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The Media Act 2024: One year on
A year ago on 24 May 2024, the Media Act 2024 became law, constituting the biggest overhaul of the UK’s media regulatory landscape in over twenty years. Designed to modernise the framework for public service broadcasters, video-on-demand services, and commercial radio and other media services, the Act aims to align UK regulation with its evolving digital media environment. A year on from its enactment, we examine the progress of the Act’s implementation and what to expect in the coming months.
10 September 2025 – OfCom’s Consultation on Digital Radio Multiplex Information Requirements
In September 2025, Ofcom published a consultation setting out its proposal for a new licence condition in multiplex operators’ licences where licensees will be required to publish up to date “rate cards” showing the charges for radio stations wishing to broadcast via their multiplex. Under the Media Act 2024, a statutory duty has been placed on Ofcom to require multiplex operators to publish information about their charges.
8 August 2025 – Ofcom consultation on listed events concludes
The Media Act 2024 introduces significant changes to the listed events regime, which will now apply to both linear television channels and services which show live coverage of listed events to audiences in the UK (e.g. online streaming services). This reflects the evolving media landscape and the increasing importance of digital and streaming services in sports broadcasting. As part of such changes, Ofcom must define key terms and prepare a revised Code on listed events. To do so, Ofcom consulted on its proposals.
1 August 2025 - Ofcom consultation on guidance for C4C’s Statement of Commissioning Policy closes
Under the Media Act 2024, the “publisher-broadcaster restriction” previously imposed on Channel 4 Corporation has been repealed, enabling C4C to produce its own programmes for Channel 4. As part of its new duties under the Act, C4C must also prepare a Statement of Commissioning Policy, having regard of Ofcom’s guidance. Ofcom therefore consulted on its proposed draft guidance.
1 July 2025 - Ofcom continues implementation of Part 5 of the Media Act
On 1 July 2025, Ofcom published a consultation as part of its implementation of Part 5 of the Media Act 2024. Under this, Ofcom may include such conditions as it considers appropriate in local analogue commercial radio stations’ licences to ensure the regular broadcasting of local news and information. Ofcom is therefore consulting on its proposals.
July 2025 - TV and the Media Act: What you need to know about Ofcom’s latest publications
In July 2025, Ofcom published a consultation setting out how it has assessed television selection services and its draft recommendations to the Secretary of State for designations under Part 2 of the Media Act 2024, its final statement on Designation of Public Service Broadcasters’ Internet Programme Services, its revised Guidance for Public Service Broadcasters on Commissioning Codes of Practice and its updated Statement of Programme Policy and Statement of Media Content Policy Guidance.
On 6 May 2025, the Department for Culture, Media and Sport published two draft statutory instruments which, if finalised and approved by Parliament, will implement changes concerning production quotas set out within the Media Act 2024. In connection with these, on 15 May, Ofcom published a consultation setting out its approach to implementing the new framework for production quotas.
Ofcom published its final Statement of Principles and Methods it will be following when recommending which services should be designated as radio selection services by the Secretary of State.
23 April 2025 – Ofcom published its final Statement of Principles and Methods
Ofcom published its final Statement of Principles and Methods which it intends to follow when recommending which services should be designated as regulated television selection services by the Secretary of State.
Ofcom published two consultations as part of its continued implementation of the Media Act 2024 (the “Act”). The Act aims to ensure that public service broadcasters’ (“PSBs”) content is easily accessible and discoverable on connected TV platforms for audiences. These consultations focus on updates to the PSB Programme Policy guidance and the designation of PSB internet programme services.
4 February 2025 – Consultation on radio selection services: Ofcom’s proposed methods
Ofcom launched a consultation on the designation of radio selection services (“RSS”) under the Media Act 2024. This consultation seeks input on the principles and methods for designating RSS, which are services that enable users to select between internet radio services.
Ofcom launched a consultation on proposed revisions to its guidance for the public service broadcasters’ (the “PSBs”) concerning the PSBs’ Commissioning Codes of Practice. This move comes in response to the changes introduced by the Media Act 2024 to update the regulatory framework affecting the PSBs.
