Broadcast and On Demand Bulletin: Notes to broadcasters

18 March 2024

This page shows notes which Ofcom has published to alert broadcasters and on demand service providers to key changes or information.

Notes to broadcasters Bulletin issueDate
Equity, Diversity and Inclusion in Broadcasting – notice of data collection requirements (PDF, 141.0 KB)49418 March 2024
Election Programming (PDF, 196.7 KB) 493 4 March 2024
Updates to Procedures for Investigating Breaches of Rules for On Demand Programme Services
(PDF, 105.2 KB)
480 29 August 2023
Providing a service in accordance with Key Commitments (PDF, 188.1 KB) 478 17 July 2023

Television advertising around coverage of the coronation of King Charles III (PDF, 204.2 KB)

Synthetic media (including deepfakes) in broadcast programming (PDF, 197.3 KB)

471 3 April 2023
Presenters during election period (PDF, 108.6 KB) n/a 27 March 2023
Updating Ofcom’s Broadcasting Code Guidance (PDF, 213.5 KB) 470 20 March 2023
Diversity in Broadcasting (PDF, 206.7 KB)
Election Programming (PDF, 197.4 KB)
469 6 March 2023
Monitoring of broadcasters’ compliance with harm rules (PDF, 188.8 KB) 466 23 January 2023

Accessibility action plans (PDF, 177.8 KB)

Ofcom’s approach to television advertising minutage recoupment following the Queen’s death
(PDF, 208.6 KB)

458 26 September 2022
Call for Evidence regulating the quantity and scheduling of television advertising on public service channels (PDF, 179.2 KB)

Retention and production of recordings (PDF, 174.8 KB)
455 25 July 2022

Guidelines on the Provision of Television Access Services (PDF, 171.4 KB)

Upcoming Call for Inputs – Broadcasting Code Guidance (PDF, 173.5 KB)

452 13 June 2022
Offensive Language Breaches (PDF, 184.3 KB) 451 23 May 2022
Call for input (PDF, 186.0 KB) 449 25 April 2022
Election programming (PDF, 197.6 KB) 446 7 March 2022

Broadcast expectations of ethnic minority audiences (PDF, 173.1 KB)

Disgwyliadau cynulleidfaoedd lleiafrifoedd ethnig o ran darlledu - nodyn i ddarlledwyr (PDF, 171.8 KB)

438 8 November 2021

Research update – Public attitudes towards offensive language on TV and Radio (PDF, 179.9 KB)

435 27 September 2021

Coronavirus update to broadcast licensees (PDF, 217.9 KB)

424 12 April 2021
Monitoring of diversity and equal opportunities in broadcasting (PDF, 224.7 KB) 423 22 March 2021

Election programming May 2021 elections (PDF, 252.9 KB)

Updates to the Broadcasting Code – Protecting participants in programming (PDF, 203.0 KB)

