The UK’s streaming giants – Netflix, Amazon Prime Video and Disney+ – will soon face the same regulatory scrutiny as traditional broadcasters like the BBC and ITV, following new legislation enacted by the government. The move, announced Tuesday, grants media regulator Ofcom the power to investigate complaints and impose fines on streaming services, marking a significant shift in how on-demand content is governed in the United Kingdom.
Under the new regulatory regime, stemming from the Media Act 2024, platforms will be required to adhere to standards relating to the accuracy and impartiality of news content, as well as protecting audiences from harmful or offensive material. Ofcom will be empowered to accept and investigate viewer complaints, with potential fines reaching up to £250,000 or 5% of a platform’s UK revenue for each breach of the new standards.
Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy stated that the changes are designed to “strengthen protections for audiences, creating a level playing field for industry and supporting our vibrant media sector.” She highlighted the evolving viewing habits of the British public, noting that 85% of people now use an on-demand service each month, surpassing the 67% who still watch live television. “We know that the way audiences watch TV has fundamentally changed,” Nandy said. “Millions now choose to watch content on video-on-demand platforms alongside or, in the case of many young people, instead of traditional TV.”
The regulations will apply to any video-on-demand service with more than 500,000 UK viewers, automatically designating them a “Tier 1” service. This includes public service broadcaster video-on-demand services like ITVX and Channel 4. However, BBC iPlayer will initially remain exempt, operating under the existing Broadcasting Code via the BBC Framework Agreement, though the government intends to include it in the future.
Previously, Netflix operated largely outside of UK broadcasting regulations, benefiting from its European headquarters in Amsterdam and falling under Dutch laws. This exemption, and similar arrangements for other international streaming services, has been a point of contention as these platforms have grown in prominence within the UK market. The new legislation aims to address this disparity, bringing streaming services in line with the established regulatory framework governing traditional broadcasters.
According to Ofcom’s 2025 Media Nations report, two-thirds of UK households subscribe to at least one of Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, or Disney+. The expanded remit of Ofcom will also encompass these public service broadcaster VoD services, ensuring a consistent regulatory approach across the on-demand landscape.
The government has indicated that secondary legislation will be introduced to fully empower Ofcom to oversee the streaming platforms, building on the foundation laid by the Media Act 2024. The implementation timeline for the full suite of regulations remains unclear, and Ofcom has yet to detail the specific procedures for handling complaints and conducting investigations.
