Statement: Review of the mandatory daytime protection rules in the Ofcom Broadcasting Code

Statement published 5 November 2018

The Ofcom Broadcasting Code (“the Code”) allows for films rated up to ‘15’ by the BBFC (British Board of Film Classification) to be broadcast during the daytime on premium subscription channels and up to ‘18’ on pay per view film channels, provided that they are protected by a mandatory PIN code. This form of protection is called mandatory daytime protection (“MDP”) and cannot be removed or bypassed by viewers.

Following our consultation in March 2018, this document sets out Ofcom’s decision to extend the application of the MDP rules in the Code to permit scheduled television channels to show programmes, which can currently only be shown after the 9pm watershed, before this time, but only if mandatory daytime protection is in place.

Ofcom has carefully considered all consultation responses in reaching this decision and this statement concludes the review. The revisions to the relevant rules to extend MDP beyond premium film content will come into force on 1 January 2019.