Today, the Media Bill will be debated in Parliament, with the aim of updating outdated legislation to harness the potential of UK broadcasters and enhance the quality of British programming on both television and radio. These proposed reforms seek to enable broadcasters to attract larger audiences at home and abroad, while supporting the government’s ambitious goal of growing the creative industries by £50 billion and creating one million jobs by 2030.
The Media Bill includes several measures that will empower Public Service Broadcasters (PSBs) to have more control over their TV schedules and on-demand offerings by introducing flexible rules on the types of programs they must showcase. This flexibility will allow each PSB to concentrate on content that aligns with its unique strengths.
Based on feedback received during the drafting process, the laws will now require PSBs to ensure an “appropriate range of program genres” are available on their platforms, safeguarding against a possible reduction in specialised genres such as religious, science, and arts programming. Additionally, PSBs will have specific obligations to continue broadcasting news and children’s programming.
One crucial aspect of the Bill is closing a loophole that could have allowed unregulated streaming services to bypass the existing regime that guarantees free access to major sporting events like the FIFA World Cup and the Olympic and Paralympic Games. The updated definition of “relevant services” ensures that TV-like platforms, which currently fall outside the listed events regime but provide live content to UK audiences via the internet, will now be regulated. This move ensures that PSBs have fair and reasonable access to the rights for listed events as viewing habits evolve.
Culture Secretary Lucy Frazer, who will open the debate, emphasises the need for reform to keep broadcasters at the forefront of the industry amidst the changing landscape of streaming and on-demand content. The Media Bill aims to level the playing field, remove threats to sustainability, and create new opportunities for growth and innovation.
Furthermore, the Bill addresses media freedom by removing Section 40, which posed a financial burden on publishers by potentially requiring them to pay legal costs even if they won a lawsuit against them.
Elin Morris, Chief Operating Officer of S4C, welcomes the Media Bill’s confirmation of S4C’s position as a multi-platform Welsh-language content provider across the UK. The new framework ensures that indigenous languages, including Welsh, are part of the public service remit for television in the UK. The Bill will also extend legislation for online TV viewing, making S4C Clic available on connected TVs and prominently featured on TV sets in Wales, expanding the reach of Welsh-language content.
Other provisions within the Media Bill include requirements for popular smart TVs and streaming sticks to prominently showcase the apps and content of public service broadcasters. Audiences will benefit from stronger protections against harmful or age-inappropriate content through a new Ofcom-regulated Video-on-demand Code on major streaming platforms. Additionally, there will be new mandates for subtitling, audio description, and signing on mainstream on-demand services.
The Bill also addresses radio, ensuring that services are easily accessible on smart speakers for both major national stations and smaller community stations. Red tape that unnecessarily burdens commercial radio services will be removed.
Moreover, the Media Bill will repeal laws that previously threatened to force newspapers to bear both sides’ legal costs in any proceedings, even if they were successful. This move aims to protect the sustainability of independent TV producers across the UK while affording Channel 4 new freedoms to create and own its content.
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