UK Streamlining Giant Regulations: Netflix, Amazon, Disney+ Under Broadcaster-Style Rules

The UK government has announced new regulations that will bring major streaming services like Netflix, Amazon, and Disney+ under stricter oversight by Ofcom, aligning them more closely with traditional TV broadcasters. This move is part of implementing the Media Act 2024 and marks a significant shift in how online streaming platforms are regulated in the UK.

Under the new regulations, streaming services with more than 500,000 average monthly users in the UK, such as Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Disney+, ITVX, and Channel 4’s on-demand service, will be classified as Tier 1 services. These platforms will be required to comply with a new VoD accessibility code, which sets minimum standards for subtitles, audio description, and signing for content.

The new accessibility code mandates that platforms ensure 80% of their total catalogue is subtitled, 10% has audio description for viewers with sight loss, and 5% includes sign language support. These requirements are designed to improve access to content for visually impaired and deaf or hard-of-hearing audiences.

Platforms will have four years to meet these standards, with interim targets set after two years. This shift in regulations is crucial because streaming services have become the primary way people consume video entertainment in the UK. By extending similar rules to streaming platforms, the government aims to close a regulatory gap and ensure that audience protection measures are in place.

Traditionally, UK broadcasters have been subject to Ofcom’s Broadcasting Code, which includes accessibility and audience protection measures. The new rules will also give Ofcom more data-gathering powers and responsibility for reviewing tools like age ratings and parental controls used by streaming services.

The Media Act 2024 has updated the regulatory framework for UK media and introduced designations for Tier 1 VoD services, reflecting the changing landscape of media consumption. Ofcom will launch consultations on the new VoD standards to gather feedback from platforms, creators, and audiences before enforcement begins.

Overall, these new regulations are a step towards creating a more consistent media landscape in which streaming services are held accountable for audience protection and accessibility, similar to traditional broadcasters. This change reflects the evolving ways in which people consume content and aims to ensure that streaming platforms meet the necessary standards for a diverse audience.