News
British Government Announces New Regulation For Major Streamers In UK
posted on by Andrew Osmond
The UK government is laying legislation to implement the Media Act 2024, bringing video on demand services in the UK under enhanced regulation. Streaming services with more than 500,000 viewers in the UK will now be subject to the same rules of content and accessibility as traditional broadcasters such as the BBC. These rules are in the broadcasting code of the UK regulation body Ofcom, and one of their purposes is to protect audiences from harmful content.
These rules will apply to streamers including Netflix, Disney+ and Amazon Prime Video. ANN has contacted Crunchyroll to ask whether it will also come under the regulation. This story will be updated if Crunchyroll responds.
Ofcom will have the power to investigate complaints about streaming content, and impose fines of up to £250,000, or 5% of revenue generated in the UK, for each breach of the broadcasting code.
As well as investigating harmful content, the streamers affected by the new legislation will need to comply with a new accessibility code for the benefit of viewers with sight or hearing disabilities. The streamers will need to ensure that at least 80% of their total catalogue is subtitled, 10% is audio-described, and 5% is signed.
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