New Handbook To Stamp Out TV Deception

In a joint effort to make changes to the TV industry following the recent phone-in scandals, Channel 4 and Channel Five are producing an Independent Producer Handbook.

The broadcasters’ own internal procedures for editorial compliance will be made public for the first time in a bid to promote the best practice for producers.

It will be aimed at producers making programmes for the stations and will include potential problems that need to be referred to higher bodies.

Kevin Lygo, Channel 4 director of television and content, said: “We hope it will promote best practice and a clear understanding of the parameters of the Ofcom broadcasting code and the law to better enable the making and broadcast of creative and bold programmes.”

Both stations have been fined more than £1.7 million between them in the past year following the premium rate phone-in sham, which dominated the TV industry in 2007.

ITV was forced to pay a record £5.675 million fine for serious breaches of Ofcom’s Broadcasting Code earlier this month (see ITV Handed Record £5.675m Fine Over Phone-In Scandal).

The handbook is set to help support Ofcom’s new proposals, which tighten regulations for participation TV shows (see Ofcom Sets Out Dramatic TV Phone-In Rules).

Channel Four: 020 7396 4444 www.channel4.com Five: 020 7550 5555 www.five.tv