A comparison is a compliance process conducted by the BBFC technical department whereby new versions of previously classified works are compared to the BBFC archive copy.  This is done by running the two versions side by side on two monitors and detailing edits and other differences in a technical report.

There are several services available to distributors whereby new versions of works which have been previously classified can be passed without the need for viewing by BBFC examiners.  Such submissions can be passed at a lower fee.  Please see here for fee tariffs.

Distributor Change

Where the rights to distribute a work pass from one company to another, there is no requirement for the work to be reclassified by the BBFC. However, it is often extremely difficult for distributors to be sure they have the same version that was previously classified. We therefore offer the Distributor Change service where the BBFC will compare the new version against our previously classified version. If the work is essentially the same then it can be passed without the need for viewing by BBFC examiners.

Companies must request a Distributor Change by selecting this option on the Online Submission service or by ticking the appropriate box on the submission form.

Technical Comparison

Distributors are occasionally unsure that they have the correct masters for duplication.  The Technical Comparison service allows submitting companies to send in a work for comparison against the BBFC archive copy in order to check whether it is the same as the classified version.  If the work is essentially the same then it can be passed without the need for viewing by BBFC examiners.

Companies must request a Technical Comparison by selecting this option on the Online Submission service or by ticking the appropriate box on the submission form.

3D/2D Comparisons

The recent introduction of new 3D productions for theatrical and Blu-ray release has led to an increase in the number of  versions of the same work being submitted to the BBFC (i.e. Stereoscopic 3D, Anaglyph 3D, 2D)*.

• *’Stereoscopic 3D’ for the purposes of this document refers to the new version of 3D featured in both theatrical and 3D Blu-ray releases.
• ‘Anaglyph 3D’ refers to the older version of the technology which utilises glasses with red and green gels over each lens.
• ’2D’ refers to normal standard and high definition releases on DVD and Blu-ray.

In order to deal with these different versions in the most efficient way possible, submitting companies may have the Anaglyph 3D and 2D versions passed at a comparison rate providing the following conditions are met.

• The Stereoscopic 3D Blu-ray version must be classified first.
• Any subsequent versions of the feature (i.e. Anaglyph 3D, 2D) may then be passed as 3D/2D comparisons (providing that they are the same edit/soundtrack etc) as they present less picture information than the Stereoscopic 3D version.

For queries regarding any comparisons, please contact the technical department at etechnical@bbfc.co.uk