Government move to protect five's content

The Government have bowed to pressure from across the industry and made eleventh hour changes to the Communications Bill, protecting five's content should a widely predicted takeover by foreign investors go ahead.
Lord Puttnam's select committee recommended safeguards for five's programming, and the new clauses will give OFCOM an influence over five's programming if the broadcaster is sold.
The amendments give OFCOM the power to review any potential bid for five, currently owned by media giant RTL, and introduce tougher regulations governing the proportion of UK produced content on the channel.
The clauses also give OFCOM the power to intervene in any proposed deal and to impose restrictions on any incoming owner.
The Communications Bill is at the standing committee stage in advance of its first reading in the Lords.
(GB)