Legal & Compliance

INDEPENDENT PRODUCERS HANDBOOK

The Independent Producers Handbook  aims to give helpful and practical guidance to all our programme-makers and editorial staff on the Ofcom Broadcasting Code rules and the main areas of law that apply to the making and broadcast of programmes.

It is the responsibility of every executive producer and producer making a programme for Channel 5 to ensure that every member of the production team has read and is familiar with the relevant sections of the Handbook (including best practice guidelines) and follows the rules and procedures it contains.

Download the Independent Producers Handbook

The Handbook contains:

• Channel 5’s internal compliance procedures;
• A summary of the most important Ofcom Code rules;
• A more detailed explanation and commentary on the Code rules;
• A summary of the main areas of media law;
• Best practice check-lists for specific programme areas;
• Programme-makers’ FAQs and answers for each area of the Code and media law, together with some practical examples;
• Channel 5’s best practice guidelines and protocols for certain areas of programme-making and broadcasting.

Channel 5's producers may obtain hard copies of the Independent Producer Handbook from Channel 5's Legal & Compliance team on 020 8612 7675.  Producers who have a legal or compliance query about a programme or other content they are making for Channel 5 may seek advice by contacting the same number.

DATA PROTECTION GUIDELINES

Channel 5, together with the BBC, ITV, Channel 4, and Pact have announced a new set of data security guidelines for the production industry.

The guidelines are designed to help producers comply with their obligations under the Data Protection Act (DPA), which states that production companies are responsible for ensuring they manage and protect personal data properly and in accordance with legislation. They cover all aspects of data security including collection of and access to personal and sensitive data, policies, exemptions, subject access requests, action to take in the event of a loss of security and all other aspects related to the DPA.

The Producers' Data Protection and Security Guidelines can be downloaded below, along with the Production Crew - General Notes, which aim to offer practical guidance in applying the Data Security Guidelines. If you have any queries about this document or how it might apply to your commission please contact Channel 5's Legal & Compliance team on 0208612 7675.

Producers’ Data Protection and Security Guidelines

Producers’ Data Protection and Security Guidelines: Production Crew – General Notes