±«Óătv

±«Óătv Trust responds to proposed changes to ±«Óătv Three

Date: 06.03.2014     Last updated: 13.10.2014 at 10.42

Following confirmation from the ±«Óătv Executive that they will put proposals to the ±«Óătv Trust to close ±«Óătv Three as a broadcast TV channel in autumn 2015, the ±«Óătv Trust has issued the following statement:

"The Trust's priority will be to listen to the views of audiences as we consider proposed changes to ±«Óătv Three and other services.

"Any major changes to existing ±«Óătv services require approval from the Trust. In this case, we expect to conduct a public value test, including a public consultation, so licence fee payers will have the opportunity to have their say in the process."

When the Executive Board proposes significant changes to the UK public services, the Trust, in its regulatory role, must subject them to full and public scrutiny through a Public Value Test (PVT).

A Public Value Test has four stages:

  1. An assessment of the likely public value of the proposal, carried out by the Trust
  2. A market impact assessment, carried out by Ofcom, which assesses the extent of any likely impact on markets relevant to the proposed change
  3. The Trust considers and publishes the outcome of both assessments, and reaches provisional conclusions regarding the proposed change
  4. The Trust consults on the provisional conclusions before reaching a final conclusion on the proposed change.

Notes to Editors

  • The Trust has conducted four PVTs to date: Proposals for local video (2009); Gaelic Digital Service (2008); HD TV (November 2007); and On Demand TV (April 2007).
  • The Trust did not conduct a PVT on the ±«Óătv's proposal to close Radio 6 Music. This was one aspect of the ±«Óătv's Delivering Quality First plans and the Trust publically consulted with audiences for their views on the DQF plans as a whole. Following consultation and analysis, the Trust rejected the case for the station's closure without any further regulatory process.