Standards bodies and regulators quietly decide what becomes mandatory long before it reaches a press release. This category follows DRM and anti-piracy enforcement, codec licensing and patent pools, AI training-data copyright, and net neutrality and privacy rules shaping the industry.
techUK has urged the BBC to offer its services on third-party platforms under fair, reasonable, and non-discriminatory terms as the UK transitions from broadcast DTT to IPTV. This recommendation was made within the context of the BBC's Charter review and an inquiry into its future, highlighting the need for the BBC to embrace greater flexibility in content distribution beyond its own platforms like Freely and iPlayer.
South Korean OTT platform TVing reported a personal information leakage from its user database, prompting investigations by the Personal Information Protection Committee and the Ministry of Science and ICT. The leaked information included IDs, names, dates of birth, mobile numbers, emails, and passwords, leading to concerns about secondary cyber fraud like smishing and phishing.
The FCC has launched the AWS-3 spectrum auction, the first in four years, offering 200 5G-grade licenses covering 100 million consumers. This action aims to enhance spectrum availability for 5G and 6G technologies and promote competition in wireless services. Equity analysts are monitoring bidding rounds, noting early demand from major carriers.
The annual ATSC NextGen Broadcast Conference highlighted the stalled transition of ATSC 3.0 despite 18.5 million NextGen TV sets sold. Regulatory policy, particularly the FCC’s "substantially similar" rule, and the lack of a date certain for 1.0 broadcasts to cease continue to be significant barriers to broader adoption. Broadcasters are advancing NextGen TV programming enhancements, including 1080p HDR and Dolby Atmos audio, and launching promotional campaigns to encourage 3.0 adoption.
The UK's Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has imposed a new conduct requirement on Google Search, mandating an AI opt-out for publishers and clear content attribution in AI-generated search results. This move aims to provide publishers with stronger bargaining power over content usage in Google's AI features, such as AI Overviews. Google is also required to allow publishers to opt-out of their content being used for fine-tuning AI models.
IAMT, formerly IABM, has rebranded to better connect, support, and inform innovators, service providers, and buyers across broadcast, streaming, and emerging media sectors. The organization aims to provide market access, intelligence, and influence in the evolving MediaTech ecosystem. It focuses on delivering actionable business insights and facilitating connections for its members.
Sir Ian Cheshire has been confirmed as the new Chair of Ofcom, the UK media regulator, following Lord Michael Grade's term. Cheshire will focus on implementing the Online Safety Act and regulating telecoms and broadcasting, aiming to ensure effective action against online harms.
The global 6G market, projected to reach $31.5 billion by 2034, is gaining momentum through government standardization initiatives and multilateral R&D partnerships. This future connectivity infrastructure, driven by AI-native networks and terahertz frequencies, directly impacts future high-bandwidth, low-latency streaming applications. Governments and industry players are investing heavily to shape international standards and architecture ahead of commercial deployment.
President Trump signed an executive order requiring federal testing of powerful AI systems before their public release. This initiative relies on voluntary collaboration from major AI companies such as Anthropic, OpenAI, and Google. The order aims to lay the foundation for regulatory oversight on advanced AI models.
The No Fakes Act, legislation targeting AI deepfakes, has been reintroduced in the US Congress with new revisions and bipartisan support. The updated bill, which includes a counter-notice procedure and exemptions for certain works, aims to regulate generative AI in video content. Companies including Getty Images, Spotify, Google, IBM, OpenAI, Amazon, and YouTube have pledged their support for the Act.
Ofcom will review an investigation into Channel 4's show "MAFS" and consider potential action against the broadcaster. This follows a regulatory request for an advance copy of the findings, highlighting intensified scrutiny on broadcasters regarding content and compliance.
Raymond Yeung, head of content standards at Amazon MGM Studios Technology, has been named SMPTE Standards Vice President for 2025. In this role, Yeung will focus on media supply chain advancements and standards development.
Jonathan Jobin, with 19 years of experience at CBC/Radio-Canada and an upcoming role at Grass Valley, is seeking a board and Treasurer position at SMPTE. He aims to enhance SMPTE's sponsorship programs and integrate emerging technologies using his background in media production workflows. His past contributions to SMPTE include improving sponsorship and event management.
The Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF) has proposed a new Internet-Draft, "Low Overhead CMAF for Media over QUIC (LOCMAF)". This specification aims to optimize the transport of CMAF-formatted media within the Media over QUIC (MoQ) protocol. It seeks to reduce bandwidth and processing overhead by directly mapping CMAF fragments to MoQ Objects, eliminating redundant metadata.
The IETF Datatracker has indexed reference dependencies for the LOCMAF draft, which is part of the Media over QUIC (MOQ) framework. This system uses string-based heuristics to track relationships between RFCs and active Internet-Drafts. The goal is to manage document status and connections within the IETF framework.
Eyevinn Technology and KTH researchers have submitted a proposal to the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF) for LOCMAF (Low Overhead CMAF for Media over QUIC), a compact wire format for streaming CMAF media over the MoQ Transport protocol. LOCMAF aims to significantly reduce per-object overhead for low-latency video by using delta-encoding for headers while preserving unmodified mdat payloads and maintaining support for Common Encryption (CENC) pipelines and DASH event messages. This proposal details the object framing, chunk encodings, catalog signaling, and receiver reconstruction for low-latency CMAF video. It specifies the technical rules for encoders and receivers to implement this new transport efficient format.
CableLabs has outlined its technology vision focused on adaptive, context-aware networks and real-time connectivity. They plan to conduct Interop·Labs for Low Latency, Low Loss, Scalable Throughput (L4S) and XGS-PON technologies in June 2026 to enhance network reliability and performance. This initiative aims to align the industry towards developing more advanced and responsive cable networks.
The Advanced Television Systems Committee (ATSC) has announced the agenda for its 2026 NextGen Broadcast Conference, scheduled for June 2-3, 2026. The conference will bring together industry leaders from organizations like NAB, LG Electronics, and Sinclair to discuss the ongoing ATSC 3.0 transition and its implications. Sessions will cover technical developments, including ATSC 3.0's role in improving TV viewing, datacasting revenue models, 5G Broadcast harmonization, and the integration of AI agents for member organizations.
The Consumer Technology Association (CTA) submitted data to the FCC, arguing against a mandatory ATSC 3.0 transition. The CTA emphasized that streaming services currently complement traditional broadcasting for sports access, and that 18.6 million NextGen TV sets have been sold voluntarily since 2020. The association advocates for a consumer-driven, voluntary transition to ATSC 3.0, asserting that a mandate would burden consumers with unnecessary costs.
European telecom operators are deliberately deploying 5G Standalone (SA) networks slower than other regions, emphasizing a value-driven and strategic approach due to monetization and device availability concerns. Despite the slower pace, the rollout is accelerating in some markets and is expected to enable mission-critical use cases and AI-driven network optimization. Globally, 28.5% of 5G networks now utilize SA architecture, with 95 operators having launched 5G SA services.
NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell will not testify before Congress regarding the league's TV and streaming deals, citing ongoing litigation. The hearing aims to address concerns about the cost of watching NFL games and whether the league's streaming practices comply with the Sports Broadcasting Act of 1961, which granted the NFL an antitrust exemption for broadcast networks but not streaming.
The US Register of Copyrights has renewed The Mechanical Licensing Collective's (MLC) designation as the statutory collective for administering blanket compulsory mechanical licenses for streaming and download services in the US. Since its operations began in January 2021, The MLC has distributed nearly $4 billion in royalties to songwriters and music publishers. The decision follows a required periodic review and validates The MLC's adherence to the Music Modernization Act.
JAKTV is under investigation by Indonesian broadcasting authorities after explicit adult content was accidentally broadcast for several minutes during family programming on June 2, 2026. The incident, which led to public complaints and social media circulation of clips, could result in fines, license reviews, or mandatory compliance measures for the station.
Celios reports that tax revenue from Google and Meta's Indonesian digital transactions, valued at Rp1,350 trillion in 2024, is flowing to Singapore due to global OTT platforms not operating as Permanent Establishments in Indonesia. The digital sector's tax contribution ratio to Indonesia's national digital economy is only 0.27%, with the tax burden largely falling on consumers. Celios proposes policy scenarios including a withholding tax (WHT) and a Universal Service Obligation (USO) levy to address this issue.
