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Publication 17 Feb 2025 · United Kingdom

Media Act Tracker

3 min read
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On this page

Welcome to CMS’ interactive regulatory tracker. Here you will find resources, links and up-to-date information on the Media Act and the UK’s media regulatory landscape. The Media Bill became the Media Act in May 2024. On this Tracker, you will find the Latest News, CMS' Insights, and all other things Media Act! Do bookmark this page as we will be updating it regularly and sharing commentary. Stay tuned!

Find out more

Key topics

Channel 4 will not be privatised. 

Channel 4 will also no longer be barred from producing its own content and will get a new legal duty to consider its future sustainability alongside the delivery of its public service remit. In addition, the Government will raise the level of Channel's independent production quote, which will be done via secondary legislation. 

Want to know more about this part of the draft Bill? Read CMS' analysis here

The Government has released its Impact Assessment on this part of the draft Bill. Read CMS' analysis here

The DCMS Select Committee produced a final report on the draft media bill. Click here for our summary of the significant proposed changes to the Channel 4 reforms.

Major online TV platforms will be required to carry and prominently feature "designated" PSB services, which will likely include PSB VoD services. 

The draft Media Bill sets out the framework for the new prominence regime and introduces a new "must-offer and must-carry" regime. 

Want to know more about this part of the draft Bill? Read CMS's analysis here

The Government has released its Impact Assessment on this part of the draft Bill. Read CMS' analysis here

The DCMS Select Committee produced a final report on the draft media bill. Click here for our summary of the significant proposed changes to the prominence regime.

The draft Media Bill provides that listed events will become a PSB benefit. 

Although this current listed events regime in reality applies to PSBs (given only PSBs satisfy the thresholds required to make content available to a large enough audience) with the increased availability of broadband and connected devices, it was possible that in the not too distant future a non-PSB service could achieve such thresholds. The draft Bill reserves listed events for PSBs.

Want to know more about this part of the draft Bill? Read CMS' analysis here

The Government has released its Impact Assessment on this part of the draft Bill. Read CMS' analysis here

The DCMS Select Committee produced a final report on the draft media bill. Click here for our summary of the significant proposed changes to listed events.

Additional regulation, in the form of Ofcom rules, to narrow the gap between the regulation of traditional broadcasters and VOD service providers. 

OFCOM will be given powers to draft and enforce a new Video-on-demand Code, similar to the Broadcasting Code, to ensure that VoD service providers are subject to similar standards as linear services. This new regime will be aimed at the largest VoD services, including international players. 

Want to know more about this part of the draft Bill? Read CMS' analysis here

The Government has released its Impact Assessment on this part of the draft Bill. Read CMS' analysis here

The DCMS Select Committee produced a final report on the draft media bill. Click here for our summary of the significant proposed changes to VOD regulation.

Smart speaker platforms to be required to ensure access to all licensed UK radio stations, and new de-regulatory reforms introduced for analogue commercial radio. 

The draft Media Bill ensures that UK licensed radio stations are made available on designated platforms for free and that platforms cannot overlay content (such as advertising) over the top of those services. In addition, the draft Bill introduces significant changes to the regulatory landscape of the commercial radio sector and allows for much greater flexibility in how stations deliver their services. 

Want to know more about the draft Bill's impact on Smart Speakers? Read CMS' analysis here

Want to know more about the draft Bill's measures for commercial radio? Read CMS' analysis here

The Government has released its Impact Assessments on these parts of the draft Bill. Read CMS' analysis here for smart speaker regulation and here for commercial radio reforms.

New PSB remit and quota obligations. The draft Media Bill updates and (claims to simplify) the current PSB remit to give PSBs greater flexibility in how PSBs contribute to that remit, and will allow public service content on VoD services to contribute towards a remit's fulfilment. The draft Media bill also outlines new programming quotas for PSBs. 

Want to know more about this part of the draft Bill? Read CMS' analysis here

The Government has released its Impact Assessment on this part of the draft Bill. Read CMS' analysis here

The DCMS Select Committee produced a final report on the draft media bill. Click here for our summary of the significant proposed changes to PSB reforms.

Timeline

  • 14 November 2024

    The Internet Television Equipment Regulations 2024 came into force.

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  • 17 October 2024

    The Media Act 2024 (Commencement No. 2 and Transitional and Saving Provisions) Regulations 2024 came into force.

  • 26 August 2024

    The Media Act 2024 (Commencement No.1) Regulations 2024 came into force.

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  • 24 May 2024

    The Media Bill is given Royal Assent and officially becomes the Media Act 2024.

  • 28 February 2024

    The Media Bill completes its second reading in the House of Lords and enters the Committee Stage.

