Fight Over Program Repeats Continues: Ofcom May Not Settle It Until 2007

Since the rules over re-broadcast of programming changed last year, the UK networks have been unable to agree on when and in what media programs can be repeated. Particularly at issue are when programs can be broadcast on independent channels, the internet and overseas. Ofcom, the UK’s media regulatory agency, had set March 21 of this year as the date by which affected parties should propose guidelines but some networks missed that date, including the BBC and ITV. Now, arguments are emerging over whether the viewing public expects free repeats of programming during a specific period (“a catchup window”) or whether it understands the concept of some kind of pay-for-view (a download).