Ofcom has published a statement setting out its final decisions on the updated quotas for public service broadcasters (PSBs).

The statement follows a consultation launched earlier this year (on which we commented here) responding to changes to the quota framework introduced under the Media Act 2024. These changes were designed to give PSBs greater flexibility in how they meet their obligations in the light of changing viewer habits. This included, for example, allowing them to use on-demand programme services that form part of their designated internet programme service (IPS) to meet some of their quotas.

The changes also meant that Ofcom was required to amend how quotas were expressed, changing them from a proportion of total relevant output on a linear television service to being put in absolute terms by reference to a fixed number of hours.

Ofcom consulted on the methodology it would employ to calculate the new quota levels, and has confirmed that they will be calculated by multiplying the average of the past five years of each broadcaster’s total qualifying hours and spend by the existing proportional quota level.

The consultation sets out the new quota levels in absolute terms while addressing a number of other matters on which Ofcom has reached a final decision:

Ofcom has decided that broadcasters can continue to count repeats on their main linear PSB channels towards the quota. As for online content, those original productions that originate online will only count towards the quota once. Those online releases which have already had a linear broadcast will not count towards fulfilment of the quota, including catalogue and catch-up programming.

The Statement also confirms that the obligations for PSBs relating to original productions broadcast during peak hours will be maintained, and that Ofcom has updated its guidance on original productions setting out, among other things, which programmes can count towards the quotas, and how co-productions first shown outside the UK may still count towards the quota.

Ofcom has also published updated guidance on which programmes can count towards fulfilling the regional productions quota, and has confirmed a 2% annual uplift to the regional productions spend quota.

Finally, Ofcom sets out the independent production quotas for PSBs as set by the Secretary of State.

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