422 8 March 2021
Monitoring of diversity and equal opportunities in broadcasting (PDF, 225.1 KB) 420 8 February 2021
Election programming May 2021 elections  (PDF, 260.1 KB) 418 11 January 2021
Coronavirus further update (PDF, 208.0 KB) 414 9 November 2020
Coronavirus further update (PDF, 309.0 KB) 403 26 May 2020
Coronavirus further update (PDF, 239.9 KB) 401 27 April 2020
Coronavirus (PDF, 198.6 KB) 399 23 March 2020
Election programming May 2020 elections (PDF, 184.9 KB) 398 9 March 2020
Monitoring of diversity and equal opportunities in broadcasting (PDF, 228.5 KB) 398 9 March 2020
Notes to Broadcasters: Role of Ofcom in monitoring compliance with technical standards
(PDF, 207.4 KB)
395 27 January 2020
New Broadcast and On Demand Bulletin format (PDF, 877.3 KB) 393 16 December 2019
Daytime chat and adult chat television services (PDF, 832.5 KB) 391 18 November 2019
Note to Broadcasters: Election programming (PDF, 579.8 KB) 390 4 November 2019
European elections: a note to broadcasters (PDF, 86.9 KB) n/a 12 April 2019
Monitoring of diversity and equal opportunities in broadcasting (PDF, 709.9 KB) 378 13 May 2019
Election programming (PDF, 1.1 MB) 375 25 March 2019
Statement: Changes to the Age-Verification Guidance (PDF, 576.0 KB) 374 11 March 2019
Monitoring of diversity and equal opportunities in broadcasting (PDF, 1.6 MB) 373 25 February 2019
Monitoring of equality of opportunity and training in radio broadcasting (PDF, 1.2 MB) 365 05 November 2018
Changes to the Mandatory Daytime PIN Protection rules (PDF, 1.2 MB) 365 05 November 2018
New application process for short-term restrcited service licences ("SRSLs") (PDF, 1.2 MB) 365 05 November 2018
Broadcaster compliance workshops (PDF, 928.9 KB) 361 10 September 2018
Monitoring of diversity and equal opportunities in broadcasting (PDF, 871.7 KB) 356 18 June 2018
Cigarette packaging in TV programming  (PDF, 871.7 KB) 356 18 June 2018
The scheduling of advertising breaks during coverage of formal Royal ceremonies (PDF, 762.0 KB) 353 08 May 2018
Monitoring of diversity and equal opportunities in broadcasting  (PDF, 959.0 KB) 350 19 March 2018
Monitoring of diversity and equal opportunities in broadcasting (PDF, 1.2 MB) 347 05 February 2018
Monitoring of equality of opportunity and training in radio broadcasting  (PDF, 1.1 MB) 344 18 December 2017
Advertising and programming broadcast simultaneously (PDF, 1.1 MB) 343 04 December 2017
Monitoring of equality of opportunity and training in broadcasting (JPG, 383.2 KB) 339 23 October 2017
Broadcast and On Demand Bulletin research (PDF, 1.2 MB) 336 11 September 2017
Rule 2.1 of the Code; Health and wealth claims in programmes (PDF, 1.4 MB) 334 07 August 2017
BBC online material (PDF, 1.4 MB) 330 05 June 2017
Election programming  (PDF, 1.6 MB) 327 24 April 2017
Amended Broadcasting Code and Procedures (PDF, 924.5 KB) 326 03 April 2017
Election programming (PDF, 568.1 KB) 325 20 March 2017
Ofcom consultations on new proposed procedures for handling BBC content standards complaints, investigations and sanctions; and proposed changes to current investigation and sanction procedures for other broadcasters and notified on demand service providers (PDF, 642.6 KB) 321 23 January 2017
Monitoring of training and equality of opportunity in broadcasting  (PDF, 995.3 KB) 319 19 December 2016
Broadcasting Code Review: Preparing for Ofcom's new responsibilities for regulating the BBC (PDF, 995.3 KB) 319 19 December 2016
Upcoming consultations on proposed amendments to the Broadcasting Code, and new BBC complaints handling procedures (PDF, 606.8 KB) 318 05 December 2016
Consultation on Ofcom's rules on due impartiality, due accuracy, elections and referendums (PDF, 1.1 MB) 317 21 November 2016
Decision of Ofcom's Election Committee: Vote Leave Complaint (PDF, 1.3 MB)  310 01 August 2016
E-cigarettes: changes to Sections Nine and Ten of the Code and the Rules and Guidance for On Demand Programme Services (PDF, 939.3 KB) 305 23 May 2016
Changes to Section Three of the Broadcasting Code 304 09 May 2016
Call for Inputs: Mandatory daytime PIN protections (PDF, 1.2 MB) 302 11 April 2016
Election and referendum programming (PDF, 1.1 MB) 300 07 March 2016
Broadcasting Code Review: Section Three (PDF, 873.2 KB) 297 25 January 2016
Format of Ofcom's Broadcast and On Demand Bulletin (PDF, 568.7 KB) 296 11 January 2016
Future regulation of on-demand programme services  (PDF, 1015.1 KB) 295 21 December 2015
Broadcasting Code Review: Section Three (PDF, 875.9 KB) 292 09 November 2015
Code on the Scheduling of Television Advertising (PDF, 1.7 MB) 285 17 August 2015
Code on the Scheduling of Television Advertising (PDF, 1.0 MB) 283 13 July 2015
Guidance to Code Section Ten: Commercial Communications in Radio Programming (PDF, 1.1 MB) 282 29 June 2015
Broadcast Charity Appeals (PDF, 847.7 KB) 280 01 June 2015
