Ofcom Update: Adjudication on Celebrity Big Brother 2007

Ofcom today published its Adjudication on Channel Four's broadcast of Celebrity Big Brother 2007. 

 

Ofcom's investigation found that Channel Four made serious editorial misjudgements, compounded by a serious failure of its compliance process.  Ofcom has therefore found Channel Four in breach of the Broadcasting Code and has imposed a statutory sanction on Channel Four.

 

The statutory sanction imposed by Ofcom directs Channel Four to broadcast a summary of Ofcom’s finding on three separate occasions.  This will be at the start of:

 

- the first programme of the new series of Big Brother;

 

- the first re-versioned programme the following morning;  

 

- the first eviction show. 

 

Ofcom’s finding and the direction also apply to S4C because it also broadcasts Channel Four’s Celebrity Big Brother programming.  The full Adjudication is available at:

 

http://www.ofcom.org.uk/tv/obb/ocsc_adjud/channel4_cbb/

 

Commenting on the investigation, Ed Richards, Ofcom Chief Executive, said:

 

"Ofcom takes allegations of racist abuse and bullying on television extremely seriously.  An unprecedented number of complaints were received and, whilst Celebrity Big Brother was still on-air, we launched a full investigation. 

 

"It is essential that Broadcasters are able to air challenging and controversial material but in doing so they must have effective compliance procedures in place and must exercise their editorial duties responsibly."

 

 

 

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