Key takeaways
The Ofcom Broadcasting Code is the rulebook for all UK TV and radio broadcasters licensed by Ofcom. It has 10 sections covering harm and offence, accuracy, impartiality, elections, fairness, privacy, commercial references, accessibility and on-demand content.
The watershed -- 9pm on linear television -- is the key content restriction. Material unsuitable for children (strong language, graphic violence, sexual content) must not appear before 9pm on free-to-air channels. After 9pm, content must still be justifiable.
Section 5 (due impartiality) is one of the most enforced sections. Broadcasters must present news and current affairs with due accuracy and impartiality. During elections, extra rules apply -- Ofcom's Election Committee makes rulings on whether coverage was impartial.
Ofcom can fine broadcasters, issue formal warnings, and revoke broadcast licences for serious or repeated breaches. In June 2026, Ofcom's Election Committee ruled on the BBC's Question Time Makerfield by-election special.
The BBC is co-regulated: Ofcom has a role in applying the Broadcasting Code to BBC content, but the BBC also has its own Editorial Guidelines. On content standards the Code takes precedence; on public purposes the BBC Charter governs.
Reviewed: June 2026Key facts
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What the Ofcom Broadcasting Code is
The Ofcom Broadcasting Code is the set of rules that all UK broadcasters licensed by Ofcom must follow. It covers the content of programmes on television and radio, setting minimum standards for accuracy, impartiality, decency, fairness and the treatment of contributors. Every commercial broadcaster in the UK -- ITV, Channel 4, Channel 5, Sky, GB News and hundreds of smaller licensees -- is bound by the Code.
The BBC occupies a special position. Ofcom co-regulates the BBC: the Broadcasting Code applies to BBC programmes, but the BBC also has its own Editorial Guidelines that go further in some areas. On content standards, the Code takes precedence; on matters related to the BBC's public purposes (education, culture, news) the BBC Charter and Agreement are the primary framework.
Section 1 -- Harm and offence: the watershed
Section 1 is the most frequently referenced part of the Code for general audiences. It sets the framework for protecting viewers and listeners from content that may harm or offend. The central mechanism is the watershed.
On linear television, the watershed falls at 9pm. Before 9pm, content must be suitable for general audiences including children. Strong language (beyond mild terms), graphic violence, sexual content and other adult material must not be broadcast before 9pm. After 9pm, content that would be unsuitable for children may be broadcast, but even post-watershed content must be proportionate and justified -- there is no absolute right to broadcast any content after 9pm.
The watershed does not apply to radio in the same way, but radio broadcasters must still consider their audience and the likelihood that children are listening. The 9pm watershed specifically applies to free-to-air linear television. Premium subscription channels with restricted access may have different thresholds, subject to the Code's requirements.
Section 5 -- Due impartiality
Section 5 requires that news and current affairs on licensed broadcast services are presented with due accuracy and due impartiality. The word 'due' is significant -- it means the appropriate level of impartiality given the subject matter, rather than perfect mathematical balance. Broadcasters are not required to give equal time to all viewpoints, but they must not present news in a way that adopts a partisan editorial position.
Section 5 is one of the most significant distinctions between UK broadcast journalism and print or online journalism. Print newspapers and websites have no equivalent impartiality obligation. Television and radio news does -- this is why UK TV news looks different from some international broadcast news cultures where editorial positions are more explicit.
Elections and the Section 6 rules
Section 6 imposes additional requirements during election and referendum periods. Broadcasters must take particular care over due impartiality in programmes dealing with electoral matters. Candidates and parties must be given appropriate opportunities to put their views. Broadcasters cannot give undue prominence to one candidate or party over others.
Ofcom has a dedicated Election Committee that handles complaints and makes rulings on electoral content during election periods. In June 2026, Ofcom's Election Committee published its decision on the BBC's Question Time Makerfield By-Election Special broadcast on 4 June 2026. Such decisions are published on Ofcom's website and form part of the published record of broadcast standards enforcement.
Sections 7 and 8 -- Fairness and privacy
Section 7 (fairness) requires broadcasters to treat individuals and organisations fairly in programmes. Individuals who are to be featured in a programme must be given appropriate opportunity to contribute or respond. Broadcasters cannot obtain footage or information by deception in most circumstances. People who appear in programmes in potentially damaging ways have the right to see and comment on the relevant material before broadcast.
