To read this content please select one of the options below:

Competition policy and regulatory style – issues for OFCOM

Thomas Gibbons (Halliwells Professor of Law, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK.)

info

ISSN: 1463-6697

Article publication date: 1 October 2005

1571

Abstract

Purpose

To examine whether OFCOM's Public Service Broadcasting Review has responded adequately to the contestable values entailed in this dimension of media policy.

Design/methodology/approach

Analysis of OFCOM's premises and reasoning, in particular its use of competition language, to test the implications for its statutory requirement to maintain and strengthen public service broadcasting.

Findings

OFCOM adopts a utilitarian approach when discussing normative issues relating to culture and media values. This is inappropriate in itself, but also reflects a desire to narrow the scope of its remit.

Originality/value

The paper challenges the current regulatory style of OFCOM and points to problems that need to be rectified for its legislative mandate properly to be fulfilled.

Keywords

Citation

Gibbons, T. (2005), "Competition policy and regulatory style – issues for OFCOM", info, Vol. 7 No. 5, pp. 42-51. https://doi.org/10.1108/14636690510618275

Publisher

:

Emerald Group Publishing Limited

Copyright © 2005, Emerald Group Publishing Limited

Related articles