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Next steps for the Media Act 2024

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By Richard Hugo Abbie McGregor
4 Sep 2024 2 min read
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In May, the Media Act 2024 (the ‘Act’) received Royal Assent and became law. The Act makes numerous changes to the public service media framework and fundamentally takes forward many of Ofcom’s recommendations. On 23 August 2024, the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport laid down the first commencement regulation before the UK Parliament, bringing certain provisions of the Act into force. 

What has happened so far?

Earlier this year, Ofcom published a roadmap setting out its approach to implementation of the Act (here). Following this, in July, Ofcom published a call to evidence regarding the listed events regime, an area which the Media Act touches on. 

Next steps

The regulations will bring specific parts of the Act legally into force. The first commencement order will allow Ofcom to continue the implementation of the Act. 

In relation to implementation, Ofcom currently lists the following areas of focus: 

  • Preparing for its new duties for video-on-demand services including reviewing audience protection measures.
  • Developing its approach for new measures on how Public Service Broadcasters (‘PSB’) will show that they deliver to the updated and modernised public service remit across services.
  • Preparing for its duties on voice-activated platforms, including determining the principles and methods it will apply in making a recommendation to the Secretary of State about which platforms are included.
  • Continuing to develop the processes for designating which services will be in scope for the new rules to ensure online PSB services are both available on popular TV platforms and capable of being easily found and discovered by audiences.

Ofcom have recently committed to continuing to work towards the timelines set out in its roadmap, provided further commencement orders and secondary legislation are enacted as expected.

Ofcom have also announced that its website will be updated to include a ‘Media Act Implementation Hub’ which will be used to provide regular updates and to keep stakeholders informed as Ofcom progresses toward full implementation of the Act. 

If you would like any further information or have queries on the content of this article, please contact Richard Hugo. Please see our article here for further information on the content of the Act. 

This update was written by Abbie McGregor.