Under the terms of the Programme production agreement (PPA) all programmes made for BBC Television must comply with a number of BBC guidelines and policies. Ensure production staff are using the current versions as procedures can change.
Further general policy information can be found on the About the BBC website.
Access arrangements
The BBC and Pact have issued guidance for independent production companies negotiating access arrangements.
PACT Members can download a template Access agreement from the Pact website.
Anti-bribery
The BBC's Anti-bribery high level principles and guidelines for independent production companies sets out its commitment to upholding all laws relevant to countering bribery and corruption and provides information and guidance on how to recognise and deal with these issues.
Audience interactivity policy
The BBC also has downloadable Editorial guidelines for programme which includes audience interaction.
BBC's Interactive Technical Advice and Contracts Unit (ITACU) can advise production teams on the best practice and use of telephone numbers, email addresses and voting services being used to gain interactivity from the public and will discuss this with production teams, to ensure validation and vote integrity if relevant. ITACU are also happy to suggest information, not advice, about other aspects of user interactivity.
If you require further advice, your BBC Executive Producer or Commissioning Editor will be able to refer your questions to the appropriate editorial policy advisor for further guidance and advice.
Email: [email protected]
Please note that Phone-paid Services Authority have a registration scheme which is mandatory for anyone promoting premium rate services. Independent production companies will need to register in their own right if they promote premium rate numbers outside BBC media (e.g. printed media).
For further information about using audiences in BBC programmes please see the Production resources page.
Branding and credit guidelines
Guidance must be followed to maintain the strength of the BBC brand and ensure consistency for all our programmes.
The relevant policies are:
- Credit guidelines for BBC programmes
- BBC’s third party brand and design commercial guidelines, comprising:
- Branding guidelines for BBC programmes on third party broadcasters or platforms
- Branding guidelines for BBC credit badges on third party products
Child protection
Everyone directly interacting with children on behalf of the BBC must comply with the Child protection policy and Code of conduct.
Visit the Safeguarding children, young people and vulnerable adults page to read the BBC Safeguarding code of conduct and for further guidance and links. The BBC Child protection policy is available from the Inside the BBC website.
Content compliance policy
Download the BBC Content compliance policy from the Compliance for TV and online page.
This covers areas such as:
- The clarification of sign off arrangements
- Compliance form exceptions including for late deliveries
- The mandatory procedure for referable language
- iPlayer revocation process
- Process for repeats
- Arrangements for live programming
Find out more on the Compliance for television and online page.
Content security
In the event of the loss or theft of production materials please follow the below protocols.
Please notify the business affairs contact as soon as is practical in the event of loss or theft which may result in:
- Duty of care risks, for contributors including children, young people and vulnerable adults as well as any talent involved in the production. Duty of care risks include potential harm and distress or safeguarding issues related to those in the production. In addition to reporting these to the commissioning contact, please follow the guidance for reporting these concerns on the Safeguarding website.
- Data protection breaches. See the data protection section below to find out more about a productions data protection responsibility, taking note of the GDPR principles within the producers data protection and security guidelines pdf download.
- Reputational risk for the production and/or the BBC.
- Potential spoiler impacts such as the leak of key scenes, storylines, scripts or whole programmes.
The production is responsible for taking all reasonable care in all aspects of its work, including for the safety and security of personnel, property and equipment. Maximum care should be taken of property or equipment. Please note, indies should always make adequate provisions to ensure:
- Working practices fulfil production insurance requirements. Find out more about production insurance requirements on the Health and safety and insurance page.
- Production kit, recorded content and written/paper production materials are not left unattended off-site or in transit.
- Secure storage of equipment, production assets, recorded content, scripts, talent/contributor information, production paperwork, call sheets and release forms.
- Devices are encrypted and there is suitable password protection in place on devices such as computers, smartphones, tablets, portable hard drives, USB sticks and flash drives.
- Devices are backed up to capture and secure work in progress.
