DCMS Select Committee question Amazon, Netflix, Sky and Google
On 27th June 2023, as part of the next phase of its pre-legislative scrutiny of the draft Media Bill, the DCMS Select Committee (the “Committee”) called representatives from Amazon, Sky, Netflix, Google, techUK and TuneIn to hear their views on the draft Media Bill.
The hearing was split into two meetings during which the invited representatives shared their views on the draft Media Bill. Some key issues of the draft Media Bill were discussed, including:
- the Secretary of State’s powers to designate “tier 1” VOD services and the impact, of increased regulation, on such “tier 1“ VOD services;
- impartiality and accessibility in relation to broadcasting services;
- prominence of Public Service Broadcasters’ internet programme services on smart TVs;
- obligations on smart speaker platforms to provide free access to internet radio stations;
- protections for radio, including challenges for platforms and aggregators.
To view the full transcript of the hearing, click here.
The next hearing of oral evidence will take place on 4 July 2023, where representatives from Ofcom, Listener and Viewer and the Department for Culture, Media and Sport will be given an opportunity to share their views on the draft Media Bill with the Committee.
We are monitoring the Media Bill’s progress, and will be updating our Media Bill Tracker webpage, available here, with any further news.
