Ofcom Streaming Services: New broadcast-style regulation, accessibility targets and complaint powers
The government is laying secondary legislation to implement the Media Act 2024 and bring the largest, most popular video-on-demand platforms under enhanced regulation by Ofcom. Ofcom Streaming Services will face a new VoD accessibility code with minimum targets for subtitling, audio description and signing, and a separate VoD standards code that applies broadcast-style rules on news impartiality and harmful or offensive content. This package changes who must comply, what they must deliver, and how audiences can complain.
Ofcom Streaming Services: who is affected and the threshold for regulation
The legislation will impact major video-on-demand platforms with more than 500, 000 UK users, which will be designated as Tier 1 services and brought under a new VoD standards code similar to the Broadcasting Code. Public service broadcaster VoD services are also included under enhanced regulation. VoD services provided by a national public broadcaster’s on-demand service will continue to be regulated under the Broadcasting Code through that broadcaster’s framework agreement for now, but will later be brought under the VoD standards code. Until this change, only licensed television channels had to comply with broadcasting and accessibility requirements, and some popular streaming services were not regulated in the UK at all.
Accessibility requirements and the new VoD accessibility code
A ministers-led measure will create a new VoD accessibility code, enforced by Ofcom, that sets minimum accessibility requirements. Mainstream streaming services will need to ensure that at least 80% of their total catalogue is subtitled, 10% is audio-described, and 5% is signed. The government frames these as minimum targets and expects VoD services to go further where possible. The largest, mainstream services will have four years to meet the requirements of the accessibility code, with interim targets after two years, though the government expects many services will meet the requirements earlier than required.
Why these accessibility targets matter
The accessibility rules are intended to benefit Britain’s estimated 18 million people who are deaf, have hearing loss or tinnitus and the 350, 000 who are blind or partially sighted so they can better enjoy world-class content on-demand. Implementing a new Ofcom-regulated accessibility code for the largest video-on-demand services is presented as a way to give people with disabilities that impact sight or hearing peace of mind that they’ll be able to stream favourite films and TV shows long into the future. The government states that with UK audiences increasingly favouring on-demand platforms over live TV, it wants to ensure no one is left behind and that viewers with disabilities can be confident appropriate accessibility requirements are in place whether they tune in traditional channels or mainstream on-demand services.
Broadcast-style rules, complaints and enforcement
The new VoD standards code will require Tier 1 services to follow rules around impartial news reporting and protection from harmful or offensive material, aligning VoD responsibilities more closely with those expected of traditional broadcasters. Audiences will be able to complain to Ofcom about potential breaches, and Ofcom will have the power to accept complaints, investigate platforms and take action if it considers there has been a breach of the code.
Consultation, timeline and government expectations
Ofcom will shortly begin a public consultation on the new VoD accessibility code, offering the public and providers an opportunity to set out their views on the rules that will sit within the codes. Ministers will legislate to create the accessibility code as part of implementing the Media Act 2024. The government has made clear these are minimum targets and expects the largest mainstream services to meet the requirements within four years, with interim milestones at two years; many services are expected to comply earlier than required.
Related site notices and recent headlines in coverage
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Other items appearing alongside coverage of the regulatory changes include brief headline items such as a non-documentary that might end up a box office flop, a global company planning to cut 16, 000 jobs to streamline operations, and a report on the best and worst parcel delivery companies revealed.
Recent developments mark a significant regulatory shift: mainstream on-demand platforms will now face explicit accessibility targets and broadcast-style content rules, with new complaint and enforcement powers concentrated at Ofcom and a public consultation to follow. Details of the final codes and precise interim milestones will emerge through the consultation process.
