The Communications Act 2003 (Commencement No. 6) and Media Act 2024 (Commencement No. 4 and Saving Provision) Regulations 2026

• Citation: S.I. 2026/715
• Sections: 4

Section 1 Citation and interpretation

(1) These Regulations may be cited as the Communications Act 2003 (Commencement No. 6) and Media Act 2024 (Commencement No. 4 and Saving Provision) Regulations 2026.

(2) In these Regulations—

“ the 1996 Act ” means the Broadcasting Act 1996 ;

“ the 2024 Act ” means the Media Act 2024.

Section 2 Provisions of the Communications Act 2003 coming into force on 1 January 2027

Section 299 of the Communications Act 2003 (categorisation of listed events) comes into force on 1 January 2027, so far as not already in force.

Section 3 Provisions of the 2024 Act coming into force on 1 January 2027

The following provisions of the 2024 Act come into force on 1 January 2027—

(a) section 20 (categories of relevant service), so far as not already in force;

(b) section 21 (contracts relating to coverage of listed events), so far as not already in force;

(c) section 22 (restriction on showing live coverage of listed events), so far as not already in force;

(d) section 25 (sections 20 to 24: further provision), so far as not already in force;

(e) Schedule 2 (Part 1: further amendments), so far as not already in force.

Section 4 Saving provision

(1) Sections 98, 99, 100, 101, 102, 103 and 105 of the 1996 Act (sporting and other events of national interest) continue to have effect in relation to a contract entered into before 1 January 2027 and the exercise of rights acquired under such a contract as if the provisions listed in regulation 3 had not been brought into force by these Regulations.

(2) The old section 104 code continues to have effect in relation to a contract entered into before 1 January 2027 and the exercise of rights acquired under such a contract as if the new code drawn up in accordance with section 25(4) of the 2024 Act had not come into force.