Updated: 16:15, 16:18, 16:20, 16:27, 16:29, 16:33, 16:35, 16:38, 16:45, 17:01

Tessa Jowell MP, Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, has unveiled the first draft of the controversial Communications Bill, which contains almost 260 clauses. The Bill shifts emphasis of communications regulation into one of self-regulation, with a "lighter touch" becoming the norm. Media ownership laws affecting ITV companies and the ability of large newspaper groups to bid for Channel 5 (such as Rupert Murdoch's News International), will be mostly revoked. Digital Spy examines the details.

Describing previous legislation as "clumsy regulation", Jowell said the case for change was "compelling". Regulation is to be with a "light touch but effective"; she said current rules were responsible for a decline of investment in the communications industry.

Jowell says that Ofcom, the new Communications regulator bringing together the BSC, ITC, RA, RCA and Oftel, will have a "lighter touch". The new Bill proposes to move Ofcom out of day-to-day regulation of TV services, although will enforce agreed quotas of regional programming across ITV and the BBC - and said that the quality of programming provided by the BBC would remain "fully regulated" due to the "special role" the broadcaster plays in its public service function.

The new regulator will also contain a content board, designed to ensure content on public broadcasters meet stringent quality requirements - described as a "light touch, but powerful when needed". Membership will be drawn from "every part of the United Kingdom", and will develop codes of practice in a "close relationship" with the broadcasters and industry. In addition, electronic programme guides will be subject to some regulation in the form of codes.

Public service broadcasting will be definted, and the structure of public service broadcasting will for the first time be placed in statute law.

Jowell commented that the current "plurality" of the media must be protected "at all costs", although said that media ownership rules will also be entirely reviewed. Saying that the "media are different from other industries", Jowell said it was imperative that the public have the options to access a "range of voices" in line with maintaining "plurality and diversity". Most ownership rules will be removed, except in cases where a "minimum level of plurality" is needed, including TV news. The move paves the way for large newspaper groups to take over Channel 5, and will allow the formation of a single ITV company. However, competition law would still require any merger that created a single ITV company to be scrutinised by the Competition Commission. Other rules to be scrapped will include rules on international ownership of broadcasters, opening up the market to countries outside the EU such as Australia, Canada, and America.

"Key limits" will however be maintained:

  • any newspaper group with over 20% of national market will not be able to own a "significant" stake in an ITV company
  • a parallel 20% rule prevents local newspapers owning the regional ITV franchise in the same area
  • three local media voices to exist in radio, TV and newspapers in addition to the BBC
A three month consulation period follows, in addition to more pre-legislative scrutinisation in both Houses of Parliament.

A full release from the DCMS is available in news extra.

The full text of the draft Bill is available on a Government website.

More live coverage on Digital Spy coming up on this breaking news story.