References to commercial products related to BBC programmes & services
The BBC and Independent companies working for the BBC produce and license commercial products and services to enhance and complement our output. However, we must never give the impression that we are unduly promoting any commercial product in our programmes. Any references to BBC related products must be for clear editorial reasons and there should be no element of plugging.
There are legal and regulatory constraints in this area, including undertakings to the Office of Fair Trading. We must take particular care not to promote BBC magazines and we must ensure that:
- no BBC programme or online site mentions a BBC magazine in a way which could be deemed promotional or an encouragement to buy.
- any interviews with BBC magazine editors or writers are clearly editorially justified and such interviewees are not used too frequently.
- no mention is made on air or online of any off air support given by BBC publications. For example, if entry forms for competitions appear in BBC magazines we must not refer to this on air or online.