UK government sets rules for streaming services

LONDON Reuters - On-demand services from Britain's BBC, ITV, and other public service broadcasters must be easy to find on smart TVs and set-top boxes, the government said as it announced a plan to update media rules for the streaming age.

It said that the proposed new law will put Netflix, Amazon Prime Video and Disney under the regulators' remit to protect audiences from harmful material, such as misleading health claims.

Britain's public service broadcasters have protected positions in electronic programme guides, so viewers can easily find the content they need to produce, for example in news.

Culture Secretary Lucy Frazer said changes to viewing habits had put traditional broadcasters under unprecedented pressure.

She said that these new laws will ensure that they meet the high standards we expect from public service broadcasters and that services like iPlayer and ITVX are easy to find when you watch TV.

British radio stations will be able to compete against global rivals as listening moves from AM and FM stations to internet-based services are part of the draft legislation.

The government said that smart speaker platforms such as Google and Amazon will be required to allow access to all licenced UK radio stations, from major national stations to the smallest community stations.

It said platforms will be banned from charging stations for being hosted on their services or overlaying their own adverts over the top of programmes.

The bill is in draft form because the government is continuing to consult with the industry on the reforms, and that is why it is going to be published.