Channel 9 in 'serious' breach of licence - Ofcom
Derry television station Channel 9 has been found in breach of its broadcasting licence, according to industry regulators Ofcom.
Ofcom's latest Broadcast Bulletin, published yesterday, said that Channel 9 was in "serious breach" of the terms and conditions of its broadcasting licence after it failed to provide regulators with a requested sample of its content.
Television broadcasters must retain recordings of their output for 60 days after transmission, and must provide Ofcom with any material on request.
Ofcom said that six viewers had complained that the channel had stopped broadcasting local content, as required by its licence. Ofcom asked Channel 9 to provide a sample of content from a 24 hour period chosen at random, and asked for the channel's comments in regard to the licence clause which requires it to provide local content.
"Channel 9 said it was unable to provide Ofcom with a copy of the requested broadcast as it had experienced problems with its logging system.
"However, the broadcaster stated that it normally stopped producing local original material during the summer months and ran a 'summer schedule' of other material instead. However due to serious staff problems and logistical difficulties, this schedule had continued beyond the summer without any further local content being broadcast.
"The channel explained that once new editorial staff had been recruited, it would begin broadcasting local original content again," the Bulletin said.
"In addition, a planned expansion of technical facilities would enable the broadcast of novel and enhanced local content. In later correspondence with Ofcom, the channel stated that the expansion work had been delayed and staff problems had continued. It provided Ofcom with details of its future schedule plans, indicating the inclusion of new local content."
The regulator noted C9's explanations and the efforts they had made to rectify the situation, but said they considered "a breach of a broadcaster's licence obligations of this nature as serious and significant."
A spokesperson for Channel 9 said: "Channel 9 at all times endeavours to act as a responsible broadcaster.
Unfortunately, when the industry regulator Ofcom asked for a tape of a particular day's output our logging system had failed to record the output of the hours requested.
"Steps have since been taken to correct this. Any other issues are between the Regulator and the broadcaster," said the spokesperson.
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Sunday 12 February 2012
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