Annabel Moeller
The UK Media Bill has completed is progress in the House of Lords avoiding the wash-up process.
The legislation, which first went before parliament in November, puts mainstream video-on-demand (VOD) services such as Netflix and Disney+ on a par with linear broadcasters through a new Ofcom content code.
There will also be obligations on smart TVs, firesticks and set-top boxes to ensure public service broadcasters (PSBs) are featured prominently on their platforms.
Streaming services will be required to provide subtitles, audio description and signing to support people with disabilities, bringing them under the same regime as their PSB counterparts. They will also have to provide subtitles on 80 per cent of their programmes, while 10 per cent must have audio description and 5 per cent signed interpretation.
The legislation also seeks to provide for the sustainability of Channel 4 and regulate the powers, remit and audit of Welsh language channel S4C.
The wash-up period – brought on by the announcement of the UK General Election – fast-tracks some legislation while other proposals are dropped from the parliamentary timetable altogether.
It led industry figures including Sky Group Chief Executive Dana Strong, BBC Director-General Tim Davie and ITV CEO Carolyn McCall to call on the Government to prevent the Media Bill from being abandoned.
