Ofcom has given details of the draft broadcast licences it intends to issue if the UK leaves the EU without a withdrawal agreement in place.
The regulator says that if the the UK Government agrees an implementation period for Brexit with the EU, we understand that arrangements for the broadcasting sector will be unchanged for the duration of this period. This is currently December 2020, though given the current political uncertainty in the UK could be extended further.
However, a no deal Brexit means that some licences would need to be changed.
Existing licences would not immediately change in the event of a no deal, so Ofcom is now considering changes that might be needed in the longer term. Its seeking informal approaches from licence holders before March 19.
In summer 2019, holders of existing licences for Television Licensable Content Services, Digital Television Programme Services and Digital Television Additional Services will have a further, and formal, opportunity to make representations on changes to their licences before we vary them to include the new licence conditions.
There are fears that a no deal Brexit will lead to an exodus from broadcasters that use the UK as their base. Already broadcasters including Discovery, AMC and even the BBC have been looking at alternate arrangements.
