Ofcom to tighten regulation around streaming services like Netflix and Disney+
Ofcom have confirmed plans to tighten regulation for streaming services such as Netflix, Disney+ and Prime Video.
The government noted that 85 per cent of people are using an on-demand video service each month, which is higher than the 67 per cent of the population who watch live television, hence why they are increasing the regulation.
Any streaming platform, such as Netflix or ITVX, with more than 500,000 users in the UK will be required “to comply with new standards and accessibility codes”.
Additionally, the government is laying secondary legislation to implement the Media Act 2024 which means streaming services will be forced to follow similar Ofcom content rules to those currently in place for traditional broadcasters.
The press release explains, “While licensed television channels must comply with Ofcom’s Broadcasting Code and accessibility requirements, such as subtitles, many of the UK’s most popular VoD services are not regulated to the same standard. Some are not regulated in the UK at all. This poses a risk to audiences and a lack of consistency across TV and TV-like services.”
The government claimed that these changes will “create a more level regulatory playing field”, as well as ensuring parents “can be confident that protections from harmful material are in place” for children.
Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, Lisa Nandy, said in a statement, “We know that the way audiences watch TV has fundamentally changed. Millions now choose to watch content on video-on-demand platforms alongside or, in the case of many young people, instead of traditional TV.”
Nandy explained of the bill, “The Media Act introduced vital updates to our regulatory framework which this government is committed to implementing.”
The Labour MP said the decision to bring streaming services under this regulation is “strengthening protections for audiences, creating a level playing field for industry and supporting our vibrant media sector that continues to innovate and drive growth across the UK”.
Ofcom will now begin a public consultation period in the near future, ahead of establishing the new standards for streaming platforms.
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