Netflix, Amazon and Disney Plus look set to face the same regulations as traditional UK broadcasters with the government reportedly planning to extend Ofcom’s remit to cover on-demand services.
According to the Telegraph, UK culture secretary is expected to publish a new white paper this week that would include giving Ofcom the power to rule on complaints relating to bias and inaccuracy in programming from streaming providers.
As Netflix’s European base is in the Netherlands, it doesn’t currently fall under Ofcom’s jurisdiction.
The report quotes a government source as saying the current rules for governing broadcaster operations were written before the arrival of the streaming services. “They are not fit for purpose in an era of smart TVs, streaming and on-demand programming,” said the source.
“With the pace of change and the increase in global competition, the culture secretary feels it is time to look at how we can level the playing field between broadcasters and video-on-demand services and make sure the UK’s broadcasting landscape is fit for the 21st century,” the source added.
