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 71 - 16|10|06

Cash House, Trisha Goddard, Invicta FM, World Cup Match of the Day Live, Bratz, Vibe fm 101, Fox FM, Mrs Clare Bradford on her own behalf and on behalf of Henbury Secondary School & Dr Tuppy Owens

Broadcast Bulletin Issue number 70 - 02|10|06

Hallmark Channel Quiz, Is This the Worst Weather Ever?, Complaint by Ms A and Complaint by Mr Hennessey

Broadcast Bulletin Issue number 69 - 18|09|06

Breakfast, Feile FM, British Superbike Championship, Victoria Derbyshire, Angie Le Mar, Big Brother 7 & Complaint by Mr and Mrs W.

Broadcast Bulletin Issue number 68 - 04|09|06

Hutch Cup coverage and Allianz Cup coverage, Bid2Win, News, Trail for ITV News, You've Been Framed,‘Smile’: Lily Allen video, Escape: Human Cargo, When Lineker Met Maradona, Iain Lee & Mindshock: Sex on the Brain trail & Big Brother trail.

Broadcast Bulletin Issue number 67 - 21|08|06

Tim Shaw, Kiss 100, The New Paul O'Grady Show, Quiz Night Live, Tom & Jerry, Complaint by Mr Kenneth Brown & Complaint by Mrs Marina Singleton.

Broadcast Bulletin Issue number 66 - 07|08|06

Advertisements: Stevenage Borough Council, Alan Brazil, John Doe, Christian O’Connell, The Mint, Australia’s Next Top Model Trailer,Henry Hyams Solicitors on behalf of Mr M, Mrs Kathleen and Mr William Blue, Complaint by Mr Philip Cochrane and Mrs Vicky Cochrane, Complaint Mr Kian Lucas & Complaint by Mr Martin Payne

Broadcast Bulletin Issue number 65 - 24|07|06

The Rugby Club, London Greek Radio, Good Music Bingo, Beyonce Knowles - Check On It, Cobra sponsorship of Mary Poppins, Futurama, Channel 4 Racing, Emmerdale, The Boat Race, Complaint by Mr and Mrs Hodgson, Complaint by Mr Gordon Montgomery, Complaint by Ms Janet Gill, Complaint by Ms Marilyn Howell & Complaint by Ms Andrea Mullings

Broadcast Bulletin Issue number 64 - 10|07|06

Project Catwalk Trail, Cash House, F1: Bahrain Grand Prix, GMTV, Complaint by Mr Don Stannard & Mrs Rosemary Stannard and Ms Kas Stannard

Broadcast Bulletin Issue number 63 - 26|06|06

Kiss FM Radio Limited, ATN Bangla, Babeworld, You TV, Evening Blessing, Praise or Grumble & Malcolm in the Middle

Broadcast Bulletin Issue number 62 - 12|06|06

Chris Moyles, Scott Mills, Ultimate 40 Cameos, Hard-Fi: Live in Concert, Raider Nation, Avon Sponsorship: Footballers’ Wives, UEFA Cup, NDTV 24x7, Celebrity Big Brother’s Little Brother, My Family and Other Animals, American Pie trailer, Bremner, Bird & Fortune, Complaint by Mr Mike O’Connor on behalf of the Millennium Commission, Dr Rupert Sheldrake, Mrs Comfort Afolabi on her own behalf and on behalf of the Detainee Support and Help Unit

Broadcast Bulletin Issue number 61 - 30|05|06

LBC Programme, Bridget Jones trailers, Dark Dreamers, Robin Hood - Prince of Thieves, Subtitles, The Root of All Evil?, Complaint by Pannone & Partners (Solicitors) on behalf of Space Kitchens and Bathrooms Limited & Complaint by Nottingham City Council

