Netflix, Prime Video, Disney+ and more to receive increased regulation from Ofcom

by

Major streaming services like Netflix and Amazon Prime are about to be more closely regulated in the UK, similar to how traditional TV channels are overseen. New laws will give Ofcom, the UK’s media regulator, more power to monitor these platforms.

Services like Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Disney+, ITVX, and Channel 4 will now be required to adhere to the same standards as traditional broadcasters when it comes to news reporting – ensuring it’s fair and accurate – and also to protect viewers from harmful or offensive content.

As a movie critic, I’m watching closely as the UK government rolls out new rules for streaming services. Basically, any platform with over half a million UK subscribers – they’re calling these the ‘Tier 1’ services – will now have to adhere to a set of standards very similar to those already in place for traditional TV channels. Think of it as leveling the playing field, ensuring streaming isn’t a wild west of content compared to what we see on regular broadcasting.

Initially, BBC video-on-demand services like BBC iPlayer won’t be affected by the new regulations. They’ll continue to follow the existing rules through the BBC’s current agreement. However, they will be included under the new system at a later time.

Ofcom will be able to handle and look into complaints from viewers, and will take action if it finds that the rules have been broken – just as it already does with regular TV channels in the UK.

As a movie and TV fan, it’s always bugged me that regular TV channels had rules they had to follow – things like making sure programs were accessible to everyone. But a lot of the big streaming services? They didn’t really have the same oversight, or sometimes any at all! It felt like a double standard, honestly. Now, it looks like that’s finally changing.

Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy acknowledged that people’s viewing habits have drastically changed. Many now prefer streaming services over traditional television, and this is especially true for younger generations.

The government is moving forward with the Media Act, which updates rules for video-on-demand services like streaming platforms. This will give Ofcom more power to oversee these services, better protect viewers, ensure fair competition within the industry, and help the UK’s media sector continue to grow and innovate.

Want to see this content?

We need your permission to load content on this page, as it requires Google reCAPTCHA to function properly.

After the new rules for video-on-demand services are released, everyone will have a chance to share their thoughts and feedback – including the public and the companies providing these services.

The standards code will then come into effect one year after its publication by Ofcom.

The government is asking for public feedback on what the BBC should look like in the future. This is part of a review of the agreement that currently governs the BBC, which will expire in 2027. You can learn more about how to share your thoughts.

Authors

Molly MossTrends Writer

I’m a big fan of Molly Moss – she’s a Trends Writer at TopMob, and always has the inside scoop on what’s new in TV, movies, and everything else! She’s really experienced too, with a Master’s degree in Journalism and she’s written for some major publications like The Guardian, The Times, and The Sun Online. You can tell she really knows her stuff!

  • Visit us on Twitter

Read More

2026-02-24 20:04