Broadcast Bulletins

The Broadcast Bulletin sets out the work of Ofcom's Content and Standards Team who deal with complaints relating to broadcasting on radio and television to ensure adherence to Ofcom's Broadcasting Code and investigate issues of harm and offence, and privacy in broadcasting.

The Broadcast Bulletin reports on the outcome of investigations into alleged breaches of those Ofcom codes with which broadcasters regulated by Ofcom are required to comply. These include:

a) Ofcoms Broadcasting Code (the Code), the most recent version of which took effect on 28 February 2011and covers all programmes broadcast on or after 28 February 2011. The Broadcasting Code can be found at: http://stakeholders.ofcom.org.uk/broadcasting/broadcast-codes/broadcast-code/.

Note: Programmes broadcast prior to 28 February 2011 are covered by the version of the Code that was in force at the date of broadcast.

b) the Code on the Scheduling of Television Advertising (COSTA) which came into effect on 1 September 2008 and contains rules on how much advertising and teleshopping may be scheduled in programmes, how many breaks are allowed and when they may be taken. COSTA can be found at: http://stakeholders.ofcom.org.uk/broadcasting/broadcast-codes/advert-code/.

c) certain sections of the BCAP Code: the UK Code of Broadcast Advertising, which relate to those areas of the BCAP Code for which Ofcom retains regulatory responsibility. These include:

the prohibition on political advertising;
sponsorship (see Rules 9.2 and 9.3 of the Code);
participation TV advertising. This includes long-form advertising predicated on premium rate telephone services most notably chat (including adult chat), psychic readings and dedicated quiz TV (Call TV quiz services). Ofcom is also responsible for regulating gambling, dating and message board material where these are broadcast as advertising ^(-1-); and
the imposition of statutory sanctions in advertising cases.

The BCAP Code can be found at: http://www.bcap.org.uk/Advertising-Codes/Broadcast-HTML.aspx

Other codes and requirements may also apply to broadcasters, depending on their circumstances. These include the Code on Television Access Services (which sets out how much subtitling, signing and audio description relevant licensees must provide), the Code on Electronic Programme Guides, the Code on Listed Events, and the Cross Promotion Code. Links to all these codes can be found at: http://stakeholders.ofcom.org.uk/broadcasting/broadcast-codes/

It is Ofcoms policy to describe fully the content in television and radio programmes that is subject to broadcast investigations. Some of the language and descriptions used in Ofcoms Broadcast Bulletin may therefore cause offence.

Footnotes:

1.- BCAP and ASA continue to regulate conventional teleshopping content and spot advertising for these types of services where it is permitted.

In this section

Broadcast Bulletin Issue number 209 09/07/12

Miss Arab London, Provision of recordings, Gavin and Stacey, Live with Myleene, Promotion of Satinder Sartaaj concerts, This Morning, The Secret Millionaire, Keith Lemon's LemonAid, Complaint by Ms C, Complaint by Ms Charlotte Allwood

Broadcast Bulletin Issue number 208 25/06/12

Channel S News, Insane Championship Wrestling, Complaint by Mr C on his own behalf and on behalf of Mrs C and their son (a minor)

Broadcast Bulletin Issue number 207 11/06/12

Radio Asian Fever (Leeds), Voice of Russia, E4, AIT International, Psychic Line, Party, Kanal 7 Avrupa, PTV Global, ITV1, NE1fm, community radio service for central Newcastle and Gateshead, ESPN, Swahili Diaries, Party Paramedics: Corfu Carnage, Dispatches: Landlords from Hell, Homes from Hell, Channel 4 News, and Daster Day

Broadcast Bulletin Issue number 206 21/05/12

Aden Live, IBC Tamil, Extreme Sports Channel, XFM London, Cuillin FM, Channel 4 and More4, GEM TV, ITV1, LFC TV, Complaintd by Ms Daisy Borrett-Renn, Ms Sarah Lanchester on her own behalf and on behalf of Alpha Oak Flooring and Joinery Limited and Mr David Jones, Complaint by Mr Julian Gaze

Broadcast Bulletin Issue number 205 08/05/12

Rehmatul Lil Alameen, POAF Conference, Nitro Circus, The Commissioner

Broadcast Bulletin Issue number 204 23/04/12

Arab Dream, Girls of the Playboy Mansion, The Secrets in the Walls, Get Lucky, The Anything Goes Show, Funky Sensations with Mike Vitti, Find My Past’s sponsorship of various programmes, Bits n Bytes, 606, Rossendale Radio, Complaint by Mr Zafer Mahmood and Meridian Foundation Limited made on their behalf by Mr Craig Needham, Complaint by Mr Paul Greaves

Broadcast Bulletin Issue number 203 02/04/12

Beauty Simplified, Channel S News, Complaint by Mr Samee Mian on his own behalf and on behalf of Deltaclub Group

Broadcast Bulletin Issue number 202 19/03/12

Note to Broadcasters, Advertisement for the Bangladesh Nationalist Party, Travel Channel viewer competitions, Vampire Diaries, Road Wars, Hanging Up, Note to Broadcaters, Storm Night and Fairness and Privacy cases

Broadcast Bulletin Issue number 201 05/03/12

The X Factor Results Show, ChatGirl TV, Big Brother: Live Final and various Fairness and Privacy Cases

Broadcast Bulletin Issue number 200 20/02/12

Various programmes, The Dukes of Hazzard, Sol Fest and Oroliga Foraldrar, Bricking it, Rob Birnie, Nicky Horne Programme, Music Video: Kelly Rowland -"Down for Whatever", Sponsorship of Zaika he Zaika, Provision of recording, The Wright Stuff and various Fairness and Privacy Cases

