News Archive - 2024
2024
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.
