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 133 - 11|05|09

Jon Gaunt,Ramsay’s Great British Nightmare,Kinky and Proud,Emmerdale,Stylista trailer, The Sex Education Show, Complaint by Maria Mercedes Brown & Complaint by Mr Matias Coombs

Broadcast Bulletin Issue number 132 - 27|04|09

Full Pott, Allan Lake, Indian Idol, Mickey Rourke, Big FM 87.7, Soccer AM, Big Brother 9, Big Brother 9 voting, Strictly Come Dancing, Complaints by Mr Terry Schuler and Mr Joseph Lake

Broadcast Bulletin Issue number 131 - 06|04|09

The Russell Brand Show, Playboy One, Bath FM and Brunel FM & Advertising minutage

Broadcast Bulletin Issue number 130 - 23|03|09

Sponsorship credit findings, Sponsorship of Big Brother, 4Homes programming, The Gadget Show, Weather, GMTV Weather, The X Factor,The Alan Titchmarsh Show, daytime programming & Your Natural World programming. (More... See Bulletin)

Broadcast Bulletin Issue number 129 - 09|03|09

BritCops: Frontline, Louis Theroux’s Weird Weekends: UFOs, The X Factor, Complaints by Mr D, Mr Clement Dortie, Mr Kulwarn Cheema & Mr Michael Shrimpton

Broadcast Bulletin Issue number 128 - 23|02|09

Domino’s Pizza Sponsorship of The Simpsons, Kadak, Full Volume and Fresh, The British Comedy Awards 2008, The Jeremy Kyle Show, EastEnders, The Alternative Christmas Message, Complaints by Mr Carl-Gustav Yrwing on his own behalf and on behalf of Mrs Eva Yrwing Kustbevakarna (The Coastguards), Complaint by Mrs Clare O’Grady on her own behalf and on behalf of Mrs Teresa Clayton (her mother)and Mr James O’Grady (her husband) & Complaint by Mrs Jane Price

Broadcast Bulletin Issue number 127 - 09|02|09

Penn & Teller: Bullshit!, Axe Gamekillers, Overnight Hit Mix, Saturday Night Warm-Up, Channel U, Fizz, Minx Girl Promotion, Hell’s Kitchen USA, Funniest Ever You’ve Been Framed, George Lamb, The Alex Zane Breakfast Show, Programme trailer, Music Express, Complaints by Dr Christian Farthing & Dr Peter Proud.

Broadcast Bulletin Issue number 126 - 26|01|09

ITV Broadcasting Limited, Channel Television Ltd,STV Central Ltd and STV North Ltd,UTV Ltd,Beat: Life on the Street, Now That’s What I Call Music Chart,Pizza Man by Cisco Kid & Steve Sutherland

Broadcast Bulletin Issue number 125 - 12|01|09

Channel S Global Limited,Channel S Plus Limited,Channel S World Limited,N*E*R*D Special,Casualty,Axe Men,We Are Most Amused,Complaint by Harbottle and Lewis LLP on behalf of Dr Roger Mugford,Complaint by Ms Elwen Rowlands,Complaint by Mrs Ionwen Rowlands

Broadcast Bulletin Issue number 124 - 18|12|08

British Broadcasting Corporation (“BBC”), Blue Peter, Film Café, The Tom Robinson Show, Statement on other BBC competitions, Audience voting in various BBC television programmes and Sports Personality of the Year.

Broadcast Bulletin Issue number 123 - 08|12|08

Venus TV Ltd, Greater Manchester transport plan – local poll advertisement, Club Classics, Heart Breakfast, The Five Thirty Show, Nemone, Donald Macleod, The Live Hour, All-Ireland Final Competition, Top Gear, Harry and Paul, Complaints by Sri Guru Singh Sabha Sikh Temple made on its behalf by Dr Parvinder Singh Garcha, Mr Ian Hunter, Miss Davina Hunter on behalf of herself and her son (a minor), British Toy and Hobby Association, Ms Roberta Marchesin, Mr Graham McGrath and by Miss Elizabeth Young.

Broadcast Bulletin Issue number 122 - 24|11|08

Nepali TV, Sponsorship of Super Scoreboard by Verve car dealership, Faking It Changed My Life, Friday Plus, Complaints by Ms A made on her behalf by Ms B, Complaints by Dr Fazal Mahmood, Mr Gulam Robbani Rumi, Mr Shah Hadi, Mr Nazrul Islam Bashon, Channel S Global Limited, Mr Mahee Ferdahus, Dr Fazal Mahmood, Mr Gulam Robbani Rumi, Mr Shah Hadi, Miss Tahmina Mahmood on her own behalf and on behalf of Aysha Mahmood, Ishrat Mahmood (a minor), Sanjida Mahmood (a minor) and Ridwan Mahmood (a minor)

Broadcast Bulletin Issue number 121 - 10|11|08

DM Digital Television Limited, Premium rate services promoted in programme content, Good Morning Manchester, “Shine a Light” competition, Dickinson’s Real Deal, Ayurvedic Nature Cure Sponsorship, Scott Mills, After You’ve Gone, Aalim Online, Complaints by Mr Nicholas Beardshaw/Mrs Michaela Beardshawint and Mr Glenn Swallow

Broadcast Bulletin Issue number 120 - 27|10|08

Sky One and other Sky channels, Revenant, Always Crashing in the Same Car,The BRMB Breakfast,Bang Babes,Vision for Israel, Listener competition & Complaint by Lady Jane Ann Winterton MP

Broadcast Bulletin Issue number 119 - 13|10|08

Guns N’ Roses, SportxxxBabes, Various programmes, Teleshopping, Promotional material broadcast during programmes & Promotional material broadcast during programmes

Broadcast Bulletin Issue number 118 - 29|09|08

Taggart, The Work of Mad Men, LivexxxBabes, “Getting under the skin of a famous celebrity” competition, Cinema give-away competition, CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, Trailer, News, Mortgage and Finance, Scrolled promotion of live tarot reading, PK’s Afternoon Drive, Ax Men & Complaint by Southwark Council

Broadcast Bulletin Issue number 117 - 15|09|08

World’s Most Amazing Videos, “Wake Up Your Brain” & “Worst Girlfriend” competitions, Full Pott, Breakfast, Peter Popoff Ministries, Paul Lewis Ministry, Peter Popoff Ministries, The Soup,Stripped, Biggles, Eid Messages, Deepam TV, Karl Davies Breakfast Show, BBC News, The F Word & Complaint by Ms Jenny Thoresson made on her behalf by Ms Ann-Kristin Thoresson

Broadcast Bulletin Issue number 116 - 01|09|08

SportxxxBabes, Spice Extreme trailers, Babecast, Sexcetera, CSC Media Group Ltd, News Bulletin, The Go Home Show, Best Beer Garden, Matt Bunt, Katie & Peter: The Next Chapter, Big Al's Mid-Morning Boogie with the Doc, Raj TV, Vaan Osai, Loose Women, Future Shorts: The Crusader, Location, Location, Location

Broadcast Bulletin Issue number 115 - 11|08|08

BBC, Portland Enterprises (C.I.) Limited, Television X, Saturday Early Breakfast, Rick Shaw’s Drivetime, Quiz Call, The Great Big British Quiz, Advertisements for The Politics Programme on Revelation TV and Genesis TV, The World’s Got Talent, Drive with Dominik Diamond & Marissa, Graham Torrington’s Late Night Love, Sex Station, House of Fun TV Limited, Big Brother: Celebrity Hijack, F1: Canadian Grand Prix Live, The Nathan Caton Show (Short Cut)

Broadcast Bulletin Issue number 114 - 21|07|08

Square 1 Management Limited, The Great Global Warming Swindle, American Idol, Red Hot TV Trailer, SportxxxGirls, ITV News, Trailers for Extraordinary People: The Man With No Face & Half Man Half Tree, Trailers for Bodyshock: I Am The Elephant Man, Complaints by Sir David King, Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change & Professor Carl Wunsch.

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.