Statement on new procedures for handling content standards complaints, investigations and sanctions for BBC programmes

Under the new BBC Charter and Agreement, the BBC’s UK broadcasting and on demand programme services^(-1-) must comply with the Ofcom Broadcasting Code (“the Code”), and Ofcom must secure content standards for the BBC.

When Ofcom receives a complaint, or decides to investigate whether the BBC has breached the Code we will follow our published procedures. Following consultation, this document sets out the final procedures Ofcom will normally follow in relation to the BBC’s UK broadcasting and on demand programme services funded by the licence fee when:

• considering and investigating content standards issues under the Code;
• considering and adjudicating Fairness and Privacy complaints under the Code; and
• considering the imposition of sanctions for breaches of the Code.

These procedures will come into effect when Ofcom takes over responsibility for regulating the BBC on the Effective Date contained in the Charter, which is 3 April 2017.

Footnotes

1. Such as the BBC iPlayer and iPlayer Kids (both audiovisual and sound programmes).

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