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In general, the Ofcom Broadcasting Code permits “commercial references” in programming; however, section 9.5 cautions against “undue prominence” of a product, service or trademark, be it because there is no editorial justification or because of the manner of the reference. It is an industry convention, though not explicitly referred to in the Code, that broadcast coverage of sports events may include (as editorially justified) a brief, on-screen acknowledgement of the provider of technical information. Such information might cover lap times, statistics, or a scoreboard. On 23 January 2017, Ofcom...

An agreement has been reached to make it less likely that consumers will be led by search engines to copyright-infringing websites. The agreement has been brokered by the UK Intellectual Property Office, the UK governmental body responsible for intellectual property rights, with the assistance of the UK Government Department for Culture, Media and Sport. Implementation will be monitored by the Minister of State for Universities, Science, Research and Innovation. Despite this involvement of official bodies, the code of practice is voluntary and not directly enforced by government. Its effect is...

On 2 December 2016, Ofcom published a document announcing several decisions regarding the enhancement of “access services” to “non-domestic” television channels, which are channels licensed by Ofcom for transmission to other EU member states. Access services (required for domestic channels since 2005) comprise subtitles, audio description and signing. The provision of such services enables people with impairments to their sight and/or hearing to access television. The obligation has been imposed on non-domestic channels since 2014. Certain exceptions (mainly with respect to signing) apply to channels...

The BBC Trust’s Editorial Standards Committee considers complaints about unfair treatment in BBC programmes. It has upheld a complaint about an item relating to the Leader of the Opposition, Jeremy Corbyn, broadcast in the main evening news bulletin. The item was broadcast three days after the Paris shootings and just before the then Prime Minister, David Cameron, was due to make a speech announcing the government’s anti-terrorism policy. A clip was included of Mr Corbyn stating that he was not happy with a “shoot-to-kill” policy and that it could be dangerous and counter-productive. The report...

On 19 December 2016 Fox News - broadcast on the digital satellite platform and owned by Fox News Limited Liability Company - was found to be in breach of Rule 9.2 of Ofcom’s Broadcasting Code for insufficiently distinguishing between its editorial content and an advertising segment in its “Fox and Friends” programme. “Fox and Friends” is a weekday news and general discussion programme broadcast from New York between 6 a.m. and 9 a.m. (EST) and simultaneously in the UK between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. (GMT). Ofcom received a complaint concerning a “Fox and Friends” segment called “It’s Your Money” and...