Commentary on Sections Part 3: Television and Radio Services Chapter 4: Regulatory Provisions Section 285: Code relating to programme commissioning
609.OFCOM are to include conditions in the licences of every licensed public service channel in order to secure that the channel provider draws up, from time to time revises and complies with a code of practice setting out the principles he will apply when agreeing terms for the commissioning of independent productions. The code must be submitted to OFCOM for approval and will have effect only if approved by OFCOM.
610.OFCOM must issue general guidance setting out the procedure for drawing up and revising the code and the matters to be covered. OFCOM’s guidance may not however specify particular terms to be included in agreements to which the guidance relates. OFCOM must ensure that there is always published guidance for the purposes of this section in force and must consult the providers of the licensed public service channels, persons who make independent productions (or persons appearing to OFCOM to represent them), the BBC and the Welsh Authority before issuing or revising the guidance.
	*an “independent production” has the same meaning as in section 277.