Ofcom has revoked 2 TV licences held by Middlesex Broadcasting Corporation Limited (MBCL) for MATV National and MATV Music, with immediate effect.
The regulator said a broadcasting licence must be held by the “provider of the service” – the organisation with general control over which programmes and services are included.
Following an investigation, Ofcom determined MBCL has ceased to provide both services, with control instead held by MATV Broadcasting Limited. Ofcom said MATV Broadcasting Limited has been providing the services without a licence.
MATCV was a satellite TV service broadcasting principally Indian programming in Hindi, English, Gujarati and Punjabi, including current affairs output.
Ofcom said it gave MBCL opportunities to bring arrangements into compliance, but sufficient steps were not taken to ensure the services were appropriately licensed, leading to revocation.
