Explanatory note

This Order amends section 20(3)(a) of the Broadcasting Act 1996 to increase from 50 to 80 the specified percentage in relation to subtitling for the deaf on digital programme services. This means that the relevant code published by the Independent Television Commission must require that, as from the tenth anniversary of the date of commencement of the provision of any digital programme service, at least 80 per cent of that service’s non-excluded programmes in each week must be accompanied by such subtitling. Excluded programmes consist of those in relation to which the Commission considers it to be inappropriate for the requirement to apply.