Streaming: Standards
The question
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what discussions she has had with Ofcom on the extension of content standards requirements to streaming services.
Answered by Ian Murray
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.
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