BAI invites views on broadcasting codes and rules

The Broadcasting Authority of Ireland is seeking observations from the public, broadcasters, advertisers, programme-makers and other interested parties on a number of its codes and rules as part of a review process. Those under review are the:

  • Code of Programme Standards: This Code sets out the principles that apply to all editorial content with a view to minimising harm and undue offence that such content may cause.
  • Code of Fairness, Objectivity and Impartiality in News and Current Affairs: This Code is concerned with ensuring that news content is objective and impartial and current affairs content is fair, objective, and impartial, and that both are presented in an objective and impartial manner, without any expression of the broadcaster’s own views. The BAI’s separate election and referenda guidelines are also part of this review.
  • General Commercial Communications Code: This Code sets out the rules for the broadcast of commercial communications i.e. advertising, sponsorship (including competitions), product placement and other forms of commercial communications.
  • Rules on Advertising and Teleshopping (Daily and Hourly Limits): These rules outline the daily and hourly limits for advertising on commercial and community radio and television services.

As part of this public call for comments, the BAI is particularly interested in views on sustainability, including climate change; science-based factual reporting e.g. coverage of pandemics, climate change etc; election and referenda coverage; hate speech, including gender-based violence; cosmetic surgery and services; cryptocurrency and related financial services; product placement; gambling and medical products, treatments and services.

Once the review process is completed, a report on the outcomes will be provided to the Minister for Tourism, Arts, Culture, Gaeltacht, Sports and Media. The Minister will then place the report before Dáil Éireann and Seanad Éireann. Revisions to the codes and rules will be considered by Coimisiún na Meán, the new media regulator that is due to replace the BAI in 2023. The new regulator will also be responsible for on-demand services (such as the RTÉ Player) and video sharing platforms based in Ireland. These do not fall under the BAI’s remit.

Commenting, Chief Executive of the BAI, Celene Craig said: “We greatly welcome the views of all interested parties on our codes and rules. We believe that the new regulator is best placed to revise these, as it will have a broader remit than the BAI. When revising the codes and rules, the new regulator will be able to also apply them, where relevant, to on-demand services and video sharing platforms based in Ireland, further protecting audiences.”

Full details of the public consultation – including information on how to make a submission – can be found here.

The closing date for submissions is Wednesday, 21st December 2022.

ENDS

Media contact: Joanne Ahern, DHR Communications, Tel: 087-9881837.

All other queries: BAI, Tel: 01-6441200.

Notes to Editors:

  • The BAI Children’s Commercial Communications Code and the BAI Access Rules are outside of the scope of this public consultation. This is because the Children’s Code was recently reviewed, and a separate review of the Access Rules is currently being undertaken. This targeted stakeholder review process focuses on the users of subtitling, Irish Sign Language and audio description, broadcasters and services providing accessible content to broadcasters.
  • In relation to gambling, it is not intended to update BAI/CnaM rules on the basis of this review, as this area will shortly fall under the gambling regulator. Information gathered will inform the approach taken by the BAI/CnaM in their engagement with the new gambling regulator.