Diamond uses Ofcom's genre classifications to support consistent reporting across the industry. These definitions may differ from those used elsewhere. The definitions below are based on those published by Ofcom in July 2026.
You select the funder Ofcom genre when you add project details.
News
- Newscast or news bulletin providing national, international or regional news coverage.
- News magazines which may contain a range of items related to news stories, with comment and elements of general interest.
- Coverage of parliamentary proceedings and political coverage.
- Weather forecasts and bulletins, including reports on air quality, tide times etc.
Current affairs
- A programme that contains explanation and analysis of current events and issues, including material dealing with political or industrial controversy or with public policy.
- Topical programmes about business matters and financial issues of current interest.
- Political debates, ministerial statements, party conferences.
Arts and classical music
- A programme displaying or presenting a cultural or artistic performance or event.
- Programmes providing information, comment or critical appraisal of the arts.
- The subject matter can cover theatre, opera, music, dance, cinema, visual arts, photography, architecture or literature.
Religion and ethics
- All forms of programming whose focus is religious belief, for example: programmes intended to provide religious inspiration through words and/or music, and informational programmes explaining doctrine, belief, faith, tenets, religious experiences or topics providing a religious world view.
- Coverage of religious acts of worship of all faiths.
- Life experience: moral, ethical, spiritual – exploring one or more of the following issues at some point in the programme: (i) a recognisable religious perspective forming a significant part of the overall narrative; (ii) an exploration of people's daily lives whose attitudes could be said to be informed by a religious background or tradition; (iii) an exploration of people's perception of, and attitudes to, philosophies which address the big questions of life that affect them. These must demonstrate an approach that bears in mind a religious faith/belief context.
Education
- Programmes with a clear educational purpose, usually backed by specially prepared literature publicised on screen and in other appropriate ways. Includes programmes for schools, BBC Learning Zone and Open University programmes.
- Programmes reflecting social needs and promoting individual or community action. Also includes campaign weeks on particular subjects, e.g. bullying, drugs.
Factual
All types of factual programmes, included in the genres listed below.
Specialist factual
- History – programmes about historical times or events, including programmes about archaeology.
- Nature and wildlife – natural history and programmes about environmental issues.
- Science and technology – programmes about scientific issues, new discoveries, medical matters and new technological developments.
- Business and finance – programmes about business/financial issues and developments.
General factual
- General factual programmes, including consumer affairs.
- Lifestyle programmes, hobbies and leisure interests, including makeover shows.
- Daytime magazine programmes and talk shows.
- Coverage of special events, not generated by the broadcaster, including commemorative events, royal events.
Factual entertainment
- Popular factual material, including reality shows, docu-soaps and other factual entertainment.
Drama
- All drama including comedy drama and TV movies but excluding soaps, which are classified separately.
- Docu-drama – based on reality, telling the story of actual events.
Soaps
- Drama programmes with a continuous storyline and fixed cast, normally with more than one episode each week and shown every week of the year and usually (but not necessarily) of 30 minutes' duration.
Films
- Full-length movies as typically intended for theatrical release, but also including feature-length, single, scripted programmes that originally debut on TV or streaming platforms.
Entertainment
- All forms of entertainment programme, including panel games, chat and variety shows, talent contests.
- Quiz and game shows.
- Pop music video shows.
- Contemporary music – coverage of popular music events and performances, such as OB concerts or as-live studio-based shows.
Comedy
- All forms of scripted comedy, satire, stand-up and sketch shows.
- Situation comedy – dramatised entertainment in a humorous style, usually with a fixed cast and generally of 30 minutes' duration.
Sport
- All forms of sports programming, including coverage of sporting events.
Children's
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