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BBC publishes code of conduct for competitions and voting
MUMBAI: UK pubcaster The BBC has published for the first time a code of conduct for competitions and voting on the Corporation’s television, radio and online services. The code is the BBC’s undertaking to its audiences on the running of competitions and voting.
The code, which applies to competition and voting activity on every BBC programme, emphasises the importance of trust in the relationship with audiences. An honest and open relationship is required, in which the public is treated with respect and fairness. Competitions and voting will be handled with rigorous care and integrity.
The code, which will be widely publicised on the BBC’s services, also reminds audiences that BBC competitions and votes will not be run on the BBC to make a profit. The only time BBC competitions or votes will be aimed at raising funds will be for a BBC charitable initiative.
In particular, through the code, the BBC undertakes to ensure that:
– competitions and votes are conducted in a way that is honest, open, fair and legal
– winners of competitions and votes are genuine and never invented, pre-chosen or planted by the production team. Every entry should have a fair chance of winning
– it will never ask anyone to pose as a competition contestant or winner
– prizes are described accurately. The BBC will not mislead entrants about the nature of a prize and prize winners will receive their prizes in reasonable time
– there are clear rules for any competition or vote, which are readily available to the public.
The Code states that whatever pressures there may be to “keep the show on the air”, the BBC must never compromise its editorial integrity.
If things go wrong with running a competition or vote, the BBC will not cover it up or falsify the outcome.
Premium rate telephone services will be used when the size of the likely response to votes or competitions requires large numbers of calls to be handled, or where raising money for a BBC charitable initiative.
The code of conduct is part of the response by BBC management to the requirement from the BBC Trust for a comprehensive plan to address important issues which arose from serious editorial breaches on the BBC earlier this year.
The code was called for by the BBC Trust, and further detailed advice for programme makers on competitions, voting and running awards and a formal approvals process for such activities is to be submitted to the Trust for its consideration before competitions can resume on the BBC.
It is anticipated that some competitions may return on air before Christmas.
A mandatory editorial training programme for 17,000 staff, Safeguarding Trust, is also now underway.
BBC DG Mark Thompson said, “Trust is the BBC’s most important value and we must never do anything that may undermine that trust. That belief is shared by the BBC’s programme makers. The new Code will enable audiences to have a clear understanding of what they should expect in the conduct of competitions and votes on the BBC. Audiences enjoy interacting with BBC programmes and output. It’s important that they can do so with confidence at all times.”
News Broadcasting
WITT Summit 2026 concludes in New Delhi
Babar Azam’s comical diving attempt goes viral as league introduces anti-dew measures.
MUMBAI: The WITT Summit just wrapped up with enough big ideas to fill a policy playbook because when India’s leaders, thinkers and icons gather under one roof, even the conversations hit sixes. The eighth edition of TV9 Network’s flagship What India Thinks Today (WITT) Summit 2026 concluded on Saturday after two days of dynamic discussions at its New Delhi venue. India’s largest multi-domain public policy and culture summit brought together political leaders, policymakers, sports icons, artists and technology innovators to examine the forces shaping contemporary India and its global standing.
Prime minister Narendra Modi delivered the keynote address on the theme “India and the World” for the third consecutive year. In a wide-ranging speech, he addressed the ongoing conflict in West Asia, calling for restraint and compassion while highlighting India’s continued development trajectory despite global turmoil.
The summit featured candid conversations with state leaders. Telangana Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy articulated a people-first governance model and contrasted it with other development approaches. Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav declared that Left-wing extremism had been effectively eliminated in his state and highlighted preparations for the upcoming Kumbh Mela. Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann defended his government’s record, citing the closure of 19 toll plazas and creation of the Sadak Suraksha Force. Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar expressed confidence in Congress prospects in Assam and addressed recent allegations against him.
On geopolitics and national security, Union Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia outlined India’s ambition to become a builder of trusted digital infrastructure for the world, citing the rapid 5G rollout and village-level 4G connectivity.
Cricket received significant attention. Former India captain Sourav Ganguly praised player freedom and trust as hallmarks of great leadership and named MS Dhoni as the greatest captain due to his World Cup successes. India women’s team bowling coach Aavishkar Salvi credited the BCCI and Women’s Premier League for building a pipeline of world-class talent behind the team’s recent ODI World Cup triumph.
The summit also hosted the inaugural AI² Awards 2026, celebrating the convergence of human creativity and machine intelligence in storytelling and content creation. Poet and kathavachak Kumar Vishwas delivered a nuanced take on India’s concept of Dharma and criticised the recent arrest of an 80-year-old Shankaracharya. Veteran lyricist Sameer Anjaan and storyteller Neelesh Misra reflected on changing music trends and artistic responsibility in the wake of a recent controversy involving Nora Fatehi.
In a country where conversations often run as deep as the Ganges, the WITT Summit proved once again that when leaders, thinkers and storytellers come together, the real winner is public discourse lively, layered and refreshingly unafraid to tackle the big questions shaping India’s tomorrow.
