The BBC's core purpose is public service broadcasting. However, since the launch of Radio Times in 1923 it has also engaged in commercial activities. If pursued properly, such commercial activities help to realise the value of licence fee payers' assets and generate income to be ploughed back into public service broadcasting. It is important that whenever the BBC undertakes activities it does so in a way that is consistent with its fair trading obligations.
The BBC recognises that as a publicly funded broadcaster it has a special responsibility to ensure that it trades fairly and has regard to the competitive impact of its activities on the wider market.
The BBC Fair Trading Guidelines provide guidance on how the BBC's activities – both public service and commercial – will trade fairly.
Compliance with the Guidelines is led by the BBC's Controller, Fair Trading, and is scrutinised throughout the year by a subcommittee of the Executive Board, the Executive Fair Trading Committee.
The BBC Trust monitors the Executive's compliance with fair trading requirements through its Finance & Compliance Committee.
If you have a fair trading complaint, please follow our fair trading complaints procedure.
In line with the requirements of the Royal Charter and Agreement that took effect on 1 January 2007, the BBC introduced a new fair trading regime with effect from 1 July 2007. The BBC Fair Trading Guidelines were updated to support this new regime.
The BBC Executive committed to review the Fair Trading Guidelines one year after publication and to consult with key stakeholders on its proposals for change. The recent public consultation delivered on that commitment. The BBC Executive has now closed the consultation on its Fair Trading Guidelines and published an explanatory note.
The revised Fair Trading Guidelines, which were approved by the BBC Executive and Trust, came into effect on 1 April 2009.