Data protection
Independent production companies are responsible for ensuring they manage and protect personal data properly and in accordance with legislation. This is a requirement under the standard Programme production agreement and is in accordance with the Data Protection Act 2018 (DPA).
The approved security guidance documents should be used by all production teams making content for BBC Television.
(Pre 2018 versions of the data protection guidelines can be downloaded from the A - Z page.) Where an independent production company is working in the capacity of Data Processor this guidance constitutes written instructions from the BBC as required under the legislation. If the BBC is acting in the capacity as Data Processor and the independent production company is the Data Controller, the BBC will take these guidelines as its written instructions unless directed otherwise in writing by the Data Controller.
The guidelines are the minimum standards the BBC expects for best working practise.
The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) is the UK’s independent authority set up to uphold information rights in the public interest, promoting openness by public bodies and data privacy for individuals.
Data protection for Silvermouse production reporting
Personal data
Data from the current P4A system will be migrated into the online production reporting system Silvermouse. Both migrated data and data newly entered into Silvermouse will in some cases include limited amounts of contributors’ personal data. This is required for the purposes of rights management and royalty payments for future exploitation. Personal details will only be shared with third parties or the BBC group for this purpose and related activities, and to fulfil statutory and regulatory obligations. If you have any queries about personal data on Silvermouse please contact [email protected]
Terms of use
Those inputting data into the online production reporting system Silvermouse in respect of BBC commissioned programmes should note that the software company Soundmouse’s standard Terms of use do not apply. Instead, the BBC’s amended Terms of use agreed with Soundmouse will apply. Users can request a version of these Terms of use via the email [email protected].
Delivery
Please see the delivery timeline for all delivery requirements.
Digital release policy
The Digital release policy outlines how independent producers may use programme extracts to help extend programme brands online for both promotional and commercial purposes in the UK. In addition it offers some guidelines for the management of infringing copies through YouTube Content ID software.
Editorial guidelines
All BBC programmes and content must comply with the BBC's policies and guidelines.
Visit the Editorial guidelines website for full information.
During production it is an independent production companies responsibility to work in accordance with the BBC Editorial guidelines.
Independent production companies have access to Editorial Policy teams and to the BBC Programme Legal Advice team but in the first instance referrals should be made through the BBC executive producer. The BBC executive producer is the BBC’s editorial safeguard and the final judgement about what is and is not permissible rests with them. It is the independent production companies responsibility to inform the BBC executive producer of any new risks or issues that could affect the reputation of the BBC.
For any queries please contact the relevant commissioning executive in the first instance, who will be able to refer the question to the appropriate editorial policy advisor. See the contacts page for details of how to contact the BBC Editorial Policy team.
Please ensure accessibility guidelines are followed. Find out more about accessibility from an audience perspective on the BBC Accessibility Help site.
Use of generative AI in commissioned content
Independent production companies using generative artificial intelligence (Gen AI) as part of the production and/or delivery of their programme should follow the BBC’s editorial guidance and guiding principles around the responsible use of AI. Any proposed use of Gen AI which may give a false and misleading impression to the audience and/or require transparency in order to comply with the BBC’s principles and guidance must be reflected in the programme’s commissioning specification and discussed with the BBC commissioner. Find out more about the BBC’s transparency requirements and disclosure to the audience.
There are a number of resources to help programme makers understand BBC editorial values:
Welcome to the BBC - editorial values course
Independent production companies and freelance content producers are advised to attend the BBC Editorial Values two hour face-to face course 'Welcome to the BBC – Editorial Values'. This replaces the previous Safeguarding Trust online training course. It is not mandatory for independent production companies to attend the course but it is highly recommended to all those making content for the BBC. The course will be mandatory for new joiners to in-house BBC production teams.
The session is free of charge to independent production companies and freelancers. It is open to all but it is recommended that those who have not completed the Safeguarding Trust course should be prioritised.
To book a place on one of these sessions or discuss dates and locations email [email protected] or call the team on 07711 349 252.
