Programme Durations
Your commissioning documentation will specify a
slot duration
for the programme.
The physical programme you deliver must conform to the
actual duration
requirements shown below.
Slot Duration:
the length of the slot in which your programme transmits e.g. for Watchdog this will normally be 30 mins (1930-2000)
Actual Duration:
the running time at which you should deliver your programme
The actual duration is less than the slot duration to allow for promotions and previews e.g. for Watchdog this would be one minute less than the slot duration (29 mins).
BBC THREE:
durations changed for deliveries after 1st January 2008. All programmes will be for these new durations. Independent producers should contact their BBC Business Affairs Manager.
Channel
Slot Duration
Actual Duration should be:
BBC ONE Peaktime,
BBC TWO,
(excluding CBeebies and CBBC)
BBC FOUR
BBC ONE/TWO Scotland,
BBC ONE/TWO N. Ireland,
BBC ONE/TWO Wales,
BBC 2W
All Slots
1 minute less
than slot duration
BBC THREE
15 minutes
14 minutes
30 minutes
28 minutes 30 seconds
45 minutes
43 minutes
60 minutes
57 minutes
Other slots
To be advised
BBC ONE Daytime
15 minutes
13 minutes
30 minutes
27 minutes 30 seconds
45 minutes
43 minutes 30 seconds
60 minutes
57 minutes
Other slots
To be advised
CBeebies and CBBC
10 minutes
10 minutes
15 minutes
14 minutes
20 minutes
19 minutes
30 minutes
28 minutes
45 minutes
44 minutes
60 minutes
58 minutes
Notes:
The actual durations quoted include opening and closing titles
Occasionally the actual duration of your programme may need to vary from the guidelines above - in this case your commissioning executive or CBBC on-air will advise you of the actual duration to which you should deliver.
Any variation to the agreed duration must be formally agreed (by writing or email) as specified
here
.
The reduced durations for BBC THREE programmes are to allow for BBC THREE news
60 Seconds
which will play directly after programmes
Open University
Open University slot and actual durations should be as detailed for the transmitting channel in the table above
Why This is Important
Programme tapes
must
be delivered at the correct duration - this is essential in order to ensure that schedules can be made to work to time and that key juntions are met (e.g. with live News).
Programmes delivered which are not at the correct duration will be returned to the programme department or company for re-editing to the correct length and will require a new Transmission review and copies to be re-run
at production expense
.
Credit Durations
Opening Credit Durations
Opening credit sequences for programmes for BBC THREE must not exceed 10 seconds. This should be taken into account when commissioning any music or graphic intended to accompany them:
End Credit Durations
End credit sequences must not exceed the following durations, which should be taken into account when commissioning any music or graphic intended to accompany them:
Channel
Slot durations
Maximum credit duration
BBC ONE,
BBC TWO,
BBC THREE,
BBC FOUR,
BBC Scotland,
BBC N. Ireland
All Durations
25 to 30 seconds
BBC Wales (except Drama)
All Durations
15 seconds
BBC Wales (Drama)
All Durations
30 seconds
CBeebies, CBBC Channel
All Durations
20 seconds
End Credit durations for programmes such as daily quizzes, magazines and continuing sports coverage should not exceed 10 seconds.
They may be longer for first and last editions provided they do not exceed the timings listed. This must be agreed in advance with the Commissioning Editor.
These durations are not targets to be achieved, but maxima which must not be exceeded. There may be occasions when the credits can be shorter, bearing in mind the need to ensure credits are fully legible (see
Readability
). There may even be occasions when credits are not necessary.
Open University
Open University end credit durations should be as detailed for the transmitting channel in the table above