy FarrPoint has found that poor broadband connection in the UK will deny some £546 million (€641m) in revenue for streaming providers over the next 15 years. With the minimum requirement to stream video according to Ofcom being at least 10 Mbps, and ONS data estimating that there are currently […]

August 4, 2021

Study: Young Brits prefer online news

Young people are significantly more likely to keep up with news using the Internet, over TV and other sources, according to UK broadcast regulator Ofcom’s annual news consumption report. Nine in 10 younger people aged 16-24 (89 per cent) follow news stories online, compared with under two-thirds (61 per cent) who get their news from […]

July 27, 2021

Ofcom proposes sat broadband licensing changes

UK comms regulator Ofcom has published proposals to change the way it licenses certain satellite systems. A number of new satellite broadband networks are currently being developed, which use Non-Geostationary Satellite Orbit (NGSO) systems to connect people to the Internet – particularly those in hard-to-reach areas. NGSO systems are more sophisticated than earlier satellite broadband […]

July 26, 2021By Colin Mann

Ofcom consults on BBC regulation

UK broadcast watchdog Ofcom is commencing a review of its regulation of the BBC. As the mid-point of the current BBC Charter period is neared, Ofcom is required to produce a ‘Periodic Review’ of the BBC. This will form the basis of its advice to government for its own mid-term Charter review. In doing so, […]

July 21, 2021By Colin Mann

Ofcom launches BBC Three competition probe

UK broadcast regulator Ofcom is launching a full competition assessment into the BBC’s proposal to launch BBC Three as a television channel. Its job, as required by the Charter and Agreement, is to ensure that any change the BBC wishes to make to its publicly-funded TV, radio and online services does not give it an […]

July 20, 2021By Colin Mann