Ofcom is tasked with holding the BBC to account in relation to its output and services, using the range of regulatory tools at our disposal.
These tools include:
- setting enforceable regulatory conditions on the BBC’s UK public services through the BBC’s operating licence;
- a new performance measurement framework to assess compliance with the regulatory conditions and examine the BBC’s wider performance;
- an annual report on these performance measures and the BBC’s compliance with the regulatory conditions; and
- at least two in-depth reviews of the BBC’s performance during the Charter period. We can also conduct ad hoc reviews, where we feel appropriate.
Review of how we regulate the BBC
As we approach the mid-point in the BBC’s current Charter period, we have been reviewing the BBC’s performance and our future regulation of it.
After extensive consultation, we published a new, modernised Operating Licence (PDF, 357.0 KB) for the BBC. The licence, which came into effect on 1 April 2023, has been designed to firmly hold the BBC to account on delivering its remit, while enabling it to adapt and innovate in how it delivers content to viewers and listeners, whose habits are dramatically shifting.
For more information, please read our statement (PDF, 1.9 MB). The latest version of the licence is available on our Operating Framework for the BBC page.
Performance Measurement Framework
The Performance Measurement Framework (PDF, 181.5 KB) (“PMF”) sets out the measures and metrics we use to monitor and assess the BBC’s performance in promoting its Public Purposes and fulfilling its Mission. We updated the PMF on 18 July 2023 after consultation .
We have published our fourth annual report on the BBC, covering April 2020 to March 2021.
This year, the report also looks back to assess how the BBC has performed since the beginning of the Charter period in 2017.
We are conducting a review (PDF, 315.6 KB) to examine why the BBC struggles to meet the needs of some audiences.
Since taking on regulation of the BBC, we have been particularly concerned that audiences in what are traditionally called D and E groups continue to be less satisfied.
People from D and E groups are often referred to as having lower socio economic status or being from working class backgrounds. They are more likely to be older, unemployed, have a disability or be retired with only a state pension. These groups are highly diverse and make up almost a quarter of the UK population.
This review will use a variety of research and analytic techniques to delve deeper into their attitudes and habits, to investigate what content appeals to these audiences to further understand their relationship with the BBC and its services.
As well as speaking to audiences, we will engage with industry and other interested parties throughout the period of our review.
This review forms one part of our ongoing regulatory scrutiny of the BBC. Our findings will inform our next annual assessment of the BBC’s performance, which will be published in autumn 2023.
Contact Information:
BBC Audiences Review
Ofcom
125 Princes Street
Edinburgh
EH2 4AD
Ofcom letter of approval (PDF, 163.5 KB)
This letter confirms Ofcom’s approval of the current BBC Commissioning Code of Practice for Representation, Portrayal and Diversity, in line with the requirements set out in the BBC Operating Licence.
The Operating Licence sets the regulatory conditions that Ofcom considers appropriate for requiring the BBC to fulfil its Mission and promote the Public Purposes.
Operating Licence for the BBC's Public Services (4 March 2024) (PDF, 371.3 KB)
Older versions of the Licence are available on our Operating Framework page.
BBC services: Audiences in England (PDF, 266.6 KB). This is a separate document available for audiences in England which sets out the regulatory conditions that apply specifically to the BBC’s services in England.
BBC services: Audiences in Scotland (PDF, 320.6 KB). This is a separate document available for audiences in Scotland which sets out the regulatory conditions that apply specifically to the BBC’s services in Scotland.
BBC services: Audiences in Northern Ireland (PDF, 285.6 KB). This is a separate document available for audiences in Northern Ireland which sets out the regulatory conditions that apply specifically to the BBC’s services in Northern Ireland.
BBC services: Audiences in Wales (PDF, 269.8 KB). This is a separate document available for audiences in Wales which sets out the regulatory conditions that apply specifically to the BBC’s services in Wales. This document is available in Welsh.
In April 2023, the BBC intends to bring BBC News in the UK and World News together, into a single TV channel called BBC News.
