The principal director of every television film or programme under UK law is a joint author and copyright holder of the work with the production company.  

The director's function is to contribute to all of the creative elements of a film or programme and mould and integrate them into a cohesive whole.

The role of principal director on an individual film or TV programme consists of the following components:

• interpreting and planning the realisation of the creative content, style and structure of a work
• capturing and gathering the creative content through directing the production crew, performers, presenters and contributors in a work
• directing the editing of the creative content to form it into a cohesive whole