GB News Licence Application

Reference: 883492 Jerin John Information Rights Adviser [email protected] 2 April 2020 Freedom of Information: Right to know request Thank you for your request for information in relation to the licence application by All Perspectives Limited for GB News. We received this request on 5 March and have considered it under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (“the Act”). Your request You asked: I would like to be provided with documents that were submitted in relation to this application – It is for a news service called GB News, which was submitted by a company called All Perspectives Limited. The license number is - DTPS103140BA/2 Please provide the following: A) Copies of documents that were submitted as part of the application made by All Perspectives Limited or their representatives. B) Copies of supplementary documents that were submitted as part of the application and any material submitted following this by All Perspectives Limited or their representatives. C) Copies of documents generated by OFCOM in relation to this application. D) Copies of any documents related to this application from the following companies or their representatives – I) News Corp II) Fox Corp III) Liberty Global Our response I can confirm we do hold some information within the scope of your request. Page 1 of 3 With regards to information we hold that is otherwise in the public domain, please visit the Companies House website for information on the licensee company ‘All Perspectives Limited’. As to information we hold in scope of your request at C), we can provide you with a copy of the Digital TV Programme Service (DTPS) licence document granted to All Perspectives Limited for GB News, which is attached with this letter. The signature of the Director of Content Standards, Licensing & Enforcement has been redacted from this document under Section 40(2) of the Act which provides that personal data which relates to persons other than the requester is exempt where, amongst other things, its disclosure would contravene any of the data protection principles in the General Data Protection Regulation and the Data Protection Act 2018. Those principles include that personal data must be processed fairly and lawfully. This is an absolute exemption and is not subject to a public interest test. A record of the licence is also available on our website here. We are unable to disclose further information you have requested at A) – C) of your request. We consider that the information you have requested is prohibited from disclosure under section 44 of the Act. Section 44 exempts the disclosure of information which is prohibited by another enactment. In this case the other enactment is section 393(1) of the Communications Act 2003 which prohibits the disclosure of information relating to a business which has been obtained in the pursuit of Ofcom’s functions, without the consent of that business. Section 44 is an absolute exemption under the Act and does not require a public interest. Please also note that other exemptions may apply. In relation to your request at D), we do not hold documents related to the DTPS licence application from the companies or representatives you cite in that part of your request. I hope this information is helpful. If you have any further queries, then please send them to [email protected] quoting the reference number above in any future communications. Yours sincerely, Jerin John Page 2 of 3 If you are unhappy with the response or level of service you have received in relation to your request from Ofcom, you may ask for an internal review. If you ask us for an internal review of our decision, it will be treated as a formal complaint and will be subject to an independent review within Ofcom. We will acknowledge the complaint and inform you of the date by which you might expect to be told the outcome. The following outcomes are possible: • the original decision is upheld; or • the original decision is reversed or modified. Timing If you wish to exercise your right to an internal review you should contact us within two months of the date of this letter. There is no statutory deadline for undertaking internal reviews and it will depend upon the complexity of the case. However, we aim to conclude all such reviews within 20 working days, and up to 40 working days in exceptional cases. We will keep you informed of the progress of any such review. If you wish to request an internal review, you should contact: Corporation Secretary Ofcom Riverside House 2a Southwark Bridge Road London SE1 9HA If you are not content with the outcome of the internal review, you have the right to apply directly to the Information Commissioner for a decision. The Information Commissioner can be contacted at: Information Commissioner’s Office Wycliffe House Water Lane Wilmslow Cheshire SK9 5AF Page 3 of 3 .

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