Competition policy and regulatory style – issues for OFCOM Available to Purchase

To examine whether OFCOM's Public Service Broadcasting Review has responded adequately to the contestable values entailed in this dimension of media policy.

Analysis of OFCOM's premises and reasoning, in particular its use of competition language, to test the implications for its statutory requirement to maintain and strengthen public service broadcasting.

OFCOM adopts a utilitarian approach when discussing normative issues relating to culture and media values. This is inappropriate in itself, but also reflects a desire to narrow the scope of its remit.

The paper challenges the current regulatory style of OFCOM and points to problems that need to be rectified for its legislative mandate properly to be fulfilled.