A busy winter for Ofcom: Consultations on connected TV platforms and radio licence renewals
Ofcom opened two key consultations, marking another step in its roadmap of implementation for the Media Act 2024. These consultations focus on the designation of television selection services and the renewal of local commercial radio licences.
Ofcom’s update paper on the connected TV platform market
Ofcom released an update on its review of the connected TV platform market (the “Market Update”). The Market Update examines how well competition between connected TV platforms is working: specifically, whether the current level of competition enables content providers to access a range of connected TV platforms. The Market Update also sets out features of the connected TV platform market which could pose future risks to competition.
The Government issue The Internet Television Equipment Regulations 2024
The Department for Culture, Media & Sport (“DCMS”) issued the Internet Television Equipment Regulations 2024 (“ITERs”) on 22 October 2024, as it takes the next step in progressing the new online prominence framework introduced by the Media Act. The ITERs came into force on 14 November 2024.
Ofcom brings Part 5 of the Media Act 2024 into force with Commencement
The Secretary of State of Culture, Media and Sport has made commencement regulations which brought Part 5 of the Media Act 2024 into force on 17 October 2024. Part 5 of the Media Act 2024 regulates commercial radio, amending the rules for both national and local analogue radio, and scaling back the application requirements for local radio licences and multiplex licences.
First commencement regulations made under the Media Act issued by the Government
On 15th August 2024, the Government issued “The Media Act 2024 (Commencement No. 1) Regulations 2024”, bringing into force certain provisions under the Media Act 2024. Whilst the Act received Royal Assent in May prior to the General Election, the majority of its provisions were designed not to commence pending secondary legislation. The Regulations mark the first tranche of such secondary legislation to bring various provisions of the Act into force. These provisions became effective on 26th August.
Call for evidence: Listed events - Implementing the Media Act 2024
Ofcom has opened a call for evidence to the public requesting inputs on how to carry out certain changes to the UK’s Listed Events Regime which were proposed in the Media Act. Ofcom has asked for stakeholder input on how to carry out some of its powers to define certain terms in secondary legislation (such as “live coverage”, “adequate live coverage” and “adequate alternative coverage”) and also revise the existing Listed Events Regime Code.
The final version of the Media Act is published
On 4th June 2024, His Majesty’s Stationery Office published the final version of the Media Act 2024. Final versions of some associated documents (such as the Explanatory Notes) are expected to be published in the coming weeks. We will update our Media Act Tracker with more information as these documents (as well the outstanding formal scoping measures) are finalised.
The Media Bill receives Royal Assent and becomes the Media Act 2024
On Friday 24th May 2024, moments before Parliament was prorogued prior to the upcoming general election, the long-anticipated 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”.
The Media Bill expected to become the Media Act before the general election
After the Prime Minister called a general election on 22nd May 2024, Parliament was called into action to pass the Media Bill before it is prorogued on 24th May. The House of Lords discussed their amendments to the Media Bill as part of the Report Stage and 3rd reading on 23rd May, where the Bill was adopted with only a couple of small amendments pressed by the Opposition and to which the Government acquiesced. The Bill was returned to the Commons on the same day, where the surviving Lords amendments were passed unscathed. The Bill now only awaits Royal Assent to become the Media Act. This is expected to take place today (24th May).
Ofcom’s roadmap to regulation – a timely reminder that there is a lot more work to be done
As the draft Media Bill continues its legislative journey, Ofcom has issued a timely reminder (in its publication of its “roadmap”) that significant work remains before we know the full extent of many of the Media Bill’s significant provisions.
The Bill has its second reading in the House of Lords, where it receives cross-party support. The Bill is now set to be considered by the whole House of Lords during the Committee stage, where a line-by-line evaluation of the Bill will take place.
The current version of the Bill is introduced to the House of Lords.
The Bill is considered at the Report stage in the House of Commons, where some non-Governmental amendments are debated but not agreed. The Bill then completes its third reading in the House of Commons.
