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18|09|07

Minutes of the Fifty Third Meeting of the Ofcom Content Board Held at the Slieve Donard Hotel, Newcastle, Northern Ireland on Tuesday, 18 September 2007

Present

Philip Graf Chairman
Richard Ayre Member
Sue Balsom Member
Chris Banatvala Member
Millie Banerjee Member
Pam Giddy Member
Anthony Lilley Member
Paul Moore Member
Adam Singer Member
Tim Suter Member (items 1-3, 9-10, 12-25)
Joyce Taylor Member
Kath Worrall Member and Chair Fairness Committee

In attendance

Graham Howell Secretary to the Corporation
Ed Richards Chief Executive Officer (Minute 1)
Other Ofcom Colleagues

Children and Content: Response to the Byron Review

1. The Content Board RECEIVED a briefing on the Government consultation announced on 6 September 2007 on the risks to children’s safety and wellbeing of exposure to violence, sexual imagery and other harmful or inappropriate material on the internet, and in video and computer games.

2. The Chairman asked Members who wished to volunteer to join the Sub-Group to work with the team on formulating Ofcom’s response to the Byron Review to email him. The Chairman would then determine the membership of the group. Members noted that a number of work modules had been established for the first phase of the work. These included looking at the evidence base, market overview and review of best practice around the world. The Sub-Group would be asked to advise on progress and conclusions with regard to the work module which would consider internet issues and recommendations. The second phase of the work would look at a possibly more radical approach to media literacy and the television review. .

Media Literacy Update

3. The Content Board received an update on Ofcom’s Media Literacy work. The following main points were noted:

On funding for Ofcom’s media literacy work the outcome of the Government’s Comprehensive Spending Review covering 2008-2011 was still awaited. Informal indications prior to the announcement of the Byron Review had been that funding for Ofcom’s media literacy work would be £559k per annum.
The questionnaire to be used for the media literacy audit was being finalised.
Qualitative research was being undertaken in relation to the use of social networking sites, including seeking to understand what sorts of material children have concerns about. Quantitative research would also be conducted. The findings would form part of the evidence base for the response to the Byron Review.
Work was proceeding on the joint Ofcom/Home Office funded project with the British Standards Institute acting as agents to develop a British Standard for internet access control software.
The team was working with the Broadband Stakeholder Group on a content information framework. The industry was close to agreement and the aim was to finalise the draft in October.

Ofcom’s Strategy Planning for 2008/9

4. Members RECEIVED a briefing paper on Ofcom’s strategy planning for 2008/9. Members were updated on the 10 key priorities for 2008/9 which were proposed following initial discussion with the Ofcom Board on 11 September 2007. Members were invited to comment and a number of points were noted.

[Withheld from published minutes]

5. [withheld from published minutes].

6. [withheld from published minutes].

ITV Regional News Proposals: Update

7. Members RECEIVED an update on ITV plc’s regional news proposals.

In essence the proposal was to reduce back to one regional news service in each licence area, although retaining some sub-regional opt outs in the Midlands. The proposal further involved in effect merging the regional news services of Border and Tyne Tees, and West and West Country. Some opt out minutage for each existing region (and Border Scotland) would be offered in these merged regions until switchover. This proposal would not affect Northern Ireland or Wales and would impact only on the Border region within Scotland. (The proposal submitted was from ITV plc and therefore did not cover the licences held by SMG, Ulster and Channel Television.) The proposals with regard to reduced minutage for regional news in the schedule would however affect all licence areas. These changes would require licence variations to be agreed with Ofcom.
Members were briefed on the approach to be taken to the analysis of the proposals within the PSB Review. Members noted that they would be closely involved in consideration of the proposals.
Members noted that ITV was seeking to make the proposed changes with effect from January 2009. The executive advised that it seemed unlikely however that the necessary analysis and a consultation on the proposals could be completed in time for any changes that might be agreed to be implemented from January 2009.

8. Members noted that in previous discussions the Content Board and Ofcom Board had asked colleagues to look at the glide path to digital switchover. That work was now being taken forward as a specific module in the PSB Review.

Gaelic Media Service Operational Plan 2007/8

9. Members RECEIVED a paper on the Gaelic Media Operational Plan 2007/8. Members noted that the Plan had been reviewed in detail by Ofcom’s Gaelic Review Panel.

10. During the course of discussion the main points noted and agreed were as follows:

[withheld from published minutes]
Ofcom should approve the Operational Plan subject to Ofcom’s Remuneration Committee being satisfied on the salary position.
[withheld from published minutes]

Request for Format Changes to 100.4 Smooth FM

11. Members RECEIVED a paper which sought formal advice from the Content Board to the Radio Licensing Committee on whether or not to approve a request to allow a change of format to 100.4 Smooth FM (North West). Members noted the analysis and AGREED that the Board’s advice to the RLC should be that the station should be allowed to change its format.

Tackling Illegal Broadcasting

12. Members RECEIVED a paper which proposed a twin-pronged strategy to tackling the problems caused by illegal broadcasting. This would involve both vigorously pursuing enforcement activities and also looking at new ways of making enforcement policies more effective.

13. During the course of discussion the following main points were noted:

Both Ofcom and the BBC have a statutory responsibility to use spectrum efficiently.
Suggestions were made for contacts who could be asked to speak directly to ‘hard core’ illegal broadcasters to gauge interest in the likely take-up of the proposed community radio licensing option and alternative approaches.

14. The Content Board AGREED that the team should proceed with the implementation of actions proposed in relation to enforcement and development of policy in other areas.

Standards Reports

15. Members RECEIVED an report on content sanctions and fairness cases and recent programme adjudications. Members AGREED that it would be helpful at the next meeting to see and discuss examples of recent programme adjudications and that in future that should be done on a quarterly basis.

Content and Standards Group Report

16. Members were UPDATED on current Content and Standards Group people and policy issues.

Members’ Interests

17. The following declarations were noted:

Paul Moore had accepted an invitation to be one of three judges of the Sony Radio Regional Awards.
Richard Ayre had ceased to be a Board member of the Food Standards Agency in August 2007.

Minutes of 16 July 2007 Content Board and Matters Arising

18. The minutes of the Content Board meeting held 16 July 2007 were AGREED without amendment. There were no matters arising.

Rolling Forward Plan of Content Board Agendas

19. Members NOTED the Rolling Forward Plan of Content Board Agendas.

Ofcom Board Meetings of 3 and 17 July 2007

20. Members RECEIVED a report on the current issues under consideration by the Ofcom Board and noted the minutes of the meetings held on 3 and 17 July 2007.

Report back from the Radio Licensing Committee

21. Members RECEIVED a report on matters to be discussed at the next meeting of the RLC and noted the minutes of the meeting held on 5 July 2007.

Papers for information

22. Members NOTED the following papers which had been circulated for information:

Matters for External Communication.
The Future of Children’s Programming, draft discussion paper.

Board/Committee minutes for noting

23. Members NOTED the minutes of the meeting of the Advisory Committee for Wales held on 11/12 June 2007:

Any other business

Content Board Operations

24. On the previous day the Content Board had reviewed its own performance. The following points were amongst the points noted.

[withheld from published minutes]
[withheld from published minutes]

25. The Chairman and Deputy Chairman would reflect on the outcome of the Content Board’s review session and develop options for discussion with the Ofcom Chairman. A report on progress would be made at the next meeting.