1. Regulatory and professional bodies
within the Creative Media Sector
Shannon Orr
Task 3 Understand the Regulation of the
Media Sector

2. British Board of Film Classification (BBFC)
The BBFC is a trusted guide to media content. Working as an independent, self-financing and not-for-
profit media content regulator, the BBFC operates transparent, consistent and trusted co-regulatory
and self-regulatory classification and labelling systems in the UK.
As a highly expert and experienced regulator, our mission is to:
• protect the public, and especially children, from content which might raise harm risks.
• empower the public, especially parents, to make informed viewing choices.
• recognise and respect adult freedom of choice within the law.
• respond to and reflect changing social attitudes towards media content through proactive public
consultation and research.
• provide a cost-effective, efficient classification service within our statutory remit
• work in partnership with the industry to develop innovative service models to provide content
advice which support emerging media delivery systems
• provide an effective service to enforcement agencies

3. PEGI
Age ratings are systems used to ensure that entertainment content, such as films, videos, DVDs, and
computer games, are clearly labelled by age according to the content they contain. Age ratings
provide guidance to consumers to help them decide whether or not to buy a particular product.
Computer and video games are now enjoyed by millions of players throughout Europe. In the UK, 37
% of the population aged between 16 and 49 describe themselves as ‘active gamers.
The rating on a game confirms that it is suitable for players over a certain age,accordingly, a PEGI 7
game is only suitable for those aged seven and above and an PEGI 18 game is only suitable for adults
aged eighteen and above. The PEGI rating considers the age suitability of a game, not the level of
difficulty.

4. Film Distributors Association
The FDA is a trade body for theatrical film distributors in the UK. They are the ones that release films
for UK cinema audiences. They were originally established in 1915. The FDA liaises with many
individuals, companies and organisations. It is the voice for UK film distribution. They represent a
distribution stance in regular representations and consultations with the UK Film Council, the
government and other trade organisations in the film industry. They are also a founder member of the
AIM (All Industry Marketing for Cinema), which is a generic marketing body which works to increase
and broaden the UK cinema audience. The Film Distributors Association is engaged in the industry’s
on-going efforts to combat film piracy and theft. They are members of FACT (Federation Against
Copyright Theft) and the alliance of IP theft.

5. Video Standards Council (VSC)
The VSC was established in 1989. It establishes two roles:
• It is a standards body for the video and video games industries and has the Code of Practice
designed to ensure that both industries show a duty of care in their dealings with customers and
the public generally. The Code of Practice incorporates Code of Practice rules, which are a mixture
of the law, proper business practises and common sense.
• It provides its retailer members with a staff training course dealing with age restricted videos,
DVDs and video games. It acts as an administrator of the PEGI system of age rating for video games.
It is a non-profit making company and also supports anti-piracy activities.

6. Office for Communication (Ofcom)
• OfCom stands for The Office of Communications. It's a government approved regulatory authority
that regulates the telecommunication industry in the UK. It was established as an act of parliament
in 2002 under the Communications Act of 2002. OfCom regulates TV, radio, fixed line telecoms,
mobiles and wireless device airwaves.
• It’s main priority is to regulate and gather complaints from all forms of media one of the latest
scandals was a paddy power advert for the Oscar pistoriuos trial.

7. Trading Standards Central
In 2010 TSC created a manifesto to provide a profile of trading standards
TS Manifesto Trading Standards
Experts 'on the beat', implementing national policy to support fair and competitive markets, honest
enterprise and good business.
Protecting standards, an on-the-ground activity that is vital to the livelihoods and safety of our
communities.
A friend to the consumer, an advisor to businesses and the scourge of the scammer, rip-off merchant and
serious organised crime.
A brand reassuring to consumers and business alike and an integral part of consumer, citizen and
business confidence.

8. Press Complaints Commission (PCC)
The PCC deals with complaints from members of the public. It is an independent body which
administers the system of self-regulation for the press. The purpose of the PCC is to serve the public by
holding editors to account. They protect the rights of individuals, whilst also preserving appropriate
freedom of expression from the press.
Here is a link to the steps the PCC will take when pressing charges against a company or a certain
peron:
http://www.pcc.org.uk/cop/practice.html

9. Advertising Standards Authority(ASA).
It's role is to regulate the content of adverts, sales promotions and direct marketing in the UK, by
investigating complaints made about the adverts, and deciding whether the adverts complies with the
advertising standards codes. The codes stipulate that before distributing or submitting a marketing
communication or publication, marketers must hold documentary evidence to prove all claims,
whether direct or implied, that are capable of objective substantiation and that no marketing
communication should mislead or be likely to mislead by inaccuracy exaggeration or omission
otherwise. Anyone can ask the ASA to investigate an advert. If there is a problem with it, the authority
can tell the company to change or remove it.

10. Oscar pistoriuos trial / paddy power
On august 19th 2013 Oscar pistoriuos was officially charged with the murder of his girlfriend Reeva
Steenkamp as the trial started Paddy Power placed an advert in the national papers offering odds on
whether Oscar pistoriuos was innocent or guilty within days there were millions of complaints over
the advert and it’s insensitivity and in due course was removed from circulation paddy power did issue
an apology for the advert and were fined.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/oscar-pistorius/10759350/Oscar-Pistorius-murder-
trial-live.html