The Public Bill Committee considers the Bill over the course of six sittings, and technical Government amendments are made (with no Opposition amendments agreed). The Bill, as amended by the Committee, is published.
The Bill has its second reading in the House of Commons.
Updated Version of the Media Bill introduced to the House of Commons
On the 8 November 2023, the updated Media Bill is introduced to the House of Commons by the UK Government.
King’s Speech confirms the Media Bill
The King’s Speech today has confirmed the Government’s commitment to move forward with comprehensive media reform.
DCMS Select Committee publishes its Final Report on the draft Media Bill
The DCMS Select Committee (the “Committee”) published its Final Report on the draft Media Bill (the “Bill”) on 22 September 2023, in which the Committee called on the Government to make several significant changes to the Bill.
Consultation on EPG Regulation
On 20 September 2023, Lucy Frazer, the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, announced a new consultation on the regulation of additional electronic programme guides, which was published on the same day. The 8-week consultation, which is open until 15 November 2023, is focused on (1) the impact of regulating EPGs, and (2) the proposed approach for defining which EPGs should be regulated - which in turn will impact the services that appear on them (i.e. FAST channels) as channels that appear on regulated EPGs require an Ofcom licence.
DCMS Select Committee Report on Draft Media Bill: Radio Measures
On 21 July 2023, the DCMS Select Committee published its report on the radio measures found in the draft Media Bill. The Committee has stated that it was these measures that drew the most contention during the evidence phase of the draft Bill’s pre-legislative scrutiny.
The DCMS Select Committee hears oral evidence from Ofcom, Voice of the Listener and Viewer, and representatives of the DCMS.
The Government releases its Impact Assessments of the draft Media Bill
On 29th June 2023, the Government published its impact assessments on the draft Media Bill. The purpose of the Impact Assessments is to assess the potential effects the draft Media Bill will have on the UK media industry and also the effectiveness of the draft Media Bill in achieving the Government’s policy objectives.
DCMS Select Committee questions Amazon, Netflix, Sky and Google
On 27 June 2023, as part of the next phase of its pre-legislative scrutiny of the draft Media Bill, the DCMS Select Committee called representatives from Amazon, Sky, Netflix, Google, techUK and TuneIn to hear their views on the draft Media Bill.
On 20 June 2023, the DCMS Select Committee heard further oral evidence from the BBC, S4C, MG Alba, Radiocentre and UK Community Radio Network.
DCMS Select Committee hears oral evidence from executives at ITV, Channel 4, and Channel 5
On 6 June 2023, as part of the next phase of its pre-legislative scrutiny of the draft Media Bill, the DCMS Select Committee heard oral evidence from ITV, Channel 4 and Channel 5.
DCMS Select Committee publishes written evidence on the draft Media Bill
On 26 May 2023, the DCMS Select Committee published the written evidence submitted by industry stakeholders in response to the draft Media Bill. As part of its pre-legislative scrutiny, the Committee previously opened up the consultation on the draft Media Bill in April, with the deadline for written responses set at 17 May.
DCMS Select Committee invites comments on the draft Media Bill
Following the long-awaited publication of the draft Media Bill on 29 March 2023, the DCMS Select Committee is now entering a consultation period during which it is inviting industry views on the draft Bill as part of the pre-legislative scrutiny process. During this process, the Select Committee will examine the policy objectives of the draft Bill, identify any unintended consequences, and issue recommendations on how the draft Bill might be improved.
Accordingly, from now until 17 May 2023, interested parties may submit their positions on the draft Bill to the Select Committee for consideration and review via this link.
The Draft Media Bill is officially released by the Government
The Media Bill aims to support the UK’s public service broadcasters to drive skills and growth in the creative sectors. It also looks to streamline and modernise the regulatory framework affecting certain aspects of UK media so that content makers can deliver distinctive, diverse British content across multiple services, and audiences can more easily access and enjoy that content.
Want to learn about the Draft Media Bill’s journey up to it’s release on 29 March 2023? Check out our Timeline on the CMS Media Bill Tracker Homepage.
