Written question asked by Andrew Mackinlay (Labour) on Thursday, 1 December 2005, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 5 December 2005. It was answered by James Purnell (Labour) on Monday, 19 December 2005 on behalf of the Department for Culture, Media and Sport.

Broadcasting (Illegal Jamming)

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what representations she has received from UK (a) regulators and (b) broadcasters about disruption to the programmes of (i) BBC on 19 September and (ii) Channel 5 on occasions between 14 and 26 October and on 21 November from illegal jamming; and if she will make a statement.

Answer: The Secretary of State has not received any direct representations from broadcasters or regulators about disruption to either BBC or Channel 5 programmes due to illegal jamming in September and October.The Office of Communications (Ofcom) did advise DCMS officials of a report of interference, received by Ofcom on 25 October, from Arquiva the network operator responsible for transmission of Channel 5 television services in the UK. This report concerned interference to a third party satellite link used to feed programmes to the Channel 5 network, which in turn interrupted the station's television broadcasts in the UK.Neither Ofcom nor DCMS officials received formal complaints of similar interference to any other UK broadcasters, including the BBC, between September and November.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 34916; 440 c2523W
Session: 2005-06
Subjects: BBC Broadcasting programmes Channel Five Broadcasting reception Television
Link: View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk