Ofcom have published a consultation on the future regulation and cenorship of Video on Demand (VOD) services.
Under revised European law, content on VOD services such as BBC iPlayer, 4OD, ITV Player, SkyPlayer and Demand Five will be regulated
from 19 December 2009. Such services are available through Virgin Media, Sky and BT Vision as well as through the internet.
Regulation of these services is a requirement of the EU's Audiovisual Media Services Directive and covers all VOD services
which are, according to the Directive, TV-like. The Government plans to give the overall duty to regulate these services to Ofcom.
Electronic versions of newspapers, private websites and unmoderated user generated material (hosted on
services such as YouTube) will not be regulated.
Industry Bodies ATVOD and ASA
Ofcom is consulting on its proposal that two bodies carry out most aspects of the regulation on its behalf: Ofcom proposes
that VOD services are regulated by the industry body, the Association for Television On Demand (ATVOD), and that advertising included in those services, is regulated by the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA).
But VOD programming would not be
subject to Ofcom's Broadcasting Code, which broadcast services currently licensed in the UK have to observe
Under the proposed co-regulation, Ofcom will have back-stop powers to intervene if the new co-regulatory system does not work effectively
and Ofcom will also retain the power to impose sanctions against service providers.
Content Censorship
Under the proposals for consultation ATVOD would regulate VOD services and would be required to ensure that programming on VOD services adheres to a number of minimum standards from the Directive which will be set out in UK legislation. Programmes, for
example:
- must not contain any incitement to hatred based on race, sex, religion or nationality
- must not provide material which might seriously impair the physical, mental, or moral development of minors unless it is made available in such a way that
ensures that minors will not normally hear or see such content
- sponsored programmes and services must comply with applicable sponsorship requirements.
Advertising
Since 2004 the ASA has regulated TV and radio advertising in the UK under a co-regulatory agreement with Ofcom. Under the proposals for consultation the ASA would regulate the advertising on VOD services.
The new legislation requires that
advertising on VOD services must also comply with a number of minimum standards. For example:
- advertising must be readily recognisable and cannot contain any surreptitious advertising or use subliminal advertising techniques
- advertising must not encourage behaviour that is prejudicial to the health or safety of people
- tobacco products, prescription-only medicines or medical treatments cannot be advertised.
Viewer complaints
Under Ofcom's proposals any complaints that viewers have about video material that they feel has breached these rules will be assessed by ATVOD or the ASA.
BBC
BBC content is jointly regulated by the BBC Trust and Ofcom.
Content on the BBC iPlayer will be subject to these new regulations but as with other BBC content will be regulated by the Trust and Ofcom and not under the proposed
co-regulatory arrangements.
Consultation
Our consultation closes on 26th October 2009. See further details here