Huawei is set to face a U.S. federal criminal trial in New York in September 2026, accused of racketeering, sanctions violations, and trade-secret theft spanning two decades. The FBI is investigating a trade-show incident from around 20 years ago, where a Huawei employee allegedly photographed Fujitsu equipment, as part of preparations for the case.
South Korea's Ministry of Science and ICT (MSIT) has deemed a member information leak at OTT service Tving a major incident and formed a joint public-private investigation team. The team, including MSIT, KISA, and private experts, will probe the cause and scale of the damage. MSIT also issued a public security advisory to prevent secondary misuse of leaked data.
This article discusses ongoing retransmission consent negotiations between broadcasters and MVPDs. These negotiations directly influence content availability and distribution costs, which impacts streaming industry professionals.
The National Advertising Division (NAD) has issued an unspecified ruling, indicating ongoing regulatory oversight related to advertising practices. While the specific details of the ruling are not provided, it signifies continued activity in the field of advertising standards.
A coalition of industry groups, including NCTA and ACA Connects, is urging Congress to pass the SECURE Data Act (S. 3843). This bipartisan legislation aims to empower the Commerce Department to address data security risks posed by foreign adversaries without disrupting the broader data economy. The groups highlight the bill's alignment with their support for a national privacy framework while balancing security needs.
The FCC's June 6 open meeting will include a vote on a Report and Order aimed at establishing specific timeframes for state and local governments to approve modifications to existing wireless structures. This action seeks to prevent indefinite delays in updates to broadband and wireless infrastructure. The order clarifies the "reasonable period of time" for local permitting decisions.
Experts are debating the applicability of Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act to artificial intelligence, considering its protection for online platforms regarding third-party content. This discussion is pertinent to the streaming industry as it could influence legal liabilities for AI-generated content or recommendations presented on streaming platforms. The outcome may redefine how streaming services manage AI-driven features and content.
Ottawa has significantly redirected its policy regarding the Online Streaming Act, including a federal investment of $600 million for Canada's audio and audiovisual sectors. This move aims to stabilize content costs and protect consumers from potential price increases, while also directing the CRTC to review its recent decision on Canadian content spending requirements for streamers. The government intends to develop new policy directions to adjust the implementation of the Online Streaming Act, ensuring affordability and choice for consumers.
UK Minister Kanishka Narayan is proposing potential communication restrictions on gaming platforms for children, expanding online safety policies beyond social media. This initiative could impact platforms like Roblox and Fortnite, focusing on disallowing 'stranger pairing' features. Gaming companies, including Roblox, have already begun implementing enhanced safety measures, such as age-based accounts and facial age estimation, in response to growing global scrutiny.
The Delhi High Court affirmed a 12-minute per hour advertising cap for broadcasters, based on 1994 and 2012 regulations. This ruling directly impacts revenue streams for both pay TV and free-to-air channels in India, leading broadcasters to plan an appeal to the Supreme Court. The article highlights the discrepancy between these "archaic rules" and the evolving streaming market where consumers have more control over ads.
Operation KRATOS 2, coordinated by Europol and Bulgaria, successfully dismantled nine criminal groups operating illegal streaming services between September 2025 and April 2026. The operation led to 29 arrests, 86 identified suspects, and the removal of over 27,000 illegal streaming URLs, highlighting ongoing efforts to disrupt the complex infrastructure behind content piracy. Private sector partners like AAPA, ACE/MPA, LALIGA, UEFA, Friend MTS, beIN Media Group, and Irdeto collaborated with authorities.
North Carolina's House of Representatives passed a bill to regulate data centers' energy and water consumption, aiming to prevent utility bill increases for residents. The legislation seeks to ban local incentives for data centers and address concerns regarding noise pollution, while also fast-tracking nuclear power development. Tech industry groups, including The Data Center Coalition representing major hyperscalers, have criticized parts of the bill, arguing it could harm North Carolina's competitiveness for new data center construction.
ATSC has awarded its highest technical honor, the Bernard Lechner Outstanding Contributor Award, to Julia Kenyon, Director of Broadcast Engineering at Sinclair, for her significant contributions to the ATSC 3.0 digital television standard. Kenyon has led multiple groups focused on ATSC 3.0 deployment and chairs the Specialist Group on Advanced Broadcast Applications. The award will be presented at the ATSC NextGen Broadcast Conference in June.
