Broadcast regulator Ofcom has dismissed a complaint against the BBC from the Green Party over its amount of airtime during the Stormont Assembly election campaign.
The Greens submitted a formal complaint over the BBC giving comparatively more pre-election coverage to the TUV despite the party having fewer MLAs.
TUV leader Jim Allister was the party's sole MLA before Stormont was dissolved ahead of next week's election.
The Greens had two MLAs - party leader Clare Bailey in South Belfast and North Down's Rachel Woods.
However, TUV received marginally more first-preference votes in the last Assembly election in 2017 with 2.6% compared to 2.3% for the Green Party.
And some opinion polls in recent months have suggested an increase in TUV support due to a split in the unionist vote.
In a statement Ofcom said the weight placed by the BBC on opinion polls was reasonable.
A spokesman said: "Following careful consideration, Ofcom's election committee has not upheld a complaint from the Green Party Northern Ireland about the BBC's pre-election coverage.
"The committee was satisfied, among other things, that the weight placed by the BBC on opinion poll evidence was reasonable.
"It also recognised the difficult nature of the editorial decision made by the BBC, where the evidence on past electoral and current support is finely balanced.
"The committee considered that the BBC's overall approach to coverage of the Green Party Northern Ireland - including the editorial discretion applied when making coverage judgements for different political parties - did not raise issues under our code."
The Greens said the BBC has increased the party's pre-election coverage "following public pressure".
Party leader Clare Bailey said: "Broadcasters have a duty to remain impartial, especially during an election campaign.
"It's unacceptable for the main alternative to the broken five-party Executive system to be passed over for coverage in favour of controversy and sensationalism.
"In no other democracy would the main opposition party be excluded from election debates and other election coverage."
She added: "Despite Ofcom's decision not to uphold our complaint relating to other election coverage by the BBC, the Green Party NI will continue to make our case for our positive and hopeful vision for Northern Ireland.
"It's time to move beyond the traditional politics of division, and to deliver for the people of Northern Ireland."
The BBC earlier this month said it has a "careful and detailed process in place" in determining the level of coverage given to parties during election periods.
"This takes account of relevant Ofcom requirements and the BBC's own election guidelines," a spokesman said.
A TUV spokesman had also said the coverage afforded to the party as it stands does not reflect "our level of support".
"Recent polls have shown support for TUV above that demonstrated for Alliance before the last election and yet they were included in the main leaders' debates while TUV will be excluded," he said.
Read more: Every candidate running for the Stormont Assembly
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