Ofcom yesterday launched a consultation on its proposed code of practice setting out the recommended actions that connected TV providers can take to ensure that public service broadcasters’ (PSBs) online players, and the public service content and public service channels they include, are prominent on their platforms.

The code of practice also includes recommendations on the actions providers should take to make their platforms accessible for disabled people, the United Kingdom regulator said in a statement.

The PSBs provide trusted, accurate news and a diverse range of quality content that is highly valued by UK audiences. But as viewing migrates online, it is becoming more difficult for the PSBs to reach audiences as they have in the past.

To ensure that the benefits of public service media are not lost, the Media Act 2024 introduced new rules to make designated public service broadcasters’ content easier to find and discover on designated connected TV (CTV) platforms, which are increasingly used by audiences to choose and access programmes, Ofcom said.

Ofcom has previously set out its recommendations to the UK Government on which connected TV platforms should fall in scope of the regime. “Today we are seeking views on our proposed code of practice which explains how, in practice, connected TV platforms can meet their new prominence and accessibility requirements under the Media Act,” it said.

The proposals include the following:

# Giving an appropriate level of prominence to PSB players, their public service content and any public service channels included in the players. Ofcom is proposing a range of actions for providers to take with regard to the user interface that people see and navigate on connected TV platforms.

# Designated PSB player apps should be immediately visible and generally appear within the first nine tiles on app menus; when public service content is most relevant to a user search, it should be the most prominent result and public service content should be clearly attributed to the relevant PSB player.

# Making their services accessible to disabled people, particularly those with sight or hearing conditions. Proposed recommended actions include providing a voice guidance function, or similar, as an alternative to visual information; ensuring users can enlarge text and images through a ‘magnification’ or ‘zoom’ function; and making sure accessible content is labelled as such (for example indicating where a programme has subtitles).