Committee publication · Correspondence · 10 March 2026
Letter from Dame Melanie Dawes, Chief Executive, Ofcom, regarding Media Act implementation update, 5 March 2026
From: Culture, Media and Sport Committee
Inquiry: The work of Ofcom
Summary
Dame Melanie Dawes updates the Culture, Media and Sport Committee on Ofcom's implementation progress of the Media Act as of March 2026. Ofcom has completed updates to existing regulatory regimes for commercial radio and public service broadcasters, published final recommendations on connected TV platform prominence designations, and is developing new standards codes for video-on-demand services and voice-assistant radio access, with most work expected complete by year-end.
Key findings
- Ofcom published final statement on local news requirements for commercial radio and issued updated licences to PSBs reflecting new quota and commissioning rules allowing quotas to be met through on-demand offerings.
- Published final recommendations to Secretary of State on 15 connected TV platforms requiring PSB prominence; Code of Practice proposes PSB players be immediately visible on app menus with no mandatory payments for basic contractual terms.
- First report on Video-on-Demand Audience Protection Measures found most services using broadly adequate protections; developing new Standards and Accessibility Codes for VoD by end of 2026.
- Shifted timeline for voice assistant radio regime: final report on designated platforms due March 2026, with Code of Practice consultation and completion now expected by end of year rather than summer recess.
Tone
FactualTopics
Key actors
Dame Melanie Dawes, Dame Caroline Dinenage MP, Ofcom, Culture, Media and Sport Select Committee, Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS), Public Service Broadcasters (PSBs), Channel 4
Notable line
“We think this approach is clear and proportionate and does not interfere with commercial negotiations over additional terms.”
Key Quotes
“This means that PSBs can now meet their quotas through their on-demand offering as well as linear channels.”
“The Code of Practice sets out what actions we recommend connected TV platform providers take to give PSBs and their public service content an 'appropriate degree of prominence', including that the PSB players should be immediately visible on app menus.”
“Ofcom's expectation that there should be no payments required in relation to contractual terms that are reasonably necessary to ensure that the PSB player is made available and prominent on the platform.”
“We found that, while different services are taking a wide range of approaches, most are using APMs that we consider broadly adequate to protect audiences from harm.”
Source · parliament.uk record ↗