Image: the 麻豆社's Royal Charter from 2017. Video: Jean Seaton, Professor of Media History at The University of Westminster, and the Official Historian of the 麻豆社 explains the importance of continuity in the 麻豆社 Royal Charter.
The Royal Charter is the constitutional basis for the 麻豆社. It sets out the public purposes of the Corporation, and guarantees its independence. The 麻豆社’s new Charter commenced on 1 January 2017.
The 麻豆社 started life as a Company, changing to a Corporation following a report by the Crawford Committee. The Government accepted the Committee's findings and established by Royal Charter, the British Broadcasting Corporation. The Charter set out the way in which the 麻豆社 would be governed.
The first Charter ran for 10 years from 1 January 1927 and recognised the 麻豆社 as an instrument of education and entertainment. Subsequent Charters expanded this remit to include the dissemination of information. The eighth Charter (1 January 2007) charged the 麻豆社 with delivering the latest technology to the public and taking a leading role in the switchover to digital television, and the latest (from 1 January 2017), sets out major changes to the way the 麻豆社 is to be run for an 11 year period.
Key elements of the 麻豆社 Royal Charter, 2017, include:
- OFCOM to be the external independent regulator of the 麻豆社.
- The government to provide "guidance" to OFCOM on "content requirements" for the 麻豆社.
- A new "unitary board" consisting of four government appointed members and a Chair, and nine 麻豆社 appointed members, to consider any "issues or complaints that arise post-transmission".
- Editorial decisions to "remain the responsibility of the Director-General".
- The possibility of production by independent companies to exist for all 麻豆社 programmes except news and some parts of current affairs.
- The National Audit Office to have a "stronger role" in looking at how the 麻豆社 spends its money.
1927 Charter
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Charter for ten years from 1 January 1927 to 31 December 1936.
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Amendment regarding financial arrangements.
1937 Charter
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Charter for ten years from 1 January 1937 to 31 December 1946.
1947 Charter
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Charter for five years from 1 January 1947 to 31 December 1951.
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Extended 1947 Charter for six months.
1952 Charter
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Charter for ten years from 1 July 1952 to 30 June 1962.
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Extended 1952 Charter for two years.
1964 Charter
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Charter for twelve years from 30 July 1964 to 31 July 1976.
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Transferred powers from Postmaster General to Minister of Posts and Telecommunications.
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Relevant ministry changed from Post Office to the Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications and from thence to Home Office.
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Extended 1964 Charter for three years.
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Supplemental Charter extending 1964 Charter for two further years.
1981 Charter
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Charter for fifteen years from 1 August 1981 to 31 December 1996.
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Amendment regarding satellite broadcasting.
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Amendment regarding financial borrowing.
1997 Charter
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Charter for ten years from 1 January 1997 to 31 December 2006.
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Searchable copy of the 1997 Charter.
2007 Charter
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Charter for ten years from 1 January 2007 to 31 December 2016.
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2017 Charter
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Charter for eleven years from 1 January 2017 to 1 January 2028.
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