TV and radio broadcasting codes

TV, radio and on-demand Broadcast standards Information for industry
Published: 6 November 2020

Here you will find Ofcom’s codes and rules for TV and radio services including the Broadcasting Code, the Code on the Scheduling of Television Advertising and the Code on Television Access Services.

Code on the scheduling of television advertising

This Code sets out the rules with which television broadcasters licensed by Ofcom must comply when carrying advertising.

Code on sports and other listed and designated events

The Broadcasting Act 1996 empowers the Secretary of State to designate key sporting and other events as 'listed events'. The purpose of these arrangements is to ensure that key sporting events are made available to all television viewers, particularly those who cannot afford the extra cost of subscription television. Listed events are categorised either as Group A or Group B events. The rights to broadcast listed events - live rights in the case of Group A events (e.g. Olympics, FIFA World Cup, Wimbledon and European Football Championship) or highlights in the case of Group B events (e.g. Cricket Test Matches, Six Nations Rugby or Commonwealth Games) must be offered to qualifying broadcasters (see 'Services qualifying to show listed events' below).

Code on television access services

TV access services are additional facilities supplied by broadcasters that are designed to allow hearing and visually impaired consumers to gain access to TV content. The three access services are subtitling, audio description and signing

Code on Electronic Programme Guides

The electronic programme guides on code

Legacy codes

Previous versions of the Ofcom Broadcasting Code and other legacy codes related to broadcasting.

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The Ofcom Broadcasting Code

The Ofcom Broadcasting Code outlines the rules by which programmes broadcast on television and radio in the UK must abide

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