FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
The GRA ensures that broadcasters comply with the different Codes of Practice. These codes ensure that programmes do not include content which goes against good taste or decency or is likely to encourage incitement to hatred, lead to disorder or be offensive. Broadcasters can provide more explicit content so long as the audience is informed prior to broadcast and the relevant information and advisory guidance is clearly displayed. Nevertheless the broadcaster should always respect the set watershed and bear in mind the expectations of those watching.
To learn more about programme standards on matters relating to the protection of minors, harm and offence, privacy, fairness, crime and religion please read our Programme Standards Code.
To learn more about our complaints process, please read the Procedures for Handling of Complaints.
The GRA has published a series of Codes of Practice setting standards for television and radio shows and broadcasters have to follow these rules. These rules not only exist to protect viewers and listeners but also to ensure broadcasters have the freedom to make challenging programmes.
Whilst some Codes of Practice touch upon specific programme standards and content, other address issues such as impartiality and accuracy, sponsorship and commercial references as well as fairness and privacy.
All Codes of Practice can be downloaded from our website.
Every time the GRA receives a complaint from a viewer or listener, we assess it under the relevant Code of Practice to see if it needs further investigation. To learn more about our complaints process, please read the Procedures for Handling of Complaints.
In brief, “due” is an important qualification to the concept of impartiality. Impartiality itself means not favouring one side over another and “due” means adequate or appropriate to the subject and nature of the programme. Therefore “due impartiality” does not mean that an equal amount of time has to be given to every view or that every argument and every facet of every argument has to be represented.
Accuracy entails getting the facts right. It is a requirement to report news with “due accuracy” and significant mistakes in news should normally be acknowledged and corrected on air as soon as possible.
To learn more about accuracy and impartiality in broadcasts please refer to our Code on Objectivity, Impartiality, Accuracy and Undue Prominence. This Code relates to news programmes, current affairs programmes, political broadcasts and programmes, and advertising relating to an election or referendum.
If you still want to make a complaint about this issue, please use our online complaints form.
To learn more about our complaints process, please read the Procedures for Handling of Complaints.
The watershed means the time when TV programmes which might be unsuitable for children can be broadcast. Locally, the watershed only applies to television and is set at 9pm. Material unsuitable for children should not, in general, be shown before 9pm or after 6.30am.
Unsuitable material can include everything from sexual content to violence, graphic or distressing imagery and swearing. For example, the most offensive language must not be broadcast before the watershed on TV or, on radio, when children are particularly likely to be listening. Frequent use of offensive language must be avoided before the watershed, and must always be justified by its context. Radio broadcasters must have particular regard to times when children are likely to be listening such as during the school run and breakfast time but might include other times.
To learn more about the watershed please refer to section 3.2 of our Programme Standards Code.
If you still want to make a complaint about an issue relating to the local watershed, please use our online complaints form.
To learn more about our complaints process, please read the Procedures for Handling of Complaints.
The GRA has published several Codes of Practice setting standards for television and radio shows and broadcasters have to follow these rules. These rules not only exist to protect viewers and listeners but also to ensure broadcasters have the freedom to make challenging programmes.
For example, broadcasters may transmit provocative material, such as offensive language, sex scenes and violence but if they do transmit such material they have to ensure it is editorially justified and, where appropriate, the audience is given appropriate information. Labelling, classification details and other information announcements are required before and during the broadcast to enable viewers to make appropriate choices at all times.
The GRA strongly encourages all broadcasters to adopt a family viewing policy which assumes a progressive decline throughout the evening in the proportion of children viewing, matched by a progression towards material more suitable for adults.
To learn more about the watershed and programme standards on matters relating to protection of minors, harm and offence, please read our Programme Standards Code.
If you feel that the offensive language broadcast on TV was excessive, then you may make a complaint using our online complaints form.
To learn more about our complaints process, please read the Procedures for Handling of Complaints.
The GRA has published several Codes of Practice setting standards for television and radio shows and broadcasters have to follow these rules. These rules not only cover harm and offence, but also other areas like impartiality and accuracy, sponsorship and commercial references as well as fairness and privacy.
All Codes of Practice can be downloaded from our website.
If we find a programme has broken these rules, then it will be found in breach of the relevant Code of Practice and the GRA will deal with it accordingly.
If you feel that a programme you’ve watched on TV or heard on the Radio was not suitable for broadcast, then you may make a complaint using our online complaints form.
To learn more about our complaints process, please read the Procedures for Handling of Complaints.
Please be aware that the GRA does not watch or listen to programmes before they are broadcast.
If you would like to complain about a programme that is yet to be broadcast, you should contact the broadcaster directly.
If the programme has already been broadcast and you have concerns about it then you may make a complaint using our online complaints form.
To learn more about our complaints process, please read the Procedures for Handling of Complaints.