Two YouTube channels operated by BBC Worldwide have been ruled as being outside the scope of UK regulation.
It follows appeals made to Ofcom over the BBC Food and BBC Top Gear channels. ATVOD, the co-regulator of video on demand services had ruled determinations in May 2011 that BBC Worldwide was providing on-demand programme services on its YouTube channels.
Commenting on the decisions, ATVOD chief executive Pete Johnson said: “The question of whether video content is ‘comparable’ to programmes normally included in television broadcasts is far from straightforward. We will now consider the appeal decisions carefully and analyse the implications for future decisions as to whether a particular service is, or is not, subject to regulations designed to protect consumers.”
ATVOD regulates editorial content (programmes) on over 200 video on demand services available online, via set-top boxes, on mobile phones, or via internet connected TVs.
