Britain to overhaul Streaming regulations
Britain also proceeding with proposal to privatise the government-owned Channel 4.
- Published by David Knox
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The British government has laid out its plans to reshape the country’s broadcasting landscape with a broad-ranging set of proposals, contained in a White Paper published on Thursday.
They include a proposal to privatise the government-owned Channel 4 and give regulator Ofcom powers over streaming platforms such as Netflix.
Culture Secretary Nadine Dorries has revealed the new plans, saying there was a need to “protect audiences” from “harmful material” that may be broadcast on streaming platforms.
And Cabinet minister Ben Wallace told ITV News there was “no harm” in selling off Channel 4, despite fervent opposition to its sale, saying “I don’t know why the government is running a TV channel”.
Some of the proceeds from the sale of Channel 4 would be used to deliver a new creative dividend for the sector, the government proposal said.
Ms Dorries described Channel 4 as the “last piece of the puzzle” as she wrote about the broadcasting White Paper.
The government plans will give the UK media watchdog the power to draft and enforce a new video-on-demand code, aimed at setting standards for “larger TV-like services” such as Netflix, ITV Hub and Now TV to level the rules with traditional broadcasters.
The maximum fine for a breach of the code will be £250,000 ($AU440,000) or an amount up to five per cent of their revenue – whichever is higher.
Ofcom will also be given a “strengthened duty” to assess protection such as age ratings and viewer guidance, with powers to force change under the new proposal.
Online platforms such as Netflix, Disney+, Amazon Prime Video and other streamers will have new rules set out for them – that will hold them to the same guidelines followed by traditional broadcasters.
Streaming services run by traditional broadcasters such as the ITV Hub, BBC iPlayer and Sky’s Now TV will also fall under the new regulations.
The government said the plans will include measures to protect audiences from a wider range of harmful material, citing unchallenged health claims and pseudoscience documentaries.
The white paper, released on Thursday, signals the framework for the privatisation of Channel 4.
The privatisation will remove restrictions which “effectively prohibit” the broadcaster from producing and selling its own content, according to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS).
Under private ownership, Channel 4 will have access to capital and the freedom to make its own content, allowing it to diversify its revenue stream, it said.
It added that under public ownership, the broadcaster has limited ability to borrow or raise capital by issuing shares and its set-up “effectively stops it from making its own content”.
The proceeds from the sale of Channel 4 have been earmarked to help deliver a new creative dividend for the sector.
The white paper also proposes the opportunity to secure rights to air TV’s major sporting events, such as the FIFA World Cup and Wimbledon, be made an exclusive public service broadcasters (PSB) benefit through reforms to the listed events regime.
Similarly, the government will update prominence rules so online TV platforms are legally required to offer PSB on-demand services, such as BBC iPlayer and ITV Hub, and give them prominence so they are easy to find on the platform.
The government will also review the BBC’s license fee funding model and freeze the price of the TV license for two years.
Updated:
Bridget Fair, Free TV Australia CEO commented: “Today’s announcement from the UK Government demonstrates that whether people can access their local media services on connected devices and are able to watch live and free sport are concerns shared right around the world.
“Free TV has consistently said that ensuring that all Australians have access to their free television services, regardless of what technology is used to deliver it, is the most urgent regulatory issue for the television sector. Free TV looks forward to working constructively with digital platforms and television manufacturers to provide the best outcome for audiences.
“The Australian Government has already prioritised work on the issue of prominence through the Broadcast Working Group, but this announcement from the UK Government gives confidence that we can move even more quickly to a proposed solution that will be in line with comparable international jurisdictions.
“The UK proposal recognises the Australian News Media Bargaining Code model as delivering an effective approach to issues where one or two big tech companies occupy a gateway position for consumers seeking to access local media services.
“Australian policy makers need to act urgently to ensure that our TV screens are not turned into one big search engine where those who pay the most are found first.
“The anti-siphoning list expires in less than 12 months’ time. It is the only thing that ensures that events of national importance are able to be watched live and free by all Australians. The current rules are now more than 30 years old and don’t contemplate the exclusive acquisition of iconic sporting events by subscription streaming companies.
“The anti-siphoning list urgently needs to be renewed and its scope expanded to cover subscription streaming services. There is a strong public interest in all Australians being able to share in the triumphs of our sporting champions, which brings us together as a community,” Fair said.
“Free TV calls on both the Government and Opposition to endorse the approach being outlined in the UK Broadcast White Paper and to commit to implement similar legislation should they form Government after the election on 21 May”.
Source: ITV.com
6 Responses
Anyone seen “unchallenged health claims and pseudoscience documentaries” causing problems on Disney+ or Netflix? I didn’t think so. They are are found on cable doc channels but most frequently on internet advertising on major media sites including major newpapers, TV stations, social media, blogs and YouTube. Which this legislation does nothing about, it is very much of the we must have been seen to have regulated something to keep the FTA broadcasters happy before the next election. The Theory of Evolution was of course regarded as dangerous pseudoscience. Social Darwinism which grew out of it was. Government censorship of TV is unlikely to solve these problems.
Not too many but there were a couple of docos around vegans / diets on Netflix and some dramas needed warnings inserted later. OfCom doesn’t have jurisdiction over print or what people write on social media tho.
Unlike ABC and SBS which focuses on specific public broadcasting programming that serves a particular purpose, programming that otherwise would not be shown on commercial free-to-air, Channel 4 in the UK is very much like a commercial network. It would be like if the government were to fund Network 10. It’s not really public broadcasting.
You are way off the mark there. They commission a range of content that would traditionally not be touched by commercial broadcasters – their content is far more ABC and SBS than it is Network 10. It’s also what they do off screen which is just as important – they commission regularly from small emerging indies, especially out of London – are projections that privatising C4 and allowing a buyer to take production in house would force up to half of them out of business.
Yes, there is a commercial side but that has always been the case in order to fund the PSB side – a commercial hit can bring in significant revenues to then be invested in less attractive content, rather than line a shareholders pocket. Often commercial hits can have real PSB value too – SAS Who Dares Wins has done alot for male mental health especially, whilst Naked Attraction does more for body positivity than any health campaign could dream of.
I’d suggest for readers to look up the TV guide for Channel 4 and decide for themselves. For today’s guide, across their network, they’ve got programs such as The Big Bang Theory, Malcolm In The Middle, Scrubs, Wife Swap USA, Wipeout USA, How I Met Your Mother, The Simpsons, Frasier, The King of Queens, Cheers etc. Many of which are on their main channel.
Naked Attraction did nothing for body positivity, it always comes down to young attractive people waggling their bits, and piercings, to try and get a date, at which it usually turns out they don’t actually like each other. Channel 4 does make the odd excellent documentary, but most are trashy porn.