'The BBC have ruled “that commercial, financial or other interests may have influenced the editorial judgments in these programmes.”'

Guido Fawkes has the details and they are shocking for anyone who still thinks the BBC are unbiased.

'Perhaps most damning is the fact that a BBC World documentary about climate change was sponsored by green crusaders Envirotrade. And of course “Envirotrade was featured in a positive light in the programme but viewers were unaware that there was a funding arrangement in place.” The BBC have ruled “that commercial, financial or other interests may have influenced the editorial judgments in these programmes.”'

Thanks to The Independent and Guido Fawkes for bringing this news to us.

Here's the BBC's take on the story

The BBC is to impose tougher rules on sponsored programmes broadcast by its commercial channels, after 15 shows were found to have breached guidelines.

The programmes were all shown on BBC World News available outside the UK.

Among those found in breach were shows about Malaysia, produced by FBC, a UK firm that had an "apparent financial relationship" with the government.

However, the BBC Editorial Standards Committee said none of the programmes breached guidelines on impartiality.

Nonetheless, the committee regarded the policy breaches as "serious editorial failings" and said they "risked undermining the editorial integrity of [the BBC's] output".

Richard Porter, head of English at BBC Global News, said staff would pay heed to the findings.
"We must not damage the audience's trust in what we broadcast," he wrote in a public blog post. "We know we have some hard work to do to make up for this, but we are determined to do so."

Meanwhile, broadcasting watchdog Ofcom has confirmed it is launching its own investigation into the programmes.
 
...

The committee was particularly concerned by a statement on FBC's website, which read: "FBC regularly creates one off productions as well as series of documentaries that investigate our clients' issues and subtly position them in a positive space within their target markets".

...

As a result of the committee's findings, the BBC is to implement new rules, including the following:

• BBC World News will no longer commission or acquire programmes which are sponsored by non-commercial organisations (such as charitable foundations or non-aligned international bodies such as UN agencies)
• BBC World News will not commission or acquire programming at nominal cost, but will instead buy shows on a transparent commercial basis.
• BBC World News will only commission or acquire sponsored programmes in non-news and current affairs genres including sport, culture, history, travel and lifestyle.
• BBC World News will introduce tighter approval procedures for programming containing funding from third parties.
• A follow-up audit will be commissioned to confirm the effectiveness of the new controls.

"International audiences must be able to rely on the same integrity and independence in the BBC's editorial decisions as audiences in the UK," said Richard Ayre, who chaired the meeting of the Editorial Standards Committee.

In a statement, a spokesperson for BBC World News said the channel accepted the findings.

"We are committed to the highest standards of broadcasting and our editorial independence must always remain protected," the statement read.

"We are determined to learn any lessons from this process. That is why we have set out a robust action plan... to tighten our systems and strengthen the protection of our editorial independence."'

A few lines jump out at me. 
First that 'the BBC Editorial Standards Committee said none of the programmes breached guidelines on impartiality.' yet 'The committee was particularly concerned by a statement on FBC's website, which read: "FBC regularly creates one off productions as well as series of documentaries that investigate our clients' issues and subtly position them in a positive space within their target markets".

Second that  'BBC World News will no longer commission or acquire programmes which are sponsored by non-commercial organisations (such as charitable foundations or non-aligned international bodies such as UN agencies)' - Why did the BBC ever think that was good practice?

Third that 'BBC World News will not commission or acquire programming at nominal cost, but will instead buy shows on a transparent commercial basis.' - Once again why is this only now being considered.

The final comment is one that I have to agree with,'Richard Ayre, who chaired the meeting of the Editorial Standards Committee said that "International audiences must be able to rely on the same integrity and independence in the BBC's editorial decisions as audiences in the UK,"- They can Mr Ayre, they can. International audiences can indeed rely on the BBC's complete lack of integrity around certain issues and its symbiotic relationship with many left-of-centre organisations, pressure groups etc.