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Introduction

1.1 The Communications Act 2003 requires Ofcom to publish a code setting out the obligations of television channels licensed in the UK to provide television access services (”the Code”). Following consultation, Ofcom published the Code in July 2004, together with an explanatory statement¹ setting out the channels that would be required to provide such services in the following year. A copy of the current version of the Code, incorporating amendments made since the Code was first published, can be found at http://www.ofcom.org.uk/tv/ifi/codes/ctas/ctas.pdf.

1.2 The Code also provides for a mid-year review of the audience share and revenues of UK-licensed television channels, based on data for the previous year. The purposes of the review are to establish whether, in the next calendar year, channels should be:

1. required to provide television access services;
2. required to meet a different level of provision; or
3. excluded from the requirement to provide television access services.

1.3 As a result of this review, 84 channels, accounting for around 90% of audience share in 2006, will be required to provide television access services in 2008, as against 90² channels during 2007. These are listed in Annex 1. Channels required to provide access services for the first time include CITV, Film 4, Five Life, Five US, Bravo2, Discovery Travel, Living and Nick Junior 2. Fifteen channels currently providing access services will not be required to from the end of 2007, including five Emap music channels, three Turner channels (Toonami, Boomerang and TCM), and three Disney channels (Disney Channel, Disney Playhouse and ABC1).

1.4 This statement is published without prejudice to the outcome of the consultation on the future of signing arrangements on television.³

1.5 A copy of this document in a format suitable for use by screen readers has been posted on Ofcom’s website. Ofcom can also provide documents to individuals in alternative formats (e.g. Braille, audiotape or large print) on request. We may also provide translations of documents into languages other than English. To request non-standard versions of documents, please contact the Ofcom Contact Centre at contact@ofcom.org.uk, by phone at 0845 456 or 020 7981 3554, or by textphone at 0845 456 3003. Please note that the time needed to produce an alternative format document will depend on the length of the document.

Footnotes

1. Code on Television Access Services: Statement by Ofcom, 26 July 2004. http://www.ofcom.org.uk/consult/condocs/tv_access_services/statement2/statement.pdf

2. One channel of the 91 listed in the 2007 statement ceased to broadcast part way through the year.

3. http://www.ofcom.org.uk/consult/condocs/signing/

• Television Channels Required to Provide Television Access Services in 2008 [pdf]
  Full Print Version
• Sianeli y mae’n ofynnol iddynt ddarparu gwasanaethau mynediad teledu yn 2008 [pdf]

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