Broadcast Bulletin Issue number 60 - 15|05|06

More4 Trail, Classic Comeback, Cash Lounge

Broadcast Bulletin Issue number 59 - 02|05|06

Sony Ericsson Christmas Calling, Farishtay, Outtake TV, Babe Aerobics, Ali Malik Drivetime, Fireman Sam, Brody and Louise in the Morning, Dispatches - The New Fundamentalists, Complaint by Mrs Alyson Evans & Complaint by Dr Paul Davis

Broadcast Bulletin Issue number 58 - 18|04|06

Tom Binns, The Alan Brazil Sports Breakfast with Graham Beecroft, Steve Earl, Insomnia, Rammstein - Mann Gegen Mann, Judging Amy, Make Me Perfect, Big Fat Quiz of the Year, Dispatches - The Dyslexia Myth, Complaint by Mrs Shahin Soleymani on behalf of Kavosh Jalali,Complaint by Charles Russell (solicitors) on their own behalf and on behalf of the Trustees of the vCJD Trust, Complaint by The Right Reverend Sean Manchester, Complaint by Advokaterna Bring & Bergkvist HB on behalf of Mr Axel Fondén

Broadcast Bulletin Issue number 57 - 03|04|06

Ghostbusters, The Ultimate Fighter 2, Drivetime, Kerrang!, Where is Jack Bauer?, The Paul O’Grady Show & Complaint by Ms Sheila Bransfield

Broadcast Bulletin Issue number 56 - 20|03|06

Brand New You, Sahara, Bollywood FM, Richard and Judy, News, ITV News, Celebrity Weakest Link, Bobby Bossman, Today, The Chris Moyles Show, Promotions for Sunday Surgery, Ms B, Complaint by Radio Carmarthenshire, Cwyn gan Radio Sir Gâr, Complaint by Mr Trevor Powell on his own behalf and on behalf of Hands on Hideaway, Complaint by Mr Cyril Bache, Complaint by Birnberg Peirce and Partners (Solicitors) on behalf of Ms Jane Andrews

Broadcast Bulletin Issue number 55 - 06|03|06

Planet Rock Profiles, Cash Lounge, Derren Brown: The Heist, Complaint by Mr Erich Reich of Classic Tours, Complaint by Mr Murdo Maclean, Complaint by Mr Donald John MacSween, Complaint by Mr Christopher Elliot on behalf of the Guild of Taxidermists, Complaint by Mr Richard Ruddle on his own behalf and on behalf of Ms Debbie Milne

Broadcast Bulletin Issue number 54 - 20|02|06

Live 8 Coverage, Killer Shark Live, The Ends, Backlash - Sex and the Nanny State, Kix 96.2 FM, Xfm Scotland, The World's Wildest Police Videos , Loose Ends, Hits Quiz, Add the Numbers! and Find the Word!,Girls & Boys – Flashing Images, The Magic of Jesus, Emmerdale, Coronation Street,Frank Skinner Show,BBC News 24, Hendon Traditional Chinese Medicine Centre,Kiss 100 FM’s,Mr Nick Cameron, Mr David Lorimer, The Family Federation for World Peace and Unification

Broadcast Bulletin Issue number 53 - 06|02|06

Promotions for Sunday Surgery,Adam Caterall, Lucy Ambache,Monk, The Mark and Jo Show, Baddiel and Skinner Unplanned,The Great Big British Quiz, National Car Parks Limited, Mr Peter Harris on behalf of Care Connect UK Limited, Birnberg Peirce and Partners (Solicitors) on behalf of Ms Jane Andrews

Broadcast Bulletin Issue number 52 - 23|01|06

Charlie Wolf, Alex Belfield, Rich Kids’ Cattle Drive, True Hollywood Story: Snoop Dog, North East Tonight, World's Fastest Bikes 2, Bikes Aloud, American Chopper, World Wide Quiz, CBeebies, Road Signs, Confidential Complainant,Mr Stuart Toshach,Ms Julie Taylor on behalf of Mr James Taylor,Mr Imtiaz Valli,Mr Michael Bekoe,Highley Parish Council, Reverend David Chislett,Mr Cyril Bache,Mr Joseph Clements

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.