Britain said yesterday Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Disney+ and other streamers would be required to follow the same rules on content and accessibility as traditional broadcasters like the BBC. Two-thirds of households subscribe to at least one major streamer, with 85 percent of people using an on-demand service each month, compared to 67 percent who watch live TV, the government said.

According to a Reuters report from London yesterday, bringing the services into the scope of regulator Ofcom’s broadcasting code would protect audiences from harmful content, and ensure the provision of accessibility services like subtitles, it said.

Streaming services with more than 500,000 United Kingdom users will have to adhere to the new standards, which include ensuring news is reported accurately and impartially and audiences are protected against harmful or offensive material.

Ofcom will have powers to investigate and take action where they consider there has been a breach of the code, it said.

Meanwhile, a British government official statement on the issue — accessed by Indianbroadcastingworld.com — said the government wants to create a more level regulatory playing field and ensure that UK audiences, particularly children and parents, can be confident that protections from harmful material are in place, whether they tune in via traditional channels or a mainstream on-demand service.

Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport Lisa Nandy in an official statement said: “We know that the way audiences watch TV has fundamentally changed. Millions now choose to watch content on video-on-demand platforms alongside or, in the case of many young people, instead of traditional TV.

“The Media Act introduced vital updates to our regulatory framework which this government is committed to implementing. By bringing the most popular video-on-demand services under enhanced regulation by Ofcom, we are strengthening protections for audiences, creating a level playing field for industry and supporting our vibrant media sector that continues to innovate and drive growth across the UK.”