Streamers Will Face U.K. Regulation, King Charles Says in Speech
variety.comK.J. Yossman King Charles III confirmed the Government’s plan to push through with its long-discussed Media Bill on Tuesday morning local time during the traditional opening of Parliament ceremony in London.
Tradition dictates that the King’s speech (or the Queen’s speech, as it was previously known for the past seventy years), sets out the incumbent British Government’s most pressing legislative issues of the day, effectively rubber stamping them on the way to becoming law.
Among the key points in the Media Bill are protection for U.K. public service broadcasters (PSBs) such as the BBC, ITV and Channel 4 including “prominence” and discoverability on digital devices and platforms as well as the extension of media regulator Ofcom‘s powers to cover streaming services.
With the introduction of the bill, Ofcom will be able to investigate and penalize streamers. Following protracted discussion of Channel 4’s future, the Media Bill also ensures the network will remain publicly owned but, for the first time, allows Channel 4 to produce its own content, a move that has shaken the U.K.
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