Streaming services are set to be regulated by Ofcom for the first time, under new British government proposals.
Netflix, Disney+, Amazon Prime Video and other streamers will be given new rules bringing them in line with traditional broadcasters.
The culture secretary said the proposal for Ofcom regulation would protect audiences from harmful material.
The reforms are set out in a government White Paper – a policy document issued by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS), it says the proposals are intended to create a “new golden age” of British TV and “help the nation’s public service broadcasters thrive”.
“Today, we are giving British broadcasters the backing and support they need to rule the airwaves for years to come…
“Set against the backdrop of the digital transformation of our viewing habits, today’s plans will revamp decades-old laws to help our public service broadcasters compete in the internet age.”
While linear TV channels must currently abide by Ofcom rules, most Video on Demand (VoD) services are not currently subject to the regulator’s Broadcasting Code.
The changes put forward would oblige VoDs to protect audiences from harmful or offensive material, and adhere to rules regarding accuracy, fairness and privacy.
The move will be welcomed by public service broadcasters (PSBs), who have been lobbying for streaming services to face the same regulations as them for several years.
The government said the new rules will primarily affect “TV-like” VoD services such as Netflix, ITV Hub, and Now, and would “level the playing field”.
The proposals mean Ofcom would have the powers to draft and enforce a new VoD Code, to ensure that all streamers are subject to stricter rules.
The government said the maximum fine for regulated VoD services which break the rules will be £250,000, or an amount up to 5% of an organization’s revenue, whichever is higher.
Discover more from LN247
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