Ofcom has published a summary of our role (PDF, 140.4 KB) in relation to the BBC's proposed changes.
Statement: BBC’s Children’s news and first-run UK originated programmes
This statement explains our final decisions on a request by the BBC to change its Operating Licence in relation to children’s news and children’s first-run UK originated programmes.
Definition of New Music on Radio 1 and Radio 2
This licence variation updates the definition of New Music used to assess Radio 1 and Radio 2’s compliance with their respective requirements and adjusts the associated new music obligation for Radio 1.
Holding the BBC to account for the delivery of its mission and public purposes
This statement sets out our first operating licence for the BBC and our performance framework, together with the processes for setting and amending these in the future.
The BBC has requested a temporary suspension of the news conditions for some BBC radio stations and CBBC over the Christmas period. This will affect the following services (for full details of the relevant conditions, please refer to the BBC Operating Licence (PDF, 734.5 KB)):
- BBC Radio 1 and BBC Radio 1Xtra on 24, 29, 30 and 31 December 2021 (conditions 2.8.1 and 2.91)
- BBC 6 Music in the week commencing 27 December 2021 (condition 2.14)
- BBC Asian Network from 25 December 2021 - 3 January 2022 (condition 2.15)
- BBC Radio Scotland between 25 – 28 December 2021, and 1 – 4 January 2022 (condition 2.82.1)
- BBC Radio Wales, BBC Radio Cymru, BBC Radio Foyle in the week commencing 27 December 2021 (conditions 2.88.1, 2.89.1, and 2.95.2)
- BBC Radio Ulster in the weeks commencing 20 and 27 December 2021 (condition 2.95.1)
- CBBC between 18 December 2021 and 3 January 2022 (condition 2.6.1)
The BBC Operating Licence anticipated the need for such changes (as outlined in condition 2.16, page 13 and condition 2.97, page 32). Ofcom has accepted the BBC's request, on the basis that:
- this approach is consistent with previous years;
- BBC News Online will continue to offer users updates on any key breaking stories over Christmas and New Year;
- audience habits and listening patterns over the Christmas period are different to the rest of the year;
- with Parliament in recess and many major organisations either fully or partially closed over the period, the news agenda is generally quieter; and
- it allows the BBC to make optimal use of staff, including in light of the impact of Covid-19.
The BBC Operating Licence does not anticipate temporary suspensions of the news condition for CBBC. We will consider whether a licence variation to change this is appropriate. This year, we consider the variations to the CBBC schedule are reasonable, including as:
- this is consistent with previous practice;
- the Newsround website will continue to run during the Christmas period (except for Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year’s Day); and
- it allows the BBC to make optimal use of staff, including in light of the impact of Covid-19.
We have published our review of the BBC’s news and current affairs output across television, radio and online.
Ofcom is tasked with holding the BBC to account in relation to its output and services, using the range of regulatory tools at our disposal.
This section gathers together consultations, regulatory statements, news releases and other useful information relating to performance. It covers the period from September 2016 when the draft Charter and Agreement were published, until 3 April 2017 when the transfer of regulation became effective.
Statement: Holding the BBC to account for the delivery of its mission and public purposes. We consulted from March to July 2017 on:
a) a draft BBC operating licence, and the process for setting and amending this in future; and
b) Ofcom’s proposed performance measures for the BBC, and the process for setting and amending these in future.
This Statement sets out our first operating licence for the BBC and our performance framework, together with the processes for setting and amending these in the future. It also includes detailed Annexes setting out how we have taken account of consultation responses and of the BBC’s interim annual plan published on 3 July 2017.
Research: BBC distinctiveness. Two research reports are available. The first report, published in full in June 2017, sets out findings from the qualitative market research we conducted about the expectations which people across the UK have of the BBC, particularly in relation to distinctiveness. The second report, published in July 2017, details quantitative market research designed to quantify audiences’ views and priorities relating specifically to distinctiveness as detailed in Schedule 2.