Ofcom imposes £225,000 fine on Teletext Limited

Ofcom has today imposed a financial penalty of £225,000 on Teletext Limited following the revocation of the public teletext service licence.

The holder of the public teletext service licence is one of a  number of broadcasters which are ‘public service broadcasters’.

Public service broadcasting licences are offered for a fixed term. The licences require the holder to provide the licensed service throughout the licence period.

Teletext licence

In accepting a licence, the broadcaster takes account of the likely cost of the obligations under the licence, and the value of the benefits associated with the licence, for the duration of the licence period.

Teletext’s licence was for the licence period 2004 to 2014.

In deciding to cease providing key elements of the service in December 2009, Teletext committed a serious breach of the obligations in the public teletext service licence such that the licence was revoked.

Under the statutory scheme the holders of various categories of broadcasting licence, including the public teletext licence, are required to broadcast throughout the relevant licence period with revocation of the licence before the end of the licence period leading to the imposition of a mandatory financial penalty on the licensee.

Financial penalty

Having given careful consideration to the written and oral representations made, the Committee decided it was appropriate and proportionate in the circumstances to impose a financial penalty of £225,000 on Teletext payable to HM Paymaster General.

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ParentPort: Working together for media standards