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Streaming: Standards

Answer

The Department for Culture, Media and Sport and Ofcom engage regularly on a wide range of policy matters.

On 10 March 2026 the Government laid the On-demand Programme Services (Tier 1 Services) Regulations 2026. These regulations designate video-on-demand services with more than 500,000 average UK monthly users as Tier 1 services, bringing them under enhanced regulation by Ofcom. We estimate that this will bring over 20 of the most popular services within scope of regulation. In setting the threshold at this level, we have taken a proportionate approach and the Department for Culture, Media and Sport estimates the equivalent annual net direct cost to business to be well below £10 million per annum.

Tier 1 services will be required to comply with a new Standards Code, which will be similar to the Broadcasting Code, and will set appropriate content standards for services and protections against harmful and offensive material. The new Code, which Ofcom is currently consulting on, will include rules to ensure that news, in whatever form, is reported with due accuracy and presented with due impartiality. These rules will be comparable to those that apply to licensed broadcasters.

Where breaches of the new Tier 1 Standards Code are found, Ofcom has full powers to investigate and issue statutory sanctions, including financial penalties, where appropriate. The maximum fine for each breach is £250,000 or 5% of qualifying revenue, whichever is higher. This is in line with broadcasting legislation. In addition, Ofcom will, as a last resort, be able to restrict video-on-demand services' ability to appear on UK platforms.

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

10153

Session

2026-27

Grouped for answer

Yes

Subjects

Political impartiality Ofcom Standards Streaming

Legislation

Media Act 2024

Link

View this Written question on www.parliament.uk