Dates for your diary: Broadcaster deadlines

Here you can find the joint UK broadcaster deadlines timetable, as agreed by Channel 4, ITV and Sky, for any upcoming bank holiday periods.

This usually happens four times a year:

1. 🐰 Easter (March / April)
2. 🌷 May & Spring (early & late May)
3. ☀️ Summer (August)
4. 🎄 Christmas and new year (December – January)

Bookmark this page as it’ll be updated with new timetables as and when they’re released (usually 1-2 months before).

If two bank holiday periods are upcoming, scroll down to see the second timetable underneath. If no timetables are shown, please check back nearer to the time.

The timetables provide the deadline you need to have completed the following steps by, in order for your ad to be ready for its booked air date:

1. Copy clearance approval
2. Delivery
3. Copy rotations / media instructions (CRI)

For any campaigns airing around these times, make a note of the deadlines for both linear and Video-On-Demand (VOD), to ensure your ad makes it to air and that you avoid any last minute stress or surcharges.

Please scroll to the bottom of the page for notes from us and the broadcasters.

🎄 Christmas and new year timetable

Linear deadlines

* UK bank holidays (Clearcast closed)

** Additional day Clearcast is closed

VOD deadlines

Reminders

Notes from the Broadcasters

• These deadlines are in place to help you avoid late copy surcharges being applied by some broadcasters.
• Linear copy should be delivered at least two clear working days before transmission to avoid a late delivery surcharge.
• Linear copy instructions (CRI) should be supplied at least two clear working days before transmission.
• Agencies with clients that find these deadlines unworkable should contact individual broadcaster sales representatives directly to agree on your needs.

Notes from Clearcast

• To comply with these deadlines make sure you factor in additional time for the clearance process to take place. We advise that you start the clearance process as early as possible, but leave a minimum of two weeks.
• Clearance approval should be before or by the delivery date (although if you’re using Clearcast Delivery to deliver your ad, you can deliver your clocked ads to the broadcasters while your copy is awaiting approval).

Support with meeting these deadlines

Copy clearance

Understand the clearance process (how to get your ad approved for TV / VOD).

Clearance explained

Delivery

Deliver with Clearcast for fast, smooth, pain-free distribution.

Delivery

CRI (copy instructions)

Have your copy rotations handled for you, by Clearcast Commercial Services.

CRI handled

Everything handled

Have the experts manage clearance, delivery and more on your behalf.

Your ad handled

• Plus, speed up the clearance process with faster feedback,
• Work through creative roadblocks with creative consultancy,
• Get support outside of our usual office hours,
• And make your ad more accessible with subtitles and/or audio description.

Please get in touch if you have any questions.

Page last updated: 5th October 2026