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Department for Culture Media and Sport

broadcasting

We work closely with the regulators, broadcasting industry, viewers and listeners to increase choice, ensure healthy competition and maintain programme standards and quality.

Our role

We:

• look after policy on the allocation of TV and radio frequencies, in liaison with the Office of Communications (Ofcom), which manages frequencies
• are responsible for policy on public service broadcasting
• review the Royal Charter which governs the BBC and set the licence fee
• confirmed the timetable for switching to digital TV, formed the digital TV switchover programme and established the Digital Switchover Help Scheme
• have formed the Digital Radio Action Plan Programme which seeks to inform a potential switchover to digital radio
• support local news and programming, which helps foster communities and contributes to local economies

We do not get involved in complaints about individual programmes or schedules. These are handled by independent regulators.