Broadcasting Act 1981

Teletext services

14Provision of teletext services by Authority

(1)Without prejudice to the generality of section 3(3), the television broadcasting services provided by the Authority may, if the Authority think fit, include teletext services.

(2)Without prejudice to the powers conferred on the Authority by section 3(2), teletext transmissions broadcast by the Authority shall be provided not by the Authority but by persons (referred to in this Act as " teletext contractors ") who, under contracts with the Authority, have, in consideration of payments to the Authority and subject to such of the provisions of this Act as apply in relation to such transmissions, the right and the duty to provide material (which may include advertisements) to be included in teletext transmissions broadcast by the Authority.

(3)A teletext contractor may, but need not, be a TV programme contractor.

(4)For the purposes of this Act teletext transmissions shall not be treated as programmes, subject however to subsection (5) and to any other provisions of this Act expressly requiring them to be so treated for the purpose of particular provisions.

(5)In the provisions mentioned in Schedule 3—

(a)references to programmes or to television programmes shall be read as including references to teletext transmissions ; and

(b)references to programme contractors shall be read as including references to teletext contractors;

and in section 3(2), in its application in relation to teletext transmissions or teletext contractors by virtue of this subsection, the reference to section 2(3) shall be read as a reference to subsection (2) of this section.

(6)In this Act " teletext transmission " means a television transmission intended for general reception and consisting of a succession of visual displays (with or without accompanying sound) each capable of being selected and held for separate viewing or other use, and " teletext service " means a service consisting of teletext transmissions.

15Code for teletext transmissions

(1)The Authority—

(a)shall draw up, and from time to time review, a code giving guidance as to such matters concerning standards and practice for teletext transmissions (including advertisements) broadcast by the Authority as the Authority may consider suitable for inclusion in the code; and

(b)shall secure that the provisions of the code are observed in relation to all teletext transmissions broadcast by the Authority.

(2)Before drawing up or revising a code under this section the Authority shall consult the Secretary of State.

(3)The Authority may, in the discharge of their general responsibility for television broadcasting services provided by them, impose requirements as to standards and practice for teletext transmissions broadcast by them which go beyond, or relate to matters not covered by, the provisions of the code.

(4)The methods of control exercisable by the Authority—

(a)for the purpose of securing that the provisions of the code are observed ; and

(b)for the purpose of securing compliance with requirements imposed under subsection (3) which go beyond, or relate to matters not covered by, the code,

shall include a power to give directions to a teletext contractor imposing prohibitions or restrictions as respects items of a specified class or description or as respects a particular item.