Section 8 (privacy) restricts the circumstances in which broadcasters can film or record people without their knowledge or consent. Covert filming requires a public interest justification. Broadcasting of private information or images requires consent or a public interest defence. These rules are enforced through Ofcom's fairness complaints process, which allows individuals who believe they were treated unfairly or had their privacy infringed to complain to Ofcom directly.
How Ofcom enforces the Broadcasting Code
Ofcom receives complaints from viewers and listeners about broadcast content. Most complaints are assessed by Ofcom's broadcast standards team to determine whether a breach of the Code may have occurred. Where Ofcom believes a breach has occurred, it will typically write to the broadcaster requesting a response and may then publish a Broadcast and On Demand Bulletin with its findings.
Enforcement actions include: recorded breach (published in the Bulletin), statutory sanction (formal finding with requirement to broadcast a statement or pay a fine), or -- in serious cases -- revocation of the broadcast licence. Fines can be significant: up to 250,000 pounds for breaches by the largest commercial licensees, and up to 5% of qualifying revenue in the most serious cases.
Related guides
Disclaimer: This guide is for informational purposes only. Kael Tripton Ltd is not regulated by the FCA. Data sourced from Ofcom, legislation.gov.uk, GOV.UK and CMA. Verify current information at ofcom.org.uk.
Frequently asked questions
What is the Ofcom Broadcasting Code?
The Ofcom Broadcasting Code is the rulebook for all UK TV and radio broadcasters licensed by Ofcom. It has 10 sections covering harm and offence, crime, accuracy, impartiality, elections, fairness, privacy, commercial references, accessibility and on-demand content. All Ofcom-licensed commercial broadcasters must follow the Code. The BBC is co-regulated -- the Code applies alongside the BBC's own Editorial Guidelines.
What is the TV watershed?
The watershed is 9pm on linear television. Before 9pm, content must be suitable for general audiences including children -- strong language, graphic violence and sexual content are restricted. After 9pm, adult content may be broadcast if it is proportionate and justified. The 9pm watershed applies specifically to free-to-air linear television in the UK.
What does due impartiality mean in the Ofcom Broadcasting Code?
Due impartiality (Section 5) requires news and current affairs to be presented with appropriate accuracy and balance. The word 'due' means appropriate to the subject matter -- not perfect mathematical balance but no partisan editorial position. UK TV and radio news must not take sides in the way print journalism can. This is one of the key differences between UK broadcast journalism and print or online media.
Can I complain to Ofcom about a TV or radio programme?
Yes. Ofcom accepts complaints about broadcast content at ofcom.org.uk/make-a-complaint. Ofcom reviews complaints to assess whether the Broadcasting Code may have been breached. Most complaints about individual programme taste and decency are assessed but do not result in formal findings. Complaints about accuracy, impartiality, fairness and privacy may lead to formal investigations and published decisions in Ofcom's Broadcast and On Demand Bulletin.
Does the Ofcom Broadcasting Code apply to Netflix or YouTube?
Netflix and YouTube are not licensed broadcasters and the Broadcasting Code does not apply to them directly. However, the Online Safety Act 2023 applies to these platforms, requiring them to protect users from illegal and harmful content under Ofcom's online safety regime. Video on demand services provided by licensed UK broadcasters (BBC iPlayer, ITVX, Channel 4's streaming service) are subject to lighter-touch on-demand rules under Section 10 of the Code.
What happens if a broadcaster breaches the Ofcom Broadcasting Code?
Ofcom may record a breach (published in the Broadcast and On Demand Bulletin), impose a statutory sanction requiring the broadcaster to broadcast a statement of finding, or impose a financial penalty. In the most serious or repeated breach cases, Ofcom can revoke the broadcast licence. Fines can be up to 250,000 pounds for major commercial licensees or up to 5% of qualifying revenue.
What are Ofcom's rules during elections?
Section 6 of the Broadcasting Code imposes additional impartiality requirements during election and referendum periods. Broadcasters must ensure due impartiality in electoral coverage, give candidates appropriate opportunities to put their views, and must not give undue prominence to one party over others. Ofcom's Election Committee handles complaints during election periods and publishes its decisions.
Does Ofcom regulate BBC content?
Ofcom co-regulates the BBC. The Broadcasting Code applies to BBC programmes -- Ofcom can investigate complaints and find breaches. The BBC also has its own Editorial Guidelines, which in some areas go further than the Code. On content standards the Code takes precedence; on matters related to the BBC's public purposes and Charter obligations, the BBC's own governance framework applies. The BBC Trust's successor body, the BBC Board, oversees BBC governance.
