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1. Jun 9•Msn: Broadcasters urge Congress to restrict sports antitrust exemptions to free TV

   The National Association of Broadcasters will testify before Congress, arguing that sports broadcasting should remain on free over-the-air television rather than streaming. NAB CEO Curtis LeGeyt will contend the 1961 Sports Broadcasting Act should apply only to broadcast television, not streaming services, amidst federal scrutiny of sports rights deals from the DOJ and FCC. This debate addresses rising costs and access issues for consumers as more high-profile sporting events move to subscription-based streaming platforms.

2. Jun 9•Radio & Television Business Report: Broadcasters clash over 5G Broadcast as standalone FCC Part 74 standard

   The Advanced Television Broadcasting Alliance (ATBA) opposes the LPTV Broadcasters Association's (LPTVBA) request to the FCC to authorize 3GPP 5G Broadcast as a standalone Part 74 standard. ATBA's Executive Director, Lee Allen Miller, called the move "the wrong policy path," while LPTVBA Chairman Frank Copsidas prepares a rebuttal to the disagreement.

3. Jun 9•Bloomberg: Broadcasters lobby Congress to mandate free over-the-air access for major sports

   A broadcast group plans to lobby the US Congress to mandate that major sporting events be aired on free over-the-air television. This potential regulatory action would limit the ability of pay-TV providers and streaming services to acquire exclusive sports rights. The move could significantly affect revenue streams and content strategies for streaming and broadcast companies.

4. Jun 9•TechRadar: Russia proposes state-owned VPN to fix self-inflicted internet connectivity failures

   Russia's government is facing connectivity issues due to its recent crackdown on VPNs, leading to a suggestion for a state-owned VPN service. This initiative aims to provide a government-compliant solution for internet access for citizens and businesses, while maintaining control over online content. This regulatory action could significantly affect how streaming services deliver content within Russia.

5. Jun 9•Cablefax: FCC regulation could stall Starlink's fiber competition as scale increases

   Nokia VP Lori Adams speculated that SpaceX's Starlink satellite internet service could face future heavy-handed FCC regulations within the next five years due to concerns over satellite numbers, orbit tracking, and space junk. This could impact Starlink's ability to scale and compete with fiber. The discussion occurred during a Kagan panel ahead of SpaceX's anticipated IPO.

6. Jun 9•The Globe and Mail: Canadian Broadcasters Oppose Ottawa's Plan to Reduce Foreign Streamer Contributions

   Canadian broadcasters are opposing Ottawa's proposed changes to the Online Streaming Act, which would roll back financial contributions from foreign streaming platforms. They advocate for foreign streamers to contribute to Canadian content creation, similar to traditional domestic broadcasters.

7. Jun 9•Broadband Breakfast: Plume CBO: Terrestrial Broadband Subsidies Critical for Hybrid Connectivity Future

   SpaceX is advocating for the FCC to cease $4.5 billion in rural broadband subsidies, arguing Starlink's expanded coverage makes them redundant. However, an expert opinion article contends that defunding terrestrial broadband would hinder the development of hybrid connectivity essential for modern streaming and digital applications, which require low latency and consistent performance beyond what satellite alone can provide.

8. Jun 9•Privacy-mgmt: Privacy-Mgmt.com Updates Cookie Consent Platform for Streaming Compliance

   Privacy-Mgmt.com has updated its cookie consent platform with new features designed to enhance user privacy and ensure compliance with data privacy regulations. This update aims to assist streaming entities in managing transparent user consent for data collection more effectively. The new features focus on helping businesses adhere to evolving privacy requirements.

9. Jun 9•Light Reading: FCC Grants Amazon Leo 2-Year Satellite Deployment Extension

   The FCC has granted Amazon Leo a 24-month extension to deploy the first half of its 3,236 low-Earth orbit (LEO) satellites, pushing the milestone to July 30, 2028. This decision, made despite objections from SpaceX, aims to promote competition in the satellite broadband sector. Additionally, the FCC has opened regulatory review for Amazon's proposed $11.5 billion acquisition of Globalstar, with petitions to deny due July 6.