The LPTV Broadcasters Association has petitioned the FCC to recognize 3GPP 5G Broadcast as a voluntary transmission option for Low Power Television stations, sparking a debate with proponents of ATSC 3.0. This action highlights a growing divergence in preferred broadcast spectrum utilization formats within the LPTV community. The move has drawn criticism from figures associated with ATSC 3.0, including Sinclair Broadcast Group's ONE Media.
ATSC is urging the industry to look beyond traditional TV for ATSC 3.0 success, focusing on its data delivery capabilities for new revenue streams. The standard's potential for datacasting in automotive, education, and IoT could transform local TV stations into digital infrastructure providers. This strategic shift is vital for the long-term economic model of the broadcast industry.
Former FCC Commissioner McDowell advocates for the FCC to deny Ligado Networks' application with AST SpaceMobile, citing concerns about spectrum warehousing and potential interference risks. He argues that approval would hinder U.S. space leadership by rewarding inefficient spectrum use and blocking competition for direct-to-device satellite broadband services crucial for economic activity in space.
A University of Wollongong study for the Australian Government recommends mandatory restrictions on unhealthy food marketing to children across all media, including streaming and digital platforms. The report proposes eight actions for government, advocating for comprehensive regulation rather than voluntary industry codes to protect children from harmful food marketing tactics.
Indonesia has enacted a strict new regulation banning social media access for users under 16, compelling major platforms such as Meta, YouTube, and Roblox to implement age restrictions and specific child-focused services. This policy, a first in Southeast Asia, necessitates rapid redesigns by global platforms to comply with the new rules in Indonesia, a key digital market with a young population. Regulators are also considering further measures, including local representative offices and verified mobile numbers for account registration.
The Australian Mobile Telecommunications Association (AMTA) has criticized the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) for increasing spectrum renewal fees. AMTA warns that these higher fees could lead to increased costs for mobile network operators and subsequently higher consumer prices in Australia. The hike may also negatively impact infrastructure investment in the region.
This article discusses the institutional framework surrounding the ISM band, defined by the International Telecommunication Union and Japan's Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications. It explains that this shared spectrum space requires communication services to accept interference, establishing a hierarchy between primary and secondary services, which impacts the deployment of license-free technologies like Wi-Fi and Bluetooth.
The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has introduced new tariff regulations for the Indian pay-TV market. These rules cap discounts on television channel bouquets at 45% of the total price of individual channels. The regulations aim to promote fair pricing and enhance consumer choice between a la carte channel selections and bundled offerings.
The Video Services Forum (VSF) has released the TR-10 open specifications for IPMX, an interoperable IP media standard designed for Pro AV and IT organizations. These specifications are built upon SMPTE ST 2110 and are the result of a seven-year collaboration among industry bodies including AIMS, SMPTE, and EBU.
Lenny Henry has urged the media industry to continue its commitment to diversity and inclusion initiatives. His warning comes amid increasing hostility towards such efforts. He emphasizes the importance of standing against racism, sexism, and inequality.
CNN is suing AI company Perplexity for allegedly copying and distributing over 17,000 CNN stories and other content to train its products, marking CNN's first legal action against an AI company for copyright protection. This lawsuit is part of a broader industry effort by news providers to secure compensation from AI platforms using their content for training data. Perplexity's Chief Communications Officer stated that "You can't copyright facts" in response to the allegations.
Australia has implemented a ban on social media access for users under 16, imposing significant fines on platforms like Meta, X, YouTube, and TikTok for non-compliance. This world-first regulation creates compliance challenges and potential revenue impacts for streaming and social media giants operating globally. The government states the measure is necessary to protect children from "predatory algorithms" and harmful content.
Spain's CITCO and UNECI are central to EU counter-terrorism efforts, using proactive monitoring and cooperation with online platforms for content removal under regulations like the Terrorist Content Online Regulation (TCO) and Digital Services Act (DSA). New legislation, the e-Evidence Regulation, set to apply from August 2026, will streamline cross-border electronic evidence requests directly from service providers, bypassing traditional mutual legal assistance. This framework highlights evolving legal obligations for digital services, including streaming platforms, impacting content moderation and data preservation requirements.