  • 31 January 2024

    After three readings in the House of Commons and review by the Public Bill Committee, the updated Media Bill is introduced to the House of Lords.

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  • 8 November 2023

    The updated Media Bill is introduced to the House of Commons by the Government.

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  • 7 November 2023

    King’s Speech announces Media Bill will be on Government’s parliamentary agenda.

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  • 22 September 2023

    On 22 September 2023, the DCMS Select Committee published its final report on the draft Media Bill.

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  • 21 July 2023

    The DCMS Select Committee publishes its report on the draft Media Bill’s measures for UK radio.

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  • 4 July 2023

    The DCMS Select Committee hears oral evidence from Ofcom, Voice of the Listener and Viewer, and representatives of the DCMS.

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  • 29 June 2023

    The Government releases its Impact Assessments of the draft Media Bill.

  • 27 June 2023

    DCMS Select Committee questions Amazon, Netflix, Sky and Google.

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  • 20 June 2023

    DCMS Select Committee hears oral evidence from the BBC, S4C, MG Alba, Radiocentre and UK Community Radio Network.

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  • 6 June 2023

    DCMS Select Committee hears oral evidence from executives at ITV, Channel 4, and Channel 5.

  • 26 May 2023

    The DCMS Select Committee publishes written evidence submitted by industry stakeholders on the draft Bill.

  • 19 April 2023

    The DCMS Select Committee begins the consultation period on the draft Bill, inviting comments from industry stakeholders.

  • 29 March 2023

    Eleven months after releasing the White Paper, the Government publishes the Draft Media Bill.

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  • 28 February 2023

    The House of Commons library publishes a new briefing note setting out the policy background to the forthcoming Media Bill.

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  • 5 January 2023

    The Government announces that Channel 4 will not be sold.

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  • 15 November 2022

    The Government launches the "Listed Events: Digital Rights Review", to assess whether free-to-air listed events should be reformed so that PSB's are guaranteed rights to broadcast certain events of national importance on their digital platforms rather than just on traditional TV.

  • 18 July 2022

    The Government publishes its response to its consultation regarding the privatisation of Channel 4.

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  • 30 May 2022

    CMS publish a LawNow entitled “Broadcasting White Paper: the Government’s vision for a “New Golden Age”.

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  • 28 April 2022

    The Government publishes a White Paper setting out its vision for the broadcasting sector, together with its response to its consultation regarding audience protection standards.

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Frequently asked questions

What is the status of the Media Act?

On Friday 24th May 2024, the Media Bill was given Royal Assent and officially became the Media Act 2024. There are some formal steps remaining, with most parts of the Media Act set to come into force on a date to be determined by the Secretary of State (whoever that will be). We will update our Media Act Tracker with more information as these steps are finalised and as Ofcom travels through its “roadmap”. For more information, see our article here.

What is an Impact Assessment?

A Regulatory Impact Assessment is a systematic process used by the Government to evaluate the potential impacts of proposed regulations before they are implemented. The purpose is to assess the costs, benefits, and potential risks associated with new regulations, thereby ensuring that the Government makes well-informed decisions that take into account the potential effects on businesses, individuals, and society as a whole. To see CMS’ analysis of the Government’s Impact Assessments of the Media Act, click here

What is a white paper?

White papers are policy documents produced by the Government that set out their proposals for future legislation, providing a basis for further consultation and discussion, before a Bill is formally presented to Parliament.

Does the Media Act cover FAST channels?

Free Ad-Supported Television (“FAST”) channels deliver free TV content to viewers via Internet Protocol television networks, supported by advertising. The Media Bill does not make specific reference to the regulation of FAST channels, meaning that FAST channels will continue to fall under (or in most cases, outside of) existing regulations.

As FAST channels are expected to make up 20% of the UK’s ad-supported video market by 2027, the issue of FAST channel regulation will likely continue to be a topic of discussion and we may see FAST channels regulated in the future under additional legislation. Last year, the Government ran a consultation focused on electronic programme guides (“EPGs”), asking for inputs on which EPGs should be regulated. The approach for defining which EPGs are regulated will impact the types of services that appear on them (including FAST Channels), as channels that feature on regulated EPGs require an Ofcom licence. We are awaiting the result of the consultation but will update our Media Act Tracker when further information is published.

How does a bill become law?

A bill can start in the Commons or the Lords and must be approved in the same form by both Houses before becoming an Act (law). Click here for further information.

Who is the current culture secretary?

Lisa Nandy was appointed Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport on 5 July 2024.

I have more questions about the Media Act, who can I contact?

The CMS team are available to answer your questions and help you navigate through the changes to the UK’s media landscape brought about by the Media Act. Click the Contact Us box below to reach out. 
 

Contact us

To find out more about anything covered on this page, please contact a member of the team.

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