Consultation: Revised Guidance for Public Service Broadcasters on Commissioning Codes of Practice

Independent productions are an important element of public service media (‘PSM’). They make a vital contribution to the high-quality, creative, and diverse range of content made available by the Public Service Broadcasters (‘PSBs’) to meet the needs and satisfy the interests of audiences across the UK. The PSBs both support and rely on the UK’s independent production sector to produce PSM content that meets evolving audience needs and represents the diversity of the UK.  

PSBs are required to have a Code which they follow when commissioning independent productions and which reflects Ofcom’s Guidance.  

As a result of changes introduced by the Media Act 2024 to update the regulatory framework for Public Service Broadcasters, we have made changes to this guidance. The changes afford PSBs’ greater flexibility and freedom in how they deliver their quotas for independent productions, by enabling them to use their on-demand players to meet independent production quotas.

In response to the Media Act’s new transparency measure, we have also included provisions in our Guidance to ensure that independent producers are aware of the PSB’s Code ahead of negotiating a commissioning contract with that PSB. 

As we have not revised our Guidance since 2007, we have made further changes to update the language.