Subtitling for Local Television Programmes 2012: Grant to Channel Television

Information about the publication of Ministerial Decisions

A formal published “Ministerial Decision” is required as a record of the decision of a Minister (or an Assistant Minister where they have delegated authority) as they exercise their responsibilities and powers.

Ministers are elected by the States Assembly and have legal responsibilities and powers as “corporation sole” under the States of Jersey Law 2005 by virtue of their office and in their areas of responsibility, including entering into agreements, and under any legislation conferring on them powers.

An accurate record of “Ministerial Decisions” is vital to effective governance, including:

demonstrating that good governance, and clear lines of accountability and authority, are in place around decisions-making – including the reasons and basis on which a decision is made, and the action required to implement a decision
providing a record of decisions and actions that will be available for examination by States Members, and Panels and Committees of the States Assembly; the public, organisations, and the media; and as a historical record and point of reference for the conduct of public affairs

Ministers are individually accountable to the States Assembly, including for the actions of the departments and agencies which discharge their responsibilities.

The Freedom of Information Law (Jersey) Law 2011 is used as a guide when determining what information is be published. While there is a presumption toward publication to support of transparency and accountability, detailed information may not be published if, for example, it would constitute a breach of data protection, or disclosure would prejudice commercial interest.

A decision made 28 May 2012:

Decision Reference: MD-E-2012-0057
Decision Summary Title:	Channel Television Subtitling Agreement 2012		Date of Decision Summary:	17 May 2012
Decision Summary Author:	Director Strategic Development		Decision Summary: Public or Exempt?	Public
Type of Report: Oral or Written?	Written		Person Giving Oral Report:	N/A
Written Report Title:	Channel Television Subtitling Agreement 2012		Date of Written Report:	17 May 2012
Written Report Author:	Director Strategic Development		Written Report : Public or Exempt?	Public
Subject: Channel Television - local programmes’ subtitling service for 2012.
Decision(s): The Minister approved a grant of £48,000 to Channel Television towards the cost of the local programmes subtitling service from 1st January 2012 to 31st December 2012.
Reason(s) for Decision: CTV applied for an extension to the funding arrangements for the local programmes subtitling service in December 2011. Funding for subtitling was part of the Comprehensive Spending Review savings for 2011 and thereafter. EDD however secured States Treasury agreement to carry forward an amount to cover a grant for a further year.
Resource Implications: £48,000 carry forward approved by States Treasury to cover the grant for the subtitling service.
Action required: Minister to sign Agreement with CTV.
Signature: Senator A.J.H.Maclean		Position: Minister for Economic Development
Date Signed:		Date of Decision

Subtitling for Local Television Programmes 2012: Grant to Channel Television

Subtitling Agreement between Economic Development and Channel Television

Background

In June 1996 the States of Jersey and Guernsey joined Channel Television in a tripartite initiative designed to establish and secure a subtitling service for Channel Television’s local programmes. Since the beginning of 1997, on average more than 3 hours of local programmes each week have been subtitled. This represents a wide variety of programming including Channel Report, Channel’s late news transmissions, factual and current affairs documentaries and sports programmes. The service has done much to extend the accessibility and enjoyment of Channel Television’s local programmes to a disadvantaged section of the Channel Islands’ community, the Deaf and Hard of Hearing.

Channel Television’s Licence Obligations

It is a requirement of Channel Television’s Channel 3 Regional Licence that the company provides a set number of hours each week of subtitled programmes. Channel Television satisfies this requirement by contributing to the cost of the joint service provided by all Channel 3 licensees. This service subtitles national programmes across all genres including news, current affairs, documentaries, games shows, soaps and children’s programmes. Channel Television has never used its local programmes service to satisfy its licence obligation. Indeed, Channel Television has no licence requirement to provide subtitling for local programmes.

The Value of Subtitling

By May 2008 the BBC had reached 100% subtitling across its seven main TV channels. Channel 4 voluntarily committed to provide subtitling on all content on Channel 4, More 4, E4, Film4 and +1 channels.

Statistics provided by the Royal National Institute for the Deaf confirm that one in seven of the population in the UK suffer from hearing difficulties. Extrapolating these figures to the Channel Islands, in excess of 20,000 people (population estimate of c. 156,000) are either deaf or hard of hearing.

The Future

The current agreements between Economic Development, the Guernsey Home Department and Channel Television expired on the 31 December 2011. Under those agreements, an annual contribution of £80,000 was made to Channel Television to provide two and a half hours of subtitled local programmes per week averaged over each period of three months. The total contribution of £80,000 per month is split on a 60/40 basis between the two Islands, with Economic Development paying a monthly contribution to Channel Television of £4,000 and the Guernsey Home Department £2,666.67.

CTV applied for an extension to the funding arrangements for the local programmes subtitling service in December 2011. However, funding for subtitling was part of the Comprehensive Spending Review savings for 2011 and thereafter. EDD nevertheless secured States Treasury approval to carry forward £48,000 to cover a grant for a further year. Guernsey has indicated that it would be in a position to support the subtitling service in 2012, subject to the Economic Development Department in Jersey also agreeing to continue with the service.

Recommendation

The Minister is recommended to approve a grant of £48,000 to Channel Television towards the cost of the local programmes subtitling service from 1st January 2012 to 31st December 2012.

Director Strategic Development

17 May 2012