Latest news

26 March 2026 – The Media Act 2024: What’s happened and what’s next

Since the Media Act 2024 (the “Act”) received Royal Assent in May 2024, Ofcom has been steadily building out the regulatory framework that will reshape how UK audiences access and experience public service broadcasting, on-demand content, radio and other media services. Over 18 months on, the foundations have taken shape but there is still a lot to be done.

23 March 2026 – All things VoD Code: what’s happened and what’s next

According to DCMS data two-thirds of households now subscribe to at least one of Netflix, Amazon Prime Video or Disney+, and 85% of viewers use an on-demand service each month compared to 67% watching live television. This shift is the reason the Media Act 2024 (Act) imposes a requirement for major Video On-demand (VoD) services to be subject to enhanced regulation from Ofcom (i.e. over and above the level of regulation that applies to On Demand Programme Services (ODPSs) more generally).

6 March 2026 – Channel 4's in-house production: Ofcom sets the ground rules

The Media Act 2024 (the “Act”) signalled the end of the long-standing publisher-broadcaster restriction against Channel 4, enabling it to establish an in-house production company for the first time in its 43-year history. This marks a significant shift in the UK broadcasting ecology as Channel 4 (“C4C”) will, for the first time, compete directly with the independent producers that have historically been its lifeblood. This is where the Statement of Commissioning Policy (“SoCP”) is set to serve an important role, acting as the guardrail designed to preserve fair competition and protect the independent production sector from being squeezed out by Channel 4's own nascent studio. 

 25 February 2026 – Prominence and accessibility on connected TV platforms: draft code and guidance

One of the key drivers of the Media Act was the requirement to update the public service broadcaster (“PSB”) prominence regime to include prominence of PSB apps on connected TV platforms, reflecting modern day viewing habits. The implementation of this element of the Act is progressing.