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Television Licensees: Change of Control Reviews

Whenever a Channel 3 licensee or Channel 5 undergo a "change of control" Ofcom is required under sections 351 and 353 of the Communications Act 2003 to review the effects or likely effects of this on various matters listed in the Act. These include original productions, news, current affairs, regional production and in the case of Channel 3 regional programmes, employment in the regions and the quality and range of programmes made available by licensees to the network.

When the reviews are complete Ofcom must publish a report setting out its conclusions and any action it proposes to take to safeguard the position which existed before the change of control. The basis on which it can or must take such action is set out in sections 352 and 354 of the Act.

• Channel 3 Regional Change of Control Reviews [pdf]
• Channel 5 Change of Control Review [pdf]
• GMTV Change of Control Review [pdf]
• Communications Act 2003 - Changes of control [pdf]
  Sections 351, 352, 353 and 354

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