Broadcasting Code: non-geographic numbers in programming (PDF, 632.5 KB) 278 05 May 2015
Tower Hamlets Mayoral Election (PDF, 632.5 KB) 278 05 May 2015
Guidance on Rules 1.28 and 1.29 of the Code (PDF, 679.8 KB) 276 30 March 2015
Election programming (PDF, 746.8 KB) 275 16 March 2015
Compliance with licence requirements to retain and produce recordings (PDF, 1.2 MB) 273 16 February 2015
Broadcasting Code: non-geographic numbers in programming (PDF, 733.4 KB) 264 20 October 2014
COSTA rules and split-screen advertising (PDF, 666.0 KB) 262 22 September 2014
Targeted monitoring exercise: short-term Restricted licence Services (S-RSLs) (PDF, 666.3 KB) 257 30 June 2014
Guidance on Section Nine of the Broadcasting Code (PDF, 775.0 KB) 255 02 June 2014
Programming relating to the Scottish Independence Referendum (PDF, 794.0 KB) 254 19 May 2014
Tageted monitoring exercise: religious programming (PDF, 1.0 MB) 253 06 May 2014
Election programming (PDF, 480.3 KB) 251 31 March 2014
Extension of pilot period: on air references to websites used for paid-for viewer participation and interaction (PDF, 1.1 MB) 235 05 August 2013
Ofcom's monitoring of compliance with the Code on the Scheduling of Television Advertising (COSTA) (PDF, 1.1 MB) 235 05 August 2013
Policy Statement: Commercial Communications in Radio Programming (PDF, 840.9 KB) 234 15 July 2013
Election programming (PDF, 1.4 MB) 226 18 March 2013
Adult chat and daytime chat service (PDF, 896.7 KB) 223 04 February 2013
The involvement of people under eighteen in programmes (PDF, 948.1 KB) 220 17 December 2012
Extension of pilot period: on air references to websites used for paid-for viewer participation and interaction (PDF, 622.4 KB) 211 13 August 2012
Amendment to Ofcom Guidance to Section two of the Code: on-air warnings about charges incurred by calls made outside voting and competition windows (PDF, 592.8 KB) 210 23 July 2012
Election and Referendum programming (PDF, 1.5 MB) 202 19 March 2012
Publication of new guidance and research (PDF, 839.2 KB) 191 10 October 2011
Offensive language in radio programming (PDF, 1.0 MB) 189 12 September 2011
Pilot period: on air references to websites used for paid-for viewer participation and interaction (PDF, 936.8 KB) 188 22 August 2011
Proposed pilot period: on air references to websites directyl linked to 'apps' for paid-for viewer participation and interaction (PDF, 1.0 MB) 186 18 July 2011
Ofcom's policy on deadline extensions (PDF, 875.2 KB) 185 04 July 2011
Compliance procedures and broadcast of offensive language before the watershed or when children are particularly likely to be listening (PDF, 516.7 KB) 183 06 June 2011
Apps and audience participation in programmes (PDF, 1.1 MB) 169 08 November 2010
Publication of some breach findings in a summary table (PDF, 440.7 KB) 166 27 September 2010
Broadcasting Code changes: Section Ten of the Code (PDF, 673.3 KB) 165 13 September 2010
Broadcasting Code Review: Sections Nine and Ten of the Code (PDF, 150.2 KB) 161 05 July 2010
Provider of a broadcasting service (PDF, 475.7 KB) 158 24 May 2010
Guidance on Rule 9.13 (PDF, 807.9 KB) 148 21 December 2009
Recordings (PDF, 239.2 KB) 117 15 September 2008
Revised guidance to Rule 9.1 to the Ofcom Broadcasting Code (PDF, 257.5 KB) 114 21 July 2008
Revised guidance on Section Two of the Ofcom Broadcasting Code (PDF, 298.7 KB) 110 27 May 2008
Changes to the Ofcom Broadcasting Code (PDF, 585.9 KB) 106 14 April 2008
The broadcast of sexually explicit 'free-to-view' material by encrypted 'adult' channels (PDF, 390.5 KB) 103 25 February 2008
SMS shortcode (text) entry method used in competitions (PDF, 381.6 KB) 102 11 February 2008
User Generated Content (PDF, 203.1 KB) 101 28 January 2008
Revised guidance concerning society lotteries (PDF, 151.3 KB) 98 03 December 2007
Babe' channels: explicit content, use of PRS in programmes, and quality of recordings (PDF, 167.1 KB) 95 22 October 2007
Sponsorship and gambling (PDF, 289.3 KB) 92 10 September 2007
Note to Broadcasters (PDF, 106.8 KB) 90 30 July 2007
Compliance procedures and broadcast of unsuitable material before the watershed or when children are particularly likely to be listening (PDF, 429.3 KB) 89 16 July 2007
New targets for Ofcom's handling of complaints (PDF, 500.7 KB) 85 21 May 2007
Violence in soaps and Rule 1.11 (PDF, 336.3 KB) 83 23 April 2007
Methodology in quizzes (PDF, 336.3 KB) 83 23 April 2007
Additional Guidance to Rule 2.3: Trailers and Programme Promotions (PDF, 56.4 KB) 60 15 May 2006
Guidance for Rules 2.11 and 10.10 of the Ofcom Broadcasting Code (PDF, 152.5 KB) 58 18 April 2006
Practice to follow 7.7 Guarantees given to contributors relating to protection of identity (PDF, 241.5 KB) 56 20 March 2006
Guidance to Rule 10.4 (undue prominence) (PDF, 86.0 KB) 49 05 December 2005
Guidance to Rule 7.11 (opportunity to respond) (PDF, 86.0 KB) 49 05 December 2005