The Media Act 2024 granted Ofcom new powers to create and enforce a new content standards Code for video-on-demand services (ie streaming services). Historically, streaming services have not been regulated like traditional broadcasters which are subject to the Ofcom Broadcasting Code. This has left viewers with inconsistent protections when watching across different platforms. Some streamers are not based in the UK, and have fallen outside Ofcom's regulation entirely, even though they target and profit from UK audiences. Therefore, the aim is to level the regulatory playing field between streaming services and traditional broadcasters. 

Ofcom is now consulting on two draft codes:

• The Standards Code: on rules around harmful and offensive content, fairness and privacy, and due impartiality and due accuracy in news – this is very similar to the Ofcom Broadcasting Code, but does not address commercial content; and
• The Accessibility Code: covering subtitles, audio description and signing requirements. 

The codes will apply to Tier 1 'On Demand Programme Services' (ODPS) which include the most watched video on-demand services that meet a threshold of viewership (50,000 average monthly users) set by the UK government and will also include ODPS used by public service broadcasters, such as ITVX (but excluding, in the case of the Standards Code, the BBC's iPlayer, which is already subject to the Ofcom Broadcasting Code).

Standards Code

Ofcom's proposed new content Standards Code for Tier 1 streaming services broadly mirrors the UK's existing broadcasting rules, but is tailored to reflect the differences between traditional, scheduled broadcast TV and on-demand content. The aim is to ensure consistency with the Broadcasting Code. However, the new code does not address commercial content, such as the rules on product placement and programme sponsorship.  As such, there will remain some inconsistencies in how those rules apply to ODPS versus traditional broadcasters.

Under the new regime, qualifying streaming services must comply with existing requirements under the ODPS Rules, as well a range of supplementary Tier 1 rules proposed under the draft new Standards Code including:

• Protection of under 18s: The Code includes enhanced protections focused on preserving the welfare and legal rights of under-18s who appear in programmes. There is also a new rule requiring services to ensure that competitions and voting in programmes are conducted fairly, and (given the on-demand nature of the service) whether the competition remains open.
• Harm and offence: the proposed rules do not prohibit potentially harmful or offensive material. However, they will require services to provide adequate protection to viewers from potential harm. Offence must be justified by context, with emphasis on enabling informed viewing choices through clear content information and warnings. Ofcom is also proposing to require exceptional editorial justification for including explicit detail about novel or unusual suicide methods.
• Crime, disorder, hatred and abuse: Ofcom proposes rules to supplement the existing requirements under the ODPS Rules on incitement to crime/disorder, abusive treatment and portrayals of criminal techniques and proceedings. These include, for example, that payments should not be made to criminals for contributing to a programme.
• Due impartiality and due accuracy: Ofcom's proposed rules for news largely carry over those already set out in the Broadcasting Code including, for example, that no politician may be used as a newsreader or reporter. For non-news content, including current affairs programmes, Ofcom proposes to adapt the relevant impartiality requirements for the on-demand environment, such as giving services the flexibility to maintain due impartiality across multiple programmes.
• Fairness and privacy: Ofcom is proposing to ensure the same level of protection of individuals or organisations from unfair treatment or unwarranted infringement of privacy in content on streaming services as it does for linear broadcast content. While reflecting the Broadcasting Code, these requirements are entirely new for ODPS.

Accessibility Code

The Media Act introduced new accessibility requirements for the larger streaming services. This includes new quotas for subtitling, audio description and signing. Ofcom's consultation on the Accessibility Code sets out how major streaming services must meet the new requirements. Services must, as a minimum, subtitle 80% of their catalogue, audio describe 10% and provide signing for 5%. Poor quality access features will not count towards quotas. The Code will also require services to meet their obligations to keep audiences informed about their accessibility features, and how they must report annually on their quality and usability. 

Next steps

The consultation on the Codes ends on 7 August 2026. Following the consultation, Ofcom expects to publish the final Codes later this year. 

Call for evidence on investigating breaches of content standards Code

Ofcom is also calling for evidence to inform its approach to investigating possible breaches of the content standards Code for streaming services. Once the final Codes have been published, it will formally consult on these new investigation procedures, including the process for how people make complaints to Ofcom.