BBC editorial standards online courses
In addition to the face-to-face 'Welcome to the BBC - Editorial Values' course, the BBC Academy has created 25 interactive online modules (between 15 - 30 minutes in length) to help users apply the BBC Editorial guidelines to BBC content. The courses include real programmes, role playing scenarios and master classes.
These modules are not mandatory but are highly recommended for all individuals making content for the BBC.
Topics include accuracy, impartiality, privacy, harm and offence, working with children, competitions, fairness, contributors, consent, and conducting surveys.
Access the online modules for independent production company staff and freelancers.
Fair trading
As a publicly funded broadcaster the BBC has a responsibility to ensure that it trades fairly and has regard to the competitive impact of its activities. The BBC Fair trading guidelines provide guidance on how the BBC's activities – both public service and commercial – will trade fairly.
Holdback release policies
Programme release (holdback) policy
The BBC may consent to a programme being released into the secondary television and commercial video-on-demand (VoD) market during its primary rights license period when it considers further exploitation would not be in conflict with this license.
An independent production company must secure the BBC’s consent to the exploitation of any secondary television and/or commercial video-on-demand rights in the UK during the BBC’s licence period of the programme.
Library sales and holdback policy
A library sale is when extracts or rushes from a programme are used in another audio visual work. The BBC has supplied guidance on how independent production companies can exploit rights as early as possible in agreement with the BBC.
Impartiality guidelines and training
The BBC is committed to achieving due impartiality in all its output. This commitment is fundamental to our reputation, our values and the trust of audiences. A breach of these standards can put the BBC in breach of its regulatory obligations.
All production companies making content for the BBC must comply with our impartiality guidelines, which are part of our editorial guidelines.
The production of programmes in news, current affairs, and factual journalism often involves difficult judgement calls over the question of due impartiality. In order to help suppliers in these genres to confidently meet the required standard, the BBC provides impartiality standards briefings for executive producers working for independent production companies of TV programmes falling into these key genres. The briefings are face to face and last about one hour.
Please note, for these purposes, factual journalism includes returning strands which cover topical issues, and other programmes predominantly covering subject matter of a topical (including social and consumer matters) or potentially political nature. If you are unsure whether your programme falls into this category, please confirm with your commissioning editor.
Programmes in these key genres will only be commissioned on confirmation that the executive producer has attended a BBC impartiality standards briefing. The commissioning editor will be able to advise on briefings available ahead of commission.
For programme makers outside these key genres, a digital module on the subject will be made available which can be undertaken on a voluntary basis. Please ask your commissioning editor if this is of interest.
Living wage
The BBC is committed to paying a real living wage. All suppliers making programmes for the BBC are required to commit to paying their production personnel (those working directly on a production) the appropriate living wage during their contract, according to the location of their work. The rate of the living wage the BBC is taking as a benchmark is set out by the Living Wage Foundation.
Location and production incentives
The BBC has issued a guide covering location and/or production incentives used in financing independent film and television productions for the BBC.
Respect at work guidance
Please see the Complaints, bullying and harassment page.
Social media policy
See the Social media guidelines and delivery page.
See the Safeguarding website for information about social media guidelines for children contributing to a production.
Ticketing and stewarding code of practice
The BBC ticketing and stewarding code of practice ensures that the BBC quality, standards and values are upheld in regards to audiences. Having a single code of practice ensures BBC audiences get the best experience and productions are able to run more smoothly.
Download the BBC ticketing and stewarding code of practice (pdf).
Please note: A responsible adult (who has permission from the parent/guardian) must accompany under-18s. Any exceptions to this policy must be referred to and agreed with by the BBC Safeguarding team in advance of the show or event. Find out more about Safeguarding children, young people and vulnerable adults.
The BBC Safety team can provide advice to help you complete your risk assessments. Contact the BBC Safety advice line Ask Al on 0464 or [email protected]. Find out more about production health and safety.