The Media Act 2024 - which received royal assent on 24 May 2024 - introduces a new online prominence regime. This regime will require particular TV platforms (referred to in the Act as “regulated television selection services”) to give prominence to designated PSB services (referred to as “designated internet programme services”).

Today the Government has laid the first statutory instrument which will start the implementation process of this new regime.

In particular, these regulations specify which categories of TV devices are to be considered as “internet television equipment” for the purposes of this new prominence framework. This is the first step required to start the designation process.

The next step is for a further set of regulations to be developed, following advice from Ofcom, and establishing which television selection services – used in conjunction with internet television equipment – should be regulated under the new prominence regime.

The purpose of this approach is to ensure regulation is both targeted and proportionate, and, in particular, that only those devices used by a significant number of UK viewers as a main way of accessing TV will be captured.

The regulations laid today specify smart TVs and streaming devices, including set-top boxes and streaming sticks, as internet television equipment.

However, the Government recognises that, as viewing habits change and new technology emerges, the devices considered internet television equipment may change in the future. Therefore, we will review the list a year after implementation to ensure it remains fit-for-purpose.

The Internet Television Equipment Regulations 2024 have been published on legislation.gov.uk and an accompanying policy statement has been published on GOV.UK.

https://www.theyworkforyou.com/wms/?id=2024-10-24.hcws166.0