Media questions

1. Explain what a public broadcast is.

A public broadcast is a broadcast that is made for the publics benefit. This can include news, art programmes such as the Film Reviews programme, which is aired on BBC, radio, and religious broadcasts such as Songs of Praise. Ofcom’s regulations mean that certain TV and radio broadcasters are obliged to include a certain amount of public broadcast. The BBC, which shows lots of public broadcasting, is subsidised by the Government and the TV licence, which is paid by the general public.

2. Explain what a private broadcast is.                                      Private broadcasting is primarily based on the practice of airing adverts on radio and TV for profit. So when you watch any ITV channel or Cable channel such as Sky you get lots of adverts as opposed to the BBC which does not have any adverts and shows lots of public broadcasts. So private channels make money by showing adverts. Private broadcasters such as Sky also have more slanted news compared to publically broadcast news such as on the BBC, which is supped to give a more balanced view.

3. What is OFCOM and what do they do

OFCOM stands for Office of Commincations. It regulates the TV and radio sectors, fixed line telecoms, mobiles, postal services, plus the airwaves over which wireless devices operate. They make sure that people in the UK get the best from their communications services and are protected from scams and sharp practices, while ensuring that competition can thrive.

OFCOM operates under a number of Acts of Parliament, the main one being the Communications Act 2003.

Having looked at OFCOM online I found that this is what they carry out under the acts of parliament.

the UK has a wide range of electronic communications services, including high-speed services such as broadband;

·         a wide range of high-quality television and radio programmes are provided, appealing to a range of tastes and interests;

·         television and radio services are provided by a range of different organisations;

·         people who watch television and listen to the radio are protected from harmful or offensive material;

·         people are protected from being treated unfairly in television and radio programmes, and from having their privacy invaded;

·         a universal postal service is provided in the UK - this means a six days a week, universally priced delivery and collection service across the country; and

·         the radio spectrum (the airwaves used by everyone from taxi firms and boat owners, to mobile-phone companies and broadcasters) is used in the most effective way.