Statement: How Ofcom regulates the BBC’s impact on competition – changes to guidance and requirements

Statement published 18 April 2023

In November 2022, we published a consultation on how Ofcom regulates the BBC’s impact on competition. The consultation set out proposals to change our guidance about how the impact on competition from proposed changes to the BBC’s public services is assessed, and to place a requirement on the BBC to publicise planned changes to its public services. This followed our review of how Ofcom regulates the BBC (PDF, 1.5 MB), published in June 2022.

Following consultation, we have decided to place a new requirement on the BBC to publicise changes to its public services that are likely to be subject to a materiality assessment by the BBC, to encourage it to be more transparent with stakeholders about its plans and more consistent about how it makes them public.

We have also updated our guidance for assessing the impact of proposed changes to the BBC’s public service activities (PDF, 660.0 KB).