![]() The rapidly changing viewing habits of UK audiences and the accelerated growth in video-on-demand (VoD) services such as BBC iPlayer, ITV Hub and Disney+, particularly during this pandemic, have highlighted the disparity that exists between the traditional audience protection available on linear television - such as freeview, satellite or cable - compared to newer VoD services. Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport 1. We must ensure that our broadcasting framework is competitive and future-proof, so that they continue to flourish in the decades to come. Our broadcasters and VoD services - both publicly and commercially funded - play a huge social, cultural and economic role in British life. It will be one of many measures we are considering as part of a wide-ranging White Paper into the future of broadcasting, which I plan to bring forward in the Autumn. This review will be carried out in the same spirit. This country has a long and proud tradition of striking the balance between protecting people - particularly the young and vulnerable - while protecting fundamental rights. Not all VoD providers deliver a TV-like experience, so any regulatory change will need to be proportionate to ensure freedom of speech is not stifled. This is about ensuring UK audiences receive a similar level of protection no matter how they watch their favourite television - whether it be live or on-demand. It’s time to establish some consistency in the rules for broadcasters and streaming services, old and new. ![]() Now that we have left the EU we have the opportunity to set out our own regulations in the best interests of UK viewers. Though there are some rules that VoD providers must follow in protecting children from harmful content, there are little or no rules to protect audiences from misleading health advice or pseudoscience documentaries on climate change. Age ratings are inconsistent and sometimes non-existent. Audience protection measures such as pin-codes and warnings vary across platforms. But this is done on a voluntary and ad-hoc basis. Similarly, many VoD providers have made a good start in introducing their own standards and procedures for audience protection, such as Netflix’s voluntary age ratings partnership with the British Board of Film Classification (BBFC) and Disney’s commitment to family protections on Disney+. But those regulations might not reflect UK views on the appropriateness of certain content, and as an independent nation, we shouldn’t rely on a third party to determine our rules and values. Some providers are subject to regulations in their country of origin. Most VoD services either aren’t regulated to the same extent as traditional UK linear television channels, or they aren’t regulated in the UK at all. The same is not currently true of video-on-demand (VoD) services - BBC iPlayer excepted. ![]() Right now, viewers in the UK know that if they switch on their TV, there will be a high standard of rules in place to protect audiences, including the 9pm watershed and certain content standards. First and foremost, we need a level playing field between traditional broadcasters and online streaming services. ![]() In order to do that, we need to ensure our broadcasting regulation is fit for the 21st Century. But as viewing habits continue to change, we want to ensure our broadcasters continue to thrive in the new media landscape, so that they remain the driving force of our creative industries, fuel wider economic growth, and build on our international competitiveness. In this golden age for television, UK productions are renowned and respected around the world, with programmes such as I May Destroy You and It’s A Sin attracting global plaudits and audiences. Viewers have never had such a breadth of choice, with our world-class public service and commercial broadcasters sitting alongside a wide range of online streaming services, such as Netflix to Disney+ to Amazon Prime. I am immensely proud of the UK’s diverse broadcasting ecology. ![]()
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