1. Tom Ross
Task 3 Understand the Regulation of the
Media Sector

2. The BBFC is a trusted guide to media content. Working as an independent, self-
financing and not-for-profit media content regulator, the BBFC operates transparent,
consistent and trusted co-regulatory and self-regulatory classification and labelling
systems in the UK.
As a highly expert and experienced regulator, our mission is to:
protect the public, and especially children, from content which might raise harm
risks
empower the public, especially parents, to make informed viewing choices
recognise and respect adult freedom of choice within the law
respond to and reflect changing social attitudes towards media content through
proactive public consultation and research
provide a cost-effective, efficient classification service within our statutory remit
work in partnership with the industry to develop innovative service models to provide
content advice which support emerging media delivery systems
provide an effective service to enforcement agencies

3. Age ratings are systems used to ensure that entertainment content, such as films, videos, DVDs, and computer
games, are clearly labelled by age according to the content they contain. Age ratings provide guidance to
consumers to help them decide whether or not to buy a particular product.
Computer and video games are now enjoyed by millions of players throughout Europe. In the UK, 37 % of the
population aged between 16 and 49 describe themselves as ‘active gamers
The rating on a game confirms that it is suitable for players over a certain age. Accordingly, a PEGI 7 game is
only suitable for those aged seven and above and an PEGI 18 game is only suitable for adults aged eighteen
and above. The PEGI rating considers the age suitability of a game, not the level of difficulty.

4. The FDA is a trade body for theatrical film distributors in
the UK. They are the ones that release films for UK
cinema audiences. They were originally established in
1915. The FDA liaises with many individuals,
companies and organisations. It is the voice for UK film
distribution. They represent a distribution stance in
regular representations and consultations with the UK
Film Council, the government and other trade
organisations in the film industry. They are also a
founder member of the AIM (All Industry Marketing for
Cinema), which is a generic marketing body which
works to increase and broaden the UK cinema
audience. The Film Distributors Association is engaged
in the industry’s on-going efforts to combat film piracy
and theft. They are members of FACT (Federation
Against Copyright Theft) and the alliance of IP theft.

5. The VSC was established in 1989. It establishes two
roles:
It is a standards body for the video and video
games industries and has the Code of Practice
designed to ensure that both industries show a
duty of care in their dealings with customers and
the public generally. The Code of Practice
incorporates Code of Practice rules, which are a
mixture of the law, proper business practises and
common sense. It provides its retailer members
with a staff training course dealing with age
restricted videos, DVDs and video games. It acts as
an administrator of the PEGI system of age rating
for video games. It is a non-profit making
company and also supports anti-piracy activities.

6. • OfCom stands for The Office of Communications. It's a government approved
regulatory authority that regulates the telecommunication industry in the UK. It
was established as an act of parliament in 2002 under the Communications Act of
2002. OfCom regulates TV, radio, fixed line telecoms, mobiles and wireless device
airwaves.
• It’s main priority is to regulate and gather complaints from all forms of media one
of the latest scandals was a paddy power advert for the Oscar pistoriuos trial.

7. In 2010 TSC created a manifesto to provide a
profile of trading standards
TS Manifesto Trading Standards
Experts 'on the beat', implementing national policy
to support fair and competitive markets, honest
enterprise and good business.
Protecting standards, an on-the-ground activity
that is vital to the livelihoods and safety of our
communities.
A friend to the consumer, an advisor to businesses
and the scourge of the scammer, rip-off merchant
and serious organised crime.
A brand reassuring to consumers and business
alike and an integral part of consumer, citizen and
business confidence.

8. The PCC deals with complaints from members of the public. It is an independent body which
administers the system of self-regulation for the press. The purpose of the PCC is to serve the public
by holding editors to account. They protect the rights of individuals, whilst also preserving
appropriate freedom of expression from the press.
Here is a link to the steps the PCC will take when pressing charges against a company or a person
http://www.pcc.org.uk/cop/practice.html

9. It's role is to regulate the content of adverts, sales promotions and direct marketing in the UK,
by investigating complaints made about the adverts, and deciding whether the adverts
complies with the advertising standards codes. The codes stipulate that before distributing or
submitting a marketing communication or publication, marketers must hold documentary
evidence to prove all claims, whether direct or implied, that are capable of objective
substantiation and that no marketing communication should mislead or be likely to mislead by
inaccuracy exaggeration or omission otherwise. Anyone can ask the ASA to investigate an
advert. If there is a problem with it, the authority can tell the company to change or remove it.

10. • On august 19th 2013 Oscar pistoriuos was officially charged with the murder of his girlfriend
Reeva Steenkamp as the trial started Paddy Power placed an advert in the national papers
offering odds on whether Oscar pistoriuos was innocent or guilty within days there were millions
of complaints over the advert and it’s insensitivity and in due course was removed from
circulation paddy power did issue an apology for the advert and were fined.
• http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/oscar-pistorius/10759350/Oscar-Pistorius-
murder-trial-live.html