Can broadcasters promote their other commercial channels, video on demand, mobile services and websites?
A. Yes. Ofcom rules on cross-promotion clarify that broadcasters can do so within presentation time (but not within programmes), providing the service is “broadcasting-related” i.e. that the service delivers content similar to that delivered on a television or radio service. Some material e.g. websites or references to a programme showing on another channel, may be both broadcasting-related as well as programme-related. Possible examples include a television channel; a radio station; video-on-demand; content delivered over a mobile or broadband platform; a website that provides content clearly and directly related to a broadcasting-related service e.g. a channel’s own website. When promoting the service, in which the broadcaster must usually have at least a 30% interest, broadcasters can also refer to the commercial names of the platform the service is carried on, providing the promotion mentions all of the platforms the service is on and does so equally. Note: there are exceptions for
