Introduction
BBC programmes and services across all genres and in all media may from time to time run viewer and listener competitions. They can enrich our output and help us to connect with our audiences. As well as being entertaining, they may also educate and inform viewers, listeners and online users. They can help us promote our programmes and services; help us reach underserved audiences and also help us to be more innovative.
It is essential that all BBC competitions meet the high editorial, ethical and technically robust standards that our audience rightly expect from us.
All BBC competitions must comply with the Code of Conduct.
Everyone who runs a competition should read the summary guide at the start of this note to help ensure they have complied with the requirements of the guidance.
This guidance is concerned with viewer, listener and online competitions. Game shows, contestant trawls and talent shows are not classed as general viewer and listener competitions and are not required to complete a competition approval form, although producers of such shows may find the advice in this guidance note useful.
This guidance note provides detailed editorial advice. It outlines the BBC referrals and compliance process for competitions. In all cases where the vote involves telephony and/or a combination of online voting and telephony you will need technical, legal and contracts advice from the Interactive Technical Advice and Contracts Unit ( ITACU). (Link to internal BBC site only)
The following principles apply to ALL BBC competitions:
There must always be a clear editorial purpose for any BBC competition, whether it is included in a BBC programme or website or whether it is run off air as part of a programme or service promotion or in conjunction with a third party
We must offer a genuine test of skill, knowledge or judgment appropriate to the audience
All competitions must be run with probity and to the highest standards of integrity. They must be fair, legal and honest and run in a technically robust manner
We must always inform the audience clearly of when a competition is due to open and close
We must publish terms and conditions to ensure the organisation and running of the competition is fair and transparent and ensure prizes are appropriately and accurately described
Under NO circumstances may any result be faked. It is essential that :
Winners are genuine and never invented, pre-chosen or planted by the production team or anybody else connected with the running of the competition
No member of the production team or anyone else poses as a competition contestant or winner
You are confident that there will be sufficient entries to make the competition viable, robust and a useful editorial addition to the programme- otherwise you must not run it
In addition:
Competitions involving Premium Rate Telephony must be referred to the senior manager in your division charged with approving the use of Premium Rate telephony, and then must be referred to Editorial Policy, and ITACU (who will consult Programme Legal Advice where necessary)
Competitions must not be set up with the aim of making a profit except where they are being used to generate funds for a BBC charitable initiative
Premium Rate lines are used when they are the most suitable and safest way to handle large volumes of calls effectively
The lowest viable tariff must be charged. ITACU will advise on the tariff
The only time, in exceptional cases, that the BBC may run Premium Rate lines to raise funds, is for a BBC charitable initiative. In such cases the editorial content of the programme must relate directly to the charitable cause. Any such proposals must be signed off by the Divisional Director and referred to the Editorial Policy in advance
Premium Rate lines may not be used to raise funds for Charitable Appeals in CBBC output
Any competition, in which the audience can text in to a live programme, and where the result is to be announced in the same programme, must be referred to ITACU who will consult Editorial Policy
Competitions must not normally be launched and resolved within a programme of half an hour or less. Any proposed exception must be referred to the channel controller or equivalent senior manager, who must consult ITACU and Editorial Policy
All pricing information must be given clearly and accurately, both verbally and visually where appropriate
We must not promote any competition which is not organised by or run in conjunction with the BBC
We must retain editorial control of our own viewer, listener and online competitions even when they are mounted in association with suitable third parties
We must not require people to buy anything to enter a BBC competition unless it is linked to a BBC charitable appeal
We must not mislead people about the nature of prizes. They must be accurately described and suitable for all potential entrants (see section 5)
We never offer cash prizes in viewer, listener and online competitions
The advice in this guidance builds on the principles of:
Depending on the nature of your interactive proposal you may also need to read this guidance note in conjunction with: