Ofcom Relaxes Teleshopping Rules For Terrestrial Television

On 26 May 2009, Ofcom announced in its Code on the Scheduling of Television Advertising that it would partially lift the ban on teleshopping for some of the UK's largest terrestrial television channels (ITV1, Channel 4, Five and S4C1) which engage in public sector broadcasting (PSB). The scheduling of teleshopping for these channels will be permitted for up to six hours between midnight and 6am from 1 June 2009.

Ofcom said it has made the changes to allow PSB channels to generate additional revenues from teleshopping against the background of falling advertising revenues.

In permitting teleshopping during overnight transmissions, Ofcom said it has "balanced the recognition that teleshopping services could contribute to PSB funding with its view that teleshopping content does not contribute to the public service remit".