Citation and interpretation

1.—(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 ( 3 );

“ the 2024 Act ” means the Media Act 2024 .

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

2. 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.

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

3. 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.

Saving provision

4.—(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(4) 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.