HC Deb 28 February 2002 vol 380 cc1536-7W
Mr. Yeo

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will make a statement on the regulations regarding access to the electronic programme guides on(a) digital satellite, (b) digital terrestrial and (c) digital cable. [38955]

Mr. Caborn

Third party access to electronic programme guides (EPGs) is regulated in accordance with relevant provisions in the licences for satellite EPGs (satellite television service licenses) digital terrestrial EPGs (digital additional service licences) and for cable services (local delivery licences).

Each of these licences requires the licensee not to engage in any practice or enter into any arrangement which is prejudicial to fair and effective competition in the provision of the licensed service and services connected with them, and to comply with any direction, code or guideline issued by the ITC for this purpose.

Following consultation with Oftel (which has responsibilities where an EPG is an integral part of a conditional access system) and broadcasters, the ITC published a code in 1997 providing further guidance. Amongst other things, the code requires EPG providers not to discriminate between free-to-air and pay television services, to provide due prominence to public service channels, and to ensure that any agreement with other broadcasters is made on fair, reasonable and non-discriminatory terms.

Oftel also have powers to regulate Conditional Access Systems for fair, reasonable and non-discriminatory access for third parties. This applies to the Sky EPG on the Dsat platform.