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

Ofcom Breach Finding published 26 November 2010

Early Bird, Various broadcasts on Tease Me/TMTN1 and Tease Me TV (Freeview), between 9 and 15 November 2010
The Pad, Tease Me 3/TMTN2, 10 November 2010 at 16:00 and 16 November 2010 at 12:30

Broadcast Bulletin Issue number 170 22/11/10

TLCS 865 – “DBN”, Bluebird, Comment, Andy Henly at Drive, Law Show, “I’m on a Boat” music video & Complaint by Mr Charles Dowdye.

Broadcast Bulletin Issue number 169 08/11/10

IslamiQa, Muslimah Dilemmam, IslamiQa, Ummah Talk, Politics and Beyond, Family Food Fight with Flora, Islamabad Grill sponsorship of Zaika he Zaika, Viewer Competition, Elite Nights, Bluebird, Freeblue, Tafheem - al Masyal and [...more]

Broadcast Bulletin Issue number 168 25/10/10

Ringoling. Freeblue 1, Elite Days, Early Bird, Baronessen flytter ind, Bang Babes, Top Gear, Big Brother's Little Brother, Who Wants to be a Millionaire, Sky Sports News, Dispatches: Britain's Islamic Republic, One Gold Radio Ltd Breach of Licence Condition

Broadcast Bulletin Issue number 167 11/10/10

Khatm-e-Nubuwwat (The Seal of Prophethood), Seal of the Prophets, Bahaar-e-Shariat (an encyclopaedia of Islamic jurisprudence), Assan Na Kashmir, The Da Vinci Treasure, Off Set, Brit Cops: Zero Tolerance, “Bedtime stories” advertisement for Act on CO...[More]

Broadcast Bulletin Issue number 166 27/09/10

Ruhaniat Aur Tib-e-Nabvi, The Ministry, Club Paradiso, Early Bird, Marie Stopes International advertisement & Complaint by Ms K on her own behalf and on behalf of her son (a minor)

Broadcast Bulletin Issue number 165 13/09/10

The Jon Gaunt Show, The Rundown, Balitang America, The Sports Bar, Apne Sitaray, Bang Babes, Early Bird, The Drive Time Show, An Inconvenient Truth, Advertising minutage & Complaint by Miss Shamima Hussain

Broadcast Bulletin Issue number 164 23/08/10

Special Live With Jassi Khangura, The Circle, The Raj Show, Bang Babes, Early Bird, 18 Keen, Live XXX Babes, Sport XXX Babes, The Naked Office, Provision of recordings, Advertising minutage, Complaint by Ms Farwa Wiechmann, Cereal Partners UK (“Nestlé”),Kellogg’s, Tom Sanders, Mr Paul Parry, Jeremy Davies, Mr Edward Saleh, Painted Children UK Ltd & Ms Geraldine Stevens.

Broadcast Bulletin Issue number 163 02/08/10

DM Digital Television Limited, Tease Me, Tease Me 2, Tease Me 3, Tease Me TV (Freeview), Early Bird, Bang Babes, Remember Palestine, Lincoln City Radio, Scottish Government sponsorship of programmes ..... [More, see bulletin]

Broadcast Bulletin Issue number 162 19/07/10

Election 2010, Local Election Output, Community Affairs, Superscoreboard, Chal Sitaroon Ki, Law Show, Appeals for funds, Advertising minutage, Complaint by Mr Ross Webber

Broadcast Bulletin Issue number 161 05/07/10

Dum Hai Tou Entertain Kar, Sky News Leaders' Debate and other programmes, The Door, This Morning, Other Programmes Not in Breach

Broadcast Bulletin Issue number 160 21/06/10

Promotional material during programming, Asian Babes, Afternoon Delight – Live Skyve, World Fashion Channel, Numb3rs trailer, Advertising minutage, Advertising minutage & Complaint by Lord Ashcroft KCMG made on his behalf by Harbottle and Lewis LLP

Broadcast Bulletin Issue number 159 07/06/10

Connect the World, Dubai World Cup Special, Sponsorship of The Real Sports Phone-in, Lord of the Ring Promotion, Advertisements for 4EverGlazing, Elite Days, Reference to website address, Retention of recordings and Complaint by Mr Shaun McCarthy

Broadcast Bulletin Issue number 158 24/05/10

Bang Babes, Tease Me: Earlybird, Special Message, CNN YouTube Debate on Climate Change, Wedi 7, Asiana Bridal Show 2010, (Celebrity) Big Brother’s Big Mouth, Advertising minutage, 209radio, community radio service for Cambridge, Complaints by Islam Channel, Mr Keith Harding, Mr David Ham on his own behalf and on behalf of Mrs Lorraine Ham (his wife), Miss Rubi Ham and Miss Chelsie Ham (his daughters), Steeles Law Solicitors made on behalf of Mr Keenam Bradshaw-Davis & Complaint by Ms Nassila Zelleg.

Broadcast Bulletin Issue number 157 10/05/10

Bang Babes, The Pad, Tease Me: Earlybird, Sponsorship of Do Hanso ka Joda, Sponsorship of Jhansi ki Rani, Chal Sitaroon Ki, Retention of recordings (BEN TV), LunchBreak, Subtitling provision, Advertising minutage, Bath Radio Ltd, Brunel FM Ltd, Three Towns Radio Ltd, Quay West Radio Ltd and BCR FM Ltd, Complaint by The Auroville Foundation and the community of Auroville

Broadcast Bulletin Issue number 156 26/04/10

George Galloway, Just Great Songs, Mike James, Sponsorship of Gareth Stewart’s Afternoon Drive, First Half Forum, Bible Medicine, News, Bath FM and 3TR FM, Afternoon Live and Complaint by Mr David Edwards on behalf of Mrs Lisa Edwards

Broadcast Bulletin Issue number 155 12/04/10

Steve Penk at Breakfast, Sponsorship of TEENick by 0800 Reverse, Your Health, Tritio Mattra, Lux Super Star, Good Copy, Bad Copy, Provision of recordings – various programmes, 5 Live Breakfast - live performance by Rage Against the Machine, Complaint by Ms Georgette Dede Djaba, Complaint by Mr Eoin Murray, Complaint by Paris Smith Solicitors on behalf of Mr Massoud Yeganegy and Roxan Construction Limited

Broadcast Bulletin Issue number 154 22/03/10

Bang Channels Limited and Bang Media (London) Limited, GMTV with Lorraine, Vicky Gill, Navrang, Hot Country, Dickinson’s Real Deal, Dispatches: Inside Britain’s Israel Lobby, Advertising scheduling, Complaint by Mr G, Complaint by Miss Dawn Brown

Broadcast Bulletin Issue number 153 08/03/10

Friendly TV, TLCS 865, Bang Babes, Asar Azan, Appeal for Loughborough Mosque Extenstion project, Saturday Kitchen Live, Fast TV, Sponsorship of Stabbed: The Truth About Knife Crime, Club Asia

Broadcast Bulletin Issue number 152 22/02/10

Bang Babes, The Pad, TMTV, Early Bird, Inside Africa, Sponsorship of The Simpsons, Dum Hai Tou Entertain Kar, Glasvegas, Big Fight Live, The Passions of Girls Aloud, Have I Got News For You, Dancing on Ice, various Fairness & Privacy cases

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.

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).

c) Code on the Scheduling of Television Advertising (“COSTA”).

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.