Broadcast Bulletin Issue number 199 06/02/12

To the Stage: Eminem, Eyewitness, Advertising minutage, Breach findings table, Complaint by Mr Barry Dungey, Complaint by The Reverend Colin Coward, Complaint by Mr Robert Bennett

Broadcast Bulletin Issue number 198 23/01/12

Press TV Limited, Exposure: Gaddafi and the IRA, Provision of recordings, Bluebird Live, Bluebird 40+, Superior Interiors with Kelly Hoppen, Nokia Lumia channel sponsorship of Channel 5, 5* and 5 USA, Sponsorship of Laugh Laugh, The Xtra Factor, The X Factor, The X Factor Results, This Morning, Ricky Gervais: Science, Advertising minutage, Complaint by Mrs Jennifer Johnstone , Complaint by Mrs Yan Polcwiartek, Complaint by Mr Warren Skyers, Complaint by Mr Mark Lyons.

Broadcast Bulletin Issue number 197 09/01/12

Satellite Entertainment Limited, Advertisement for the Jatiya Party, Sponsorship of Isha Adhaan, Sponsorship of Maghrib Adhaan, Complaint by Mr David Johnson, on his own behalf, on behalf of Mr Gordon Hunter and on behalf of the Essex County Fire and Rescue Service (“ECFRS”), Complaint by Mr Mel Bouzadm, Complaint by Mr John Arthur Jones, Complaint by Mr Denzil Golding and Mrs Chantelle Golding, Complaint by Mr Leonard Harper & Complaint on behalf of The Fat Cat Bistro made by Ms Karen Conway and Mr Michael Neill.

Broadcast Bulletin Issue number 196 19/12/11

Ummah Talk, Politics and Beyond, Muslimah Dilemma, Torchwood, The Exorcist, Big Brother, ****Babes, Red Light Central, Debate Night, Advertisement for Harvey Water Softeners and Complaint by Ms G

Broadcast Bulletin Issue number 195 05/12/11

Press TV Limited, 50 Super Epic TV Moments, Keeping Up with the Kardashians, Sponsorship of Downton Abbey, Strike Back: Project Dawn, Roberto, News, Breach of Licence Condition, Complaint by Ms K, Complaint by Mr Darren Bradley made on his own behalf and on behalf of Bradley and Bradley Limited, Complaint by Mr Robert Knight, Complaint by Mrs Glynis Braithwaite.

Broadcast Bulletin Issue number 194 21/11/11

Playboy TV UK / Just4Us Limited, Jaguar sponsorship of International Cricket, Mercedes-Benz's Sponsorship of Forth One Travel, Breach findings table, Advertising Scheduling, Complaint by Mr Colin Hawkley, Complaint by Mrs Mary Beghin made on her own behalf and on behalf of Chancellors Debt Recovery Agency and Complaint by Mrs E.

Broadcast Bulletin Issue number 193 07/11/11

Sponsorship of Hit of the Hour, SCXtra, Advertising scheduling, Breach findings table, Advertising minutage, Resolved findings table, Complaint by European Collar Manufacturers Association and Petsafe Limited

Broadcast Bulletin Issue number 192 24/10/11

Babeworld TV Limited, House of Fun Television Limited, Forenzquick UK Limited, Believe TV, Being Erica, OnFM, Rinse FM, Offensive language in radio programming, This Morning, Le Tour de France Live, Sikh Channel Youth Show, Sikh Channel, Adult Channel, Bluebird TV, Sri Lanka’s Killing Fields, ESPN and ESPN Classic, Complaints by Mr Mark Groves, Mr Brendan Mitchell, Mr D, Mr James Rafferty, Mr Thomas Sheridan & Mrs Gail Sheridan.

Broadcast Bulletin Issue number 191 10/10/11

Al Ehya Digital Television Limited, Aden Live, Pro Bull Riders trailer, Howard Taylor at Breakfast, The Baby Borrowers, Brit Asia TV, B4U Music, 106 Jack FM, Complaint by Mr David Gemmell & Complaint by Dr Saeb Erakat on his own behalf and on behalf of the Palestine Liberation Organisation

Broadcast Bulletin Issue number 190 26/09/11

50 Cent Music Videos, 50 Biggest Selling RnB Hits of the Noughties, Storm Afternoons, Ice Road Truckers, Popstar to Operastar competition, Sky News, Complaint by A Share & Sons t/a ScS and Mr Neil Heffernan made on their behalf by Ms Marie Matheson & Complaint by Mr Jeremy Bamber

Related Items

a) Ofcoms Broadcasting Code (the Code) the most recent version of which took effect on 28 February 2011 and covers all programmes broadcast on or after 28 February 2011. The Broadcasting Code can be found here.

Note: Programmes broadcast prior to 28 February 2011 are covered by the version of the Code that was in force at the date of broadcast.

b) Programmes broadcast prior to 16 December 2009 are covered by the 2005 Code which came into effect on 25 July 2005 (with the exception of Rule 10.17 which came into effect on 1 July 2005) and can be found here.

c) Code on the Scheduling of Television Advertising (“COSTA”) can be found here.

d) Other codes and requirements that may also apply to broadcasters, depending on their circumstances. These include the Code on Television Access Services (which sets out how much subtitling, signing and audio description relevant licensees must provide), the Code on Electronic Programme Guides, the Code on Listed Events, and the Cross Promotion Code, can be found here.