The ±«Óãtv has a wealth of archive content available for independent production companies and ±«Óãtv teams for both research and production purposes.
Our archive holdings include the ±«Óãtv TV and Radio programme archives, music, news and photograph archives and a sheet music collection along with programme documentation. Find out more about what's in the ±«Óãtv Archive and how to access it on the Archive Services website.
Please note those wishing to use the ±«Óãtv archive without a commission must request content via the .
Find further information below on how to access the ±«Óãtv archive as a programme maker and the use of music in ±«Óãtv programmes including clearances and reporting.
Please see the Policies and guidelines page to find information about the Programme release (holdback) policy, the Digital release policy and the Library sales holdback policy.
Please note information about using music in ±«Óãtv progammes including clearance and ±«Óãtv MusicBox can be found on the Using music in ±«Óãtv programmes page.
Accessing the ±«Óãtv television archive online
The ±«Óãtv has a wealth of content in our archives that can be accessed for both programme research and production purposes.
Much of our programme archive is available in online depositories and access to these for research purposes is free of charge for any independent production company or Studios teams with a ±«Óãtv commission or who are under contracted development.
Please note, those wishing to use our archive without a ±«Óãtv commission can only access ±«Óãtv content via .
is the portal for accessing the ±«Óãtv content archive. It allows users to search for content from across our different online libraries and catalogues via a single search box. It also enables users to quickly cut and download browse quality (non broadcast quality) and high resolution (broadcast quality) clips of their chosen assets for research and reuse. Archive Search also offers curated Collections of content ahead of major events and anniversaries for production use.
Archive Search allows users to search and surface all the content from the Digital Archive, Redux, the ±«Óãtv Scotland Digital Library, the ±«Óãtv Northern Ireland Archive and News archive in one place, and content will continue to be added over time.
Users with the appropriate access can also go directly to the Digital Archive system - the depository for our HD archived content - to source, clip and export broadcast quality archive content where available.
Please allow at least five working days for digital files to be delivered.
Access
A ±«Óãtv commissioner (sponsor) must approve access to our online archives, informed by strict criteria and production need. New users must apply for access to Archive Search via the and specify their ±«Óãtv sponsor ie the relevant ±«Óãtv commissioner. On application, users must use an email address that can be linked to them as an individual, they will then be invited to create a ±«Óãtv Login identity to access the archive systems. ±«Óãtv Login is the pan-±«Óãtv security and access tool.
Access to the ±«Óãtv’s Archive Search and Digital Archive systems can be granted on the following criteria:
- for archive based programmes where access to the ±«Óãtv archive is essential for research
- where regular access to the ±«Óãtv archive is required for an ongoing returning series or strand for the research of past programmes
- where a company or department are confirmed as eligible for a competitive tender, for the duration of the tender application
- in a small number of cases, where the commissioner feels the volume or nature of commissions from a key supplier requires regular access to the ±«Óãtv archive on an ongoing basis, and this is the most efficient means of delivering that.
To access Archive Search or the Digital Archive, producers will need to include the following information in the application:
- the name of the commissioner sponsoring access
- the name of the company you are working for
- the title of the programme or series you are working on
- the name of the executive producer
- the reason access is required
Training and further support
Find training resources and further help to use Archive Search on the .
Register for an Archive Search account via the .
Find out more about using the ±«Óãtvs other archive systems and services on the ±«Óãtv Archive Services website.
Use of ±«Óãtv archive in commissioned content
Please see General term 6 and Special term 3.2 of the Programme production agreement (PPA) for specific clearance requirements.
The Programme production agreement (PPA) will make it clear which ±«Óãtv uses need to be pre-paid within the licence fee and which ±«Óãtv uses should be clearable subject to further payment. These repeat/use costs must be as approved by the ±«Óãtv (for the avoidance of doubt, standard union rates are approved) and recorded in the Schedule of residuals which the production is required to deliver to the ±«Óãtv at the end of production. The production should therefore establish that it is possible to get these rights and what they cost, even if under the terms of the PPA the production is not required to pay for them straight away.
For any queries in relation to clearances please refer in the first instance to the production management or Business Affairs team.
When using ±«Óãtv Archive for chargeable services, independent production companies must quote a credit card number along with the usual company details. Please note that internal charge codes can not be used and services will be directly charged for via the credit card. Independent production companies should therefore make their status clear when contacting ±«Óãtv Archive. Costs involved in using ±«Óãtv Archive’s services should be budgeted as they must be covered by the primary rights licence fee.
See the Business and contractual information page for more information about the Programme production agreement and Schedule of residuals.
Clearance for non-±«Óãtv archive in commissioned content
Archive houses are generally familiar with the nature of the 'public service rights' required for ±«Óãtv commissions. If there any difficulties obtaining rights from any archive house please inform the business affairs manager. Any archive footage that cannot be cleared for the rights the ±«Óãtv needs should not be included in the programme.
Using clips from other ±«Óãtv programmes in ±«Óãtv content
Productions are required to clear clips for public service rights as defined in the Programme production agreement.
Productions are entitled to use clips taken from other ±«Óãtv programmes (made or commissioned by the ±«Óãtv) subject to certain limitations (for example, the restrictions relating to clips featuring sexual content or clip durations laid out in talent union agreements).
Use of comedy and drama clips are restricted to a maximum of two clips per episode with strict limits on duration due to the relevant underlying rights frameworks.
Online rights must be cleared separately for material from another programme or bought in footage.
For assistance in relation to specific advice on short form video or music rights and clearance please refer in the first instance to the business affairs manager.
Please note: freelancers who are not attached to an independent production company or ±«Óãtv programme team should see for access to ±«Óãtv archive material.
See the ±«Óãtv Archives website for further information applicable to independent production companies.
Commercial exploitation of programme clips
See the Business framework on the Business and contractual page for full information about commercial exploitation of programme clips.
Programme as completed (P as C) form
The Programme as completed form (sometimes referred to as the P as C form) provides information about the content, music and contributors in a programme and together with the Music cue form is the complete written record of a programme’s content and ensures correct copyright payments are made.
It is therefore essential that the Programme as completed form records details of any and all restrictions on use of the programme (for example any restrictions on clip use in any contributor contract, as pre-approved by the ±«Óãtv).
Productions complete this information via the online production reporting system . In Silvermouse information has been divided into three separate forms: the contributors, front page and copyrights forms.
It is mandatory that the Programme as completed form or related information on Silvermouse is submitted within four weeks of the final episode delivery, or earlier if all data is available
Please note, users already registered on Silvermouse (including for other broadcasters) can use their existing login.
Visit the contacts page to find technical and non-technical support contacts and training resources for Silvermouse.
Non-linear form
The Non-linear form is required for some commissioned content that does not sit on our linear channels. This may include content which is commissioned for bbc.co.uk. bbc.com, or social media platforms. The form is completed and submitted via the production reporting system . Producers should consult their contract for full details about their reporting and delivery requirements.
The non-linear form includes information about content rights, such as the territories the content is cleared for, how long the content can be made available and if there are restrictions of any kind. It must be completed by the production within four weeks of final episode delivery.
Visit the contacts page to find technical and non-technical support contacts and training resources for Silvermouse.
±«Óãtv Archives Music Collection
±«Óãtv Archives Music Collection consists of the Commercial Music Collection and the Sheet Music Collection. Visit the Archive services website to find out more.
Information about using music in ±«Óãtv progammes including clearance and ±«Óãtv MusicBox can be found on the Using music in ±«Óãtv programmes page. Information about the Schedule of residuals and key agreements can be found on the Business and contractual information page.