Minister for Creative Industries, Media and Arts (): Following the statement(opens in a new
tab) I published on 24 February 2026, I can now confirm to
the House that my Department has laid the following statutory
instruments (SI) before Parliament today (19 May 2026):
The Television Selection Services (Designation)
Regulations 2026
The SI specifically designates those television selection
services which will be captured by the new prominence regime
introduced by the Media Act 2024.
To support the future sustainability of our public service
broadcasters, the Media Act introduced a new prominence regime
into the Communications Act 2003 which will require particular TV
platforms (referred to in the Act as “regulated television
selection services”) to carry and give appropriate prominence to
designated public service broadcaster video-on-demand apps. Once
commenced, this new regime will ensure UK viewers can continue to
find the public service media content they value on-demand.
In order to be captured by the new prominence framework, a
television selection service must be designated by the Secretary
of State via statutory instrument, following advice from Ofcom.
Ofcom issued their draft advice on 22 July 2025, which they
consulted on and issued their final Statement on 16 December
2025. I confirmed on 24 February that, having thoroughly reviewed
Ofcom's advice and considered all stakeholder responses, I was
minded to agree to Ofcom's recommended list of designations set
out in their final report. I am now bringing forward this SI to
make those designations.
This SI marks an important milestone in the implementation of the
Media Act 2024 and concludes the Department's work on the
designation of which television selection services are in-scope
of the new prominence regime.
The Regulated Electronic Programme Guide (Prescribed
Description and Transitional Arrangements) Regulations
2026
This SI was announced in the same February statement referred to
above, along with the On-demand Programme Services (Tier 1
Services) Regulations SI. The SI updates the meaning of a
regulated electronic programme guide (EPG), extending vital
audience protections and accessibility requirements to newer TV
guide services, like Sky Glass and Freely. Any TV channel which
can be accessed through a regulated EPG will also be within
Ofcom's remit and therefore required to have a broadcast licence.
Furthermore, the regulations will address a regulatory loophole
in the existing framework where some TV guide services fall
outside regulation despite being easily accessible through
regulated services.
