Obligations on smart TVs, firesticks and set-top boxes to ensure
public service broadcasters (PSBs) are prominent on their
platforms should be strengthened, MPs say today. In their report
on the draft Media Bill published today, they also want to see
current obligations on PSBs to provide programming in areas such
as religion, international matters and science, retained.
The Culture, Media and Sport Committee report
follows pre-legislative scrutiny of the Bill, which is aimed at
ensuring PSBs – the BBC, ITV, STV, Channel 4, S4C and Channel 5 -
can thrive in the new world of streaming services, updates their
remit and ensures on-demand content is held to the same standard
as broadcasts.
The Committee calls for PSBs to be given ‘significant’ rather
than ‘appropriate’ prominence in listings and searches for
content on connected devices, so that public service content is
always carried and easy to find.
The report also urges the Government to retain the obligations of
PSBs to provide specific genres of content. The Bill as currently
drafted keeps a requirement to provide news and current affairs,
but removes genres such as a religion, international matters and
science. MPs argue that this could lead to a decrease in
provision in less commercially successful content.
Among other recommendations are amendments to ensure a new
Video-on-Demand code – aimed at ensuring TV-like content provided
by streaming services such as Netflix is subject to similar
standards imposed on traditional broadcasters – applies to all
VoD platforms and not just those with large UK audiences.
On listed events, the Committee backs the measures to ensure
sporting occasions such as the FA Cup Final and the Wimbledon
Championships are reserved for PSBs only, but calls for the Bill
to be used to close a loophole that allows an unregulated
streaming service to buy the rights for a listed event and put
them behind a paywall.
Backing the inclusion of the Media Bill in the forthcoming King’s
Speech, , Chair of the CMS
Committee, said: “Our Public Service Broadcasters
play a central role in enriching our culture, society and
democracy and this Bill is critical to ensuring they continue to
thrive. With significant legislation like this coming along only
once in a generation, it is vital the Government gets it right.
Our proposed changes to the Bill will ensure it is proportionate,
future-proofed in a world of shifting viewing habits and rapid
technological change, and most importantly in the very best
interests of viewers and listeners. It is vital that the
Government prioritises the legislation in the upcoming
fourth session of this Parliament.”
In July, the Committee published a report on the
provisions in the Bill relating to radio. Today’s report also
highlights the Committee’s continuing concern about the impact of
the BBC’s Digital First strategy on linear TV and radio
audiences. Sharing content across large areas risks undermining
the sense of localness that has, until now, made BBC local radio
distinct, the report says.
