Competition verification and Ofcom compliance

Beyond Dispute provides a fully independent adjudication and verification service for competitions, quizzes, and contests.

We also advice clients on compliance in regulated areas such as gambling and television broadcasting.

Our service will ensure that you are compliant with relevant regulations that apply to you.

Compliance advice

We advise on regulatory and commercial issues across all types of platforms and devices, from television broadcasting to interactive mobile content. We specialise in all aspects of broadcasting and digital carriage, including licensing issues, commercial contracts and regulatory compliance, with a particular expertise in interactive services.

Prize draws and competitions

The company provides peace of mind, at a reasonable price, for all those involved in the organisation, provision and operation of competitions

We can provide the following services:

• attending judges meetings
• review of questions
• review of terms and conditions
• judging tiebreakers
• independent winner selection

We provide complete confidence that you are compliant with the Regulations that apply to your competition.

Judges panels

We attend and verify judging panels and back up jurys to ensure that they are run fairly.

We have worked with BBC Compliance departments to shape a set of guidelines for running judging panels.

Broadcast competitions

Our experience of adjudicating long running shows such as Deal or No Deal and Golden Balls gives us an unparalleled understanding of the issues facing producers of quiz shows who have to deal, not only with Ofcom compliance, but with queries and challenges raised by viewers.

Services provided include

Reviewing formats of television shows

We will work with you at the planning stage of your show to ensure that you are not left vulnerable – either to criticism by the public or Ofcom. We have considerable experience of helping producers tweak their format to eliminate any vulnerabilities.

(Examples of shows that we have provided this service for include The Colour of Money and Basil’s Swap Shop)

Adjudicating during the recording of a show

We can provide an experienced adjudicator to be present during the recording of the show. This may be because there is hands on work to be done by the adjudicator (for example in Golden Balls or Deal or No Deal). Alternatively, you may need an adjudicator to provide immediate decisions in the event that there is the potential for the format to be challenged.

(Examples of shows we have provided this service for are Red or Black, The Chase, In It To Win It, Who Dares Wins, Magic Numbers, Deal or No Deal and Krypton Factor)

Verifying public votes

From local radio competitions to the Eurovision song contest we provide an adjudicator to work with your production team to ensure that your public vote is conducted properly, phone lines are handled appropriately and that the correct winner is announced.