The Digital Economy Act 2010 amends the Communications Act 2003 to set out a new requirement for Channel 4 Corporation to prepare an annual statement of media content policy and to report on its performance in carrying out the proposals contained in the previous year's statement. The new duty, covering all C4C's delivery platforms, is in addition to the existing requirement to prepare a statement of programme policy for Channel 4 alone.
In preparing each statement, C4C must have regard to guidance given by Ofcom. This draft note provides proposed guidance in relation to C4C's preparation of both statements as a combined statement of programme and media content policy. It replaces the existing Ofcom guidance in so far as it applies to Channel 4.
As such, the draft guidance note represents a new approach to the regulation of C4C's public service content across the full range of its media platforms, including Channel 4, other digital channels, Film 4 and on-line.
Also attached is Ofcom's covering letter to C4C.
Any comments or observations on the proposed draft may be emailed to john.glover@ofcom.org.uk by 19 January 2010.