Access services
The Access Services team provide disability related assistance, advice and support to employees and line managers. Find out more on the Disability section of the ±«Óãtv Diversity website.
Visit the Contacts page for contacts in Access Services.
Action lines and audience support
Occasionally a programme will raise difficult issues which may require support, advice and additional information for the audience beyond the linear transmission. In these cases the ±«Óãtv Audience Services team can provide a range of support options including:
- Contacting relevant organisations who can provide a range of information and advice.
- Drafting online information for the programme website to publish (for Commissioner sign off).
- Ensuring the ±«Óãtv Actionline website points to this for a defined period.
- Providing recorded information on a dedicated phone line.
The on-air slide and continuity announcement will normally tell the audience how to go online for the information, or to hear recorded information as the second option. ±«Óãtv Audience Services arrange this in consultation with the production for the transmission and any scheduled repeats.
Sufficient lead time is needed to organise this support. Commissioning executives will help productions contact the Audiences Services team. This is normally required at least 10 days before the programme transmission.
Audience appreciations, comments and complaints are also handled centrally by Audience Services and collated for reporting overnight on the daily audience logs. These are available via commissioning executives.
Audience complaints
Visit the complaints, bullying and harassment page for information about the process independent production companies should follow when receiving a complaint directly from a viewer.
Audience interactivity
If a programme includes voting, competitions, awards, charity services or contestant lines the production must discuss their plans with the Interactive Technical Advice and Contracts Unit (ITACU) to ensure the programme complies with ±«Óãtv, Ofcom, PhonepayPlus and other regulations.
Read the applicable ±«Óãtv policy for audience interactivity on the Policies and guidelines page.
Audiences portal
The Audiences Portal provides online access to audience data for programmes which have aired on linear TV after 30 October 2017. Data is available for network drama, comedy, entertainment, factual, children’s and daytime programmes including Nations opt-out programmes.
The site allows independent production companies and ±«Óãtv Studios teams access to audience information for all the programmes made by their company together with a growing selection of insightful research articles from the ±«Óãtv Audiences team.
Access to the site is triggered by the transmission of a programme, whether that is a first transmission or a repeat, with new data added after each subsequent episode transmission.
New company accounts
To request a new account please email the team with the following information:
- The company name and ‘NEW’ in the subject line
- The names, individual email addresses and mobile numbers of those requiring access (please identify the person who will act as account administrator)
- The name of the programme(s)
- The programme UID (as noted in the delivery pack)
Adding new users to an account
New indie users
To request access please email the team with the following information:
- Your company name
- Your email address and mobile number
New ±«Óãtv Studio users
To request access please email the team.
±«Óãtv archives
Please see the Archive, rights and clearances page for information about using ±«Óãtv Archive.
±«Óãtv studios and post production facilities
±«Óãtv Studios and Post Production Ltd provide a range of HD TV studios, post production facilities and Digital Media Services to both ±«Óãtv programme makers and the external market.
Visit the
Phone: 020 3327 7400
studiosandpostproduction@bbc.co.uk
Finding a studio audience and contributors
The can market a show and help production teams find contestants and volunteers as well as musicians, dancers, actors or other performers. If a site with this information already exists it can be linked to from the homepage.
±«Óãtv Studio Audiences also provide the following services:
- Research and audience invitation.
- Design, print and distribution of tickets.
- Ensure audiences are looked after on their visit.
- Market the show on the Shows, Tours and Events website and through an email database of people who have previously expressed interest.
Phone: 020 8756 1514
Email: ±«Óãtv Studio Audiences
Please note, there is specific editorial guidance and ±«Óãtv policies related to the use of contributors or contestants in ±«Óãtv Programmes. See the Audience interactivity section further down this page for information.
There is specific guidance around using children and young people in ±«Óãtv programmes. Go to the for more information.
Find out about the ±«Óãtv ticketing and stewarding code of practice on the Policies and guidelines page.
Pronunciation unit
The ±«Óãtv Pronunciation unit is staffed by professional linguists who research and provide advice about pronunciations in any language. This advice is free of charge and is available exclusively to ±«Óãtv staff, programme makers and independent production companies producing content for the ±«Óãtv.
Pronunciation advice can be given over the phone and via email. When contacting the unit, programme makers are asked to provide programme details, context and to specify their deadline. Scripts should be sent with the required pronunciations clearly marked.
In exceptional circumstances (eg if child actors are involved) the unit may be able to supply spoken pronunciations as digital sound files.
Written pronunciations can be provided in either of two in-house respelling systems:
- (for ±«Óãtv-internal use, requires a special ±«Óãtv font)
- (plain text, no special font required)
Telephone: 020 361 44700 (for the exclusive use of ±«Óãtv staff, programme makers and independent production companies producing ±«Óãtv content)
Email: pronunciation@bbc.co.uk
Please note: if you have a comment or complaint about a ±«Óãtv programme please visit the dedicated .
ScriptWriter
ScriptWriter is a free of charge script management tool available for all productions working on ±«Óãtv commissioned content.
The ±«Óãtv developed software is an invaluable tool that can save productions time and money throughout the writing, filming and post-production process. Key features include shooting breakdowns, automatic dialogue numbering, character breakdown and story order reports, the facility to create scripts in different orders, the creation of running orders, subtitling and camera cards. ScriptWriter can also import scripts from Final Draft.
Request free access to ScriptWriter. A comprehensive user guide will be provided.
Please note ScriptWriter has been developed for use on a PC and doesn’t currently work on Macs. Running ScriptWriter on Windows 7 or Windows 10 is recommended, and will be available on Windows 11 in the near future.