Programme-related guidance
Guidance related to broadcast content and standards.
This guidance relates to the Broadcasting Code (December 2020) and applies to all programmes broadcast on or after 23:00 on 31 December 2020.
For programmes broadcast prior to 3 April 2017, the previous Guidance is available at the National Archives. Each time Guidance is updated the date is shown next to the Guidance links below.
- Guidance notes: Section one - Protecting the under eighteens (PDF, 181.6 KB) – Mar 2015
- Guidance notes: Protecting the under-eighteens - observing the watershed on television and music videos (PDF, 89.7 KB) – Sep 2011
- Guidance notes: Offensive language on radio (PDF, 337.4 KB) – Dec 2011
- Guidance notes: Section two - Harm and offence – Jul 2015
- Guidance notes: Section three - Crime, disorder, hatred and abuse (PDF, 75.5 KB) – May 2016
- Guidance notes: Section four - Religion (PDF, 128.2 KB) – Feb 2011
- Guidance notes: Section five - Due impartiality and due accuracy and undue prominence of views and opinions (PDF, 339.1 KB) – Mar 2017
- Guidance notes: Section six - Elections and referendums (PDF, 312.9 KB) – Mar 2017
- Guidance notes: Section seven - Fairness (PDF, 261.7 KB) – Feb 2011
- Guidance notes: Section eight - Privacy (PDF, 46.4 KB) – Feb 2011
- Guidance notes: Section nine: Commercial references in television programming (PDF, 551.1 KB) – May 2016
- Guidance notes: Section ten - Commercial communications in radio programming (PDF, 417.7 KB) – May 2016
On 2 May 2024 there will be:
- local (and mayoral) elections taking place in some parts of England;
- London Assembly and Mayoral elections;
- and elections for Police and Crime Commissioners for England and Wales.
To help broadcasters to take editorial decisions during election campaigns, we have published a digest of evidence of past electoral support (election results) and evidence of current support (opinion polls).
Update 19 March 2024 – additional data
We've updated the document to add a new table (Figure 24) showing voting preference in London Mayoral elections.
This guidance is to aid those broadcasters that carry psychic PTV advertising content and in particular to highlight Ofcom’s likely interpretation of the relevant BCAP Code rules relating to some compliance issues.
Ofcom guidance on Psychic television services predicated on premium rate telephony services (PDF, 51.8 KB) - Dec 2011
European Works and Independent Productions guidance (PDF, 146.8 KB) - last updated 6 January 2021
Ofcom has contracted out the regulation of most aspects of broadcast advertising to the ASA, but retains responsibility for the advertising of telecommunications-based sexual entertainment services and all other ‘participation TV’ (PTV) services.
Guidance on the advertising of telecommunications-based sexual entertainment services and PRS daytime chat services (PDF, 88.1 KB) - revised 15 Jul 2013
This guidance note represents a new approach to the regulation of C4C’s duty to provide public service content across the full range of its media platforms, including Channel 4, other digital channels, Film 4 and on-line.
Guidance note for completion of C4C combined statement of programme and media content policy (PDF, 149.0 KB) - 15 Feb 2013
This document contains the Rules which Ofcom has made in accordance with section 333 of the Communications Act 2003. The Rules reflect minimum requirements which Licensees are required to follow in determining the length, frequency, allocation and/or scheduling of party political or referendum campaign broadcasts.
Ofcom rules on Party Political and Referendum Broadcasts (PDF, 206.9 KB) – 1 January 2021
This document outlines the procedures which apply to Ofcom’s determination of unresolved disputes between political parties and broadcast licensees under Ofcom rules on Party Political and Referendum Broadcasts (Ofcom’s PPRB Rules):
Procedures for determination of disputes under Ofcom's rules on Party Political and Referendum Broadcasts (PDF, 129.4 KB) - updated 22 Mar 2017
All Ofcom television broadcasting licences contain a condition that licensees implement and maintain a system to verify the proper handling of premium rate telephone communications.
Guidance to television broadcasters on verification obligations for the use of premium rate services in programmes (PDF, 139.0 KB)
- Public Service Television - Networks Guidance notes for statements of programme policy and self-assessment reviews by TV networks
- Public Service Television - Nations and Regions - Guidance notes for statements of programme policy and self-assessment reviews: services for the nations and regions
- Public Teletext Service - Guidance notes for statements of policy and self-assessment review