The implementation of the UK Media Act 2024 marks one of the most significant regulatory shifts the UK’s streaming sector has ever seen. For the first time, legislation is catching up with how audiences watch television today, and setting clear expectations for the platforms that increasingly shape the UK’s media habits.
With on‑demand viewing now eclipsing traditional broadcast consumption, the government’s move to bring major Video on Demand (VoD) platforms under enhanced Ofcom oversight reflects a simple truth: streaming is no longer a side‑car to television. It is television.
According to Ofcom’s Media Nations reporting, 85% of people use a VoD service each month, compared with 67% who watch live TV. Meanwhile, two‑thirds of households subscribe to at least one of Netflix, Amazon Prime Video or Disney+. For younger audiences, streaming is not an alternative, it’s the default.
The Media Act recognises this reality by establishing a more consistent and accountable regulatory framework, ensuring that the platforms audiences rely on are held to standards comparable to those governing traditional broadcasters.
A New VoD Standards Code: Raising the Baseline
Under the Act, Tier 1 VoD services will soon be required to comply with a new VoD Standards Code, modelled closely on Ofcom’s existing Broadcasting Code.
For audiences, the introduction of a direct route to complain to Ofcom about content on major streaming services represents a major shift. For platforms, Ofcom’s expanded investigatory and enforcement powers, including potential fines of up to £250,000 or 5% of qualifying revenue per breach, underline the seriousness of the new obligations.
This is not just regulatory housekeeping. It is the formalisation of streaming as a regulated media environment with real‑world accountability.
Accessibility as Standard, Not a Differentiator
Perhaps the most transformative change lies in the introduction of a mandatory VoD Accessibility Code. Tier 1 platforms will need to ensure that at least:
- 80% of their catalogue is subtitled
- 10% is audio described
- 5% is signed
For millions of viewers who are deaf, hard‑of‑hearing, blind or partially sighted, this represents a landmark moment: a consistent, enforceable minimum level of accessibility across the UK’s major streaming services.
Many platforms have already made substantial progress, but commitment and delivery still vary widely. The new Accessibility Code creates a level playing field, ensuring that access is no longer dependent on where someone chooses to watch.
A Clear Timeline and a Mandate for Operational Change
The Media Act’s staggered implementation provides structure without sacrificing urgency:
- Ofcom will shortly launch consultations on the VoD Standards and Accessibility Codes
- The new VoD Standards Code will take effect one year after publication
- Tier 1 platforms will have four years to meet accessibility requirements, with interim targets after two years
This transitional period offers space to adapt, but it also demands operational maturity. Accessibility can no longer be treated as a finishing step in content workflows. It must become an integrated component of commissioning, production, versioning and delivery.
As our Head of Access Services, Tom Wootton, puts it: “The Media Act sets a clear, consistent baseline for streaming accessibility in the UK for the first time. That’s good for audiences, and it’s good for the industry.
Streaming also opens up opportunities to enhance accessibility experiences beyond what broadcast infrastructure allows, from zero‑latency live subtitles to more flexible presentation options. The platforms that invest early will be best positioned to meet both the letter and the spirit of the Act.”
How Red Bee Media Is Supporting the Transition
With over 25 years’ experience delivering large‑scale subtitling, audio description and signing services for some of the world’s largest broadcasters and content owners, Red Bee Media is uniquely placed to help platforms prepare for — and thrive under — the Media Act.
We help content providers:
- scale access services efficiently
- integrate accessibility into existing operational workflows
- maintain quality and resilience across extensive libraries
- prepare for Ofcom reporting, compliance and ongoing regulation cycles
The Act presents a challenge, but also a generational opportunity to build more inclusive, more trusted, and more competitive streaming services across the UK.
At Red Bee Media, we believe the platforms that embrace accessibility as a core part of their value proposition will be the ones that define the next era of UK streaming.
Red Bee Media is one of our fantastic Event Partners at this year’s TV: The Bigger Picture on May 6th. Register now to get your place.
