The BBC's Executive Complaints Unit has determined that broadcasting Bob Vylan's Glastonbury performance violated the corporation's editorial standards concerning harm and offence.
The punk duo's set, which was streamed live on iPlayer, featured controversial content that prompted viewer complaints.
Whilst the broadcast was found to have breached guidelines related to causing harm and offence, the complaints unit cleared the BBC of violating impartiality standards.
The corporation was also exonerated from accusations that the broadcast might encourage or incite criminal behaviour.
Bob Vylan sparked a criminal investigation for their singer's chanting at Glastonbury | PAThe ruling emerged after the Executive Complaints Unit reviewed four viewer complaints about the performance.
These complaints were partially sustained, indicating that some concerns raised by viewers were deemed valid whilst others were dismissed.
During their performance, Bob Vylan initiated a chant calling for "death, death to the IDF [Israel Defence Forces]" amongst the festival crowd.
The duo also made additional derogatory remarks throughout their set, though the specific nature of these other comments has not been detailed in the complaints unit's findings.
Bob Vylan at Glastonbury | GETTYThe controversial content was broadcast as part of the BBC's live coverage of Glastonbury Festival.
Viewers were able to access the performance through the corporation's iPlayer streaming service, where it was made available alongside other festival acts.
The inflammatory nature of the chants and comments prompted immediate concern from some viewers.
The combination of the anti-IDF chant and other derogatory statements formed the basis of the complaints subsequently examined by the BBC's Executive Complaints Unit.
The Executive Complaints Unit's investigation into the four viewer complaints resulted in a partial vindication of the concerns raised.
This outcome means that certain aspects of the complaints were accepted as legitimate breaches of BBC standards, whilst other elements were rejected.
The complaints process involved a thorough review of the broadcast content against the corporation's editorial guidelines.
The unit's decision to partially uphold the complaints indicates that the BBC acknowledged some responsibility for the controversial broadcast, whilst maintaining that not all viewer concerns were justified.
The BBC faced considerable criticism for broadcasting Bob Vylan's full Glastonbury set
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The ruling represents a significant development in how the BBC handles contentious live performances.
The partial nature of the upheld complaints suggests a nuanced assessment of the broadcast's compliance with various editorial standards.
The performance was made available to audiences through the BBC's iPlayer platform as part of the broadcaster's comprehensive Glastonbury Festival coverage.
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This digital streaming service allowed viewers nationwide to watch the controversial set live as it unfolded at the festival.
The BBC's editorial guidelines concerning harm and offence set out specific standards for broadcast content.
These rules are designed to ensure that programming does not cause unnecessary distress or upset to audiences, particularly when content is accessible through mainstream platforms.
The complaints unit's finding that these particular guidelines were breached marks a rare instance of the BBC acknowledging that festival coverage failed to meet its editorial standards.
The corporation's guidelines on impartiality and crime incitement, however, were deemed to have been properly observed during the broadcast.