Broadcasting Act 1990

Independent Television Commission

The Broadcasting Act 1990 was created by the UK parliament, this was through the support of the conservative party (which was the party in power at the time) , in carrying it through the parliamentary stages whilst it was still a bill. As Margret Thatcher was the prime minister at the time, the act was often regarded as 'thatcherism'. Margret Thatcher described British broadcasting as "the last bastion of restrictive practices".  The act allowed for there to be a huge amendment or reform of British broadcasting. This however resulted in the termination of the Independent Broadcasting Authority (IBA) which is was the regulatory body in the UK for commercial television such as ITV and Channel 4. This was replaced by the Independent television commission (ITC) which then regulate these commercial channels. The act also established the Channel 4 television corporation to run Channel 4, which was regulated by the ITC. 

Independent Broadcasting Authority 

 Once the act had been passed, it impacted many areas of the British television industry. The impact was good but mostly it had a negative effect on how things were carried out making and most certainly regulated. Firstly, the biggest impact it had was the replacement of the IBA with the ITC. This was impacted because it now meant that they merged together the form was is known as OFCOM. Subsequently,  this meant that the television industry was more liberal in what it was able to broadcast on TV, without the risk of it being cancelled or taken off air. This was in a way deregulating television to allow for the industry to grow in creativity and develop ideas, in order to keep up with other major competition such as American TV. 

Another impact that the act had was giving the ITC more power than the IBA over the regulating of both terrestrial and non-terrestrial channels. This deregulation had a positive impact on companies who were able to set up  TV channels, which created a variety in choice in the British television industry. This changed was described by David Waddington as ''a massive expansion in choice''.  

The Independent Television Commission's role was to licence and regulate commercial television in the UK. This included regulating the existing fifteen channels as well as ITV, and channel 4. The ITC was then merged with IBA in 2003 and became known as OFCOM, which was done through the communications act 2003, they now regulate television and radio in the UK. 

The Broadcasting Act 1990 allowed for the final terrestrial channel to be created before television moved to digital. This was Channel 5 and was created in 1997. 

 In my opinion I think it was an overall good thing, to have an extra channel be created through this act. This is because it opens up and allows for opportunity in innovating broadcasting ideas, developing them and creating change through those ideas, which will inevitably impact on British television. The fact that the act had an effect in regulation also makes it a ''good'' thing in terms of the creation of the final terrestrial channel.  The BBC makes much of their own content - known as 'in- house' production - as well as commissioning content from independent producers. Although editorial decisions are for the BBC Executive, the trust has a number of specific duties in the area. For example Original Productions - the BBC Executive and Ofcom must agree an appropriate proportion of programming to be made in the UK outside the M25 area.

Around a quarter of BBCs revenues come from its commercial arm BBC Worldwide, which sells BBC programmes and services internationally and also distributes the BBCs international 24-hour English-language news service BBC World News. Rupert Murdoch profited from the Act as he was bringing in more companies to the UK. This was a good thing because the audience would have more variety of channels to watch and even some international channels as well. However, its bad because everyone is paying a license fee which is pricey. But in order to watch these you need to pay and plus the audience are getting original content so its worth paying the money.