The Broadcasting Act 1996 received Royal Assent (25/7/96) and was welcomed by Heritage Secretary, Virginia Bottomley. She commented: “We are at an important milestone in the history of broadcasting in the UK We are on the brink of a technological revolution, but the exact form the future will take is still far from clear.”
The Act allows media organisations more flexibility with the incentive to expand.
Key provisions of the Act for media ownership:
Radio companies will be allowed to own one AM, one FM and one other AM or FM service in any one area
Regional newspapers with a circulation of under 20%, will be allowed to own one AM, one FM and one other AM or FM service in an area. Those with 20%-50% circulation may own one AM and one FM service and those with over 50% may own one service (provided more than one independent local radio serves that area).
Ownership controls on cable operators are removed
Public interest tests for newspapers acquiring broadcasting interests are amended. This also applies where a national newspaper starts a local paper in an area where broadcasting interests are acquired
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