By Lucy Caulkett-
Broadcasting regulator Ofcom, has reminded all stations of its position with regards to sticking to the rules during the coronavirus outbreak.
Ofcom says it continues to expect stations to comply with the Broadcasting Code and to be able to provide recordings if required.
The reminder comes a week after Ofcom named Alison Marsden as director of content standards, licensing and enforcement.
The reminder is seen as a warning that Marsden, who joined Ofcom in 2007 as a broadcasting standards specialist is serious about seeing overall standards maintained even in these types of the coronavirus.
Marsden who will head Ofcom’s team with responsibility for setting and enforcing content standards for television, radio and on-demand services and Ofcom’s broadcast licensing programme will also sit on Ofcom’s content board, a committee of the main Ofcom Board, which has advisory responsibility for a wide range of content issues.
Challenges
In a circuated email , Ofcom said: “We understand that operational challenges continue for many broadcasters and we want to provide all broadcasters with the flexibility they need to protect their staff and provide the best possible service to their audiences. We expect all broadcasters to continue to make every reasonable effort to meet the programming and production requirements set out in their licence.
“Where broadcasters are genuinely unable to continue to meet the programming and production requirements set out in their licence as a result of the disruption due to Coronavirus, we will continue to consider the force majeure condition in the licence to be engaged, and a licensee would not be liable to enforcement action as a result.
“We will review the position again at the end of the calendar year. We ask that broadcasters keep Ofcom informed on changes to their services and are prepared to provide an explanation of what steps they have taken to ensure compliance insofar as possible.”
In addition, Ofcom says it will consider delayed payment for due licence fees and can discuss alternative payment options for broadcasters who cannot pay their fees on time due to financial constraints relating to the Coronavirus.
Ofcom did not provide a reason for its warning which is believed to have taken into account its knowledge of a number of breaches and complaints recently.
Ofcom recently received 500 complaints against British television presenter, Piers Morgan, over his bullish conduct with guests on his morning show.
Only last week, London Live and radio station Uckfield FM were sanctioned for airing similar false claims without them being sufficiently challenged
Another broadcaster- Christian news channel Loveworld – was also reprimanded for making a range of false claims about the pandemic, including touting a conspiracy theory it was being caused by 5G technology.