Ofcom

Ofcom (The Office of Communications) is the UK regulator for broadcasting and telecommunications. It sets and enforces the rules for what television and radio can show or broadcast, and it also covers telecoms services such as phone and broadband.

Protecting audiences

One of Ofcom's main roles is to protect the public from harmful or offensive material. Broadcasters must follow Ofcom's rules about what can be shown or broadcast, including rules that protect audiences from content that is unsuitable for them. For example, Ofcom's rules stop TV programmes that are unsuitable for children being shown before 9pm. Because of this, a producer has to think carefully about who is watching or listening, what time the programme goes out and what the content actually contains.

Licences and complaints

Ofcom oversees broadcasting licences. A broadcaster needs a licence to operate, and Ofcom can set conditions on that licence. If you are a viewer or listener and you think something on TV or radio broke the rules, you can complain to Ofcom. Ofcom then investigates the complaint and can take action if a broadcaster has broken the rules.

Powers and their impact on production

Ofcom's powers include fining organisations and revoking a broadcasting licence. Revoking means taking the licence away, so the broadcaster can no longer broadcast at all. A broadcaster that ignores the rules therefore risks a financial penalty or losing the right to broadcast.

For media production, a television or radio product has to be planned and made to meet these rules from the start, not patched up afterwards. Choosing the audience, the broadcast time and the content carefully keeps a product inside the rules, while ignoring them can mean fines or the loss of the licence.

Ofcom does not regulate the content of adverts; the ASA handles those.