10. Jun 9•Light Reading: Telcos Join Cable's STRIKE Against Network Vandalism as Incidents Surge

    AT&T, T-Mobile, and Verizon have joined the cable industry's STRIKE initiative to combat network vandalism, which saw a 59% increase in incidents in 2025 with societal costs up to $1.47 billion. The collaboration aims to unify efforts in intelligence sharing, operational protocols, and policy strategies with law enforcement and policymakers to protect critical communications infrastructure. Operators are also deploying mitigation strategies such as enhanced surveillance, asset tracking, and fiber rerouting.

11. Jun 9•C21media: California and New York lead multi-state lawsuit to block Paramount-WBD merger

    California, New York, and several other US states are preparing an antitrust lawsuit to block Paramount Skydance's proposed US$111 billion acquisition of Warner Bros Discovery. This legal action could delay the merger, increasing costs for Paramount due to a 'ticking fee' that takes effect if the deal is not closed by September 30. The European Commission is also reviewing the merger, with a decision expected by July 7.

12. Jun 9•Advanced-television: Philippines Proposes IP Code Overhaul for Enhanced Piracy Enforcement, Brand Protection

    The Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines (IPOPHL) is urging legislators to update the IP Code, emphasizing the need to modernize intellectual property frameworks in response to evolving technology. Proposed amendments include expanding site-blocking powers against piracy and enabling the registration of non-traditional marks, directly impacting content protection for streaming professionals. These reforms aim to strengthen IP governance and enforcement, making the legal framework more responsive to contemporary challenges.

13. Jun 9•Advanced-television: Wi-Fi 7 Adoption Under 2% Globally in Q1 2026; Singapore Leads at 25%

    A report from Ookla indicates that Wi-Fi 7 adoption remains low globally at under 2% in Q1 2026, though Singapore leads with 25% due to government and telco initiatives. North America shows higher usage of the 6 GHz band, but 5 GHz remains the dominant global Wi-Fi spectrum. The report highlights fragmented 6 GHz use worldwide and notes that while smartphone lifecycles aren't a bottleneck for Wi-Fi upgrade, rising component costs from AI demand could impact manufacturing.

14. Jun 8•TV Tech: SMPTE Courses Target ST 2110 IP Transition Skills for Media Professionals

    SMPTE announced its spring 2024 course schedule, which focuses on education regarding IP-based production and mastery of the SMPTE ST 2110 suite of standards. These courses are designed to equip professionals with critical skills for the industry's transition to IP, covering aspects like timing, synchronization, essence handling, and network fundamentals. Registration is currently open for these upcoming courses.

15. Jun 8•The Edge Malaysia: Malaysia to Expand Online Harm Definition; Targets Graphic Content, AI Detection

    Malaysian Communications Minister Datuk Fahmi Fadzil is seeking to expand the definition of online harm to include graphic content like accident footage, citing social media platforms' failure to detect and remove such posts. The government plans to review this alongside the Online Safety Committee and collaborate with social media platforms. The minister highlighted the challenge of AI technology detecting sensitive content in local languages and warned of legal action against platforms failing to regulate content.

16. Jun 8•The Straits Times: Global Push: Countries Ban or Restrict Social Media for Under-16s

    Countries including Australia, Denmark, and Malaysia are implementing new laws or considering legislation to significantly restrict social media access for children under 16, with some aiming for an outright ban. These global efforts, impacting platforms like TikTok, YouTube, and Instagram, are driven by mounting concerns over children's health, safety, and online privacy. Various approaches include age verification requirements and parental consent for minors.

17. Jun 8•Let's Data Science: China's AI Actors Qin Lingyue, Lin Xiyan Spark Likeness, IP Rights Backlash

    Chinese studios introduced AI-generated performers Qin Lingyue and Lin Xiyan, sparking public and regulatory concerns over likeness and portrait rights due to their resemblance to real celebrities. This controversy highlights increasing legal and regulatory scrutiny regarding synthetic media production, training data provenance, and intellectual property in content creation. With AI actors accounting for a growing share of short dramas, this signals coming legal friction for content creators and platforms.

18. Jun 8•The National Law Review: EC Clarifies AI Act Transparency for Deepfakes, Chatbots Before August 2026 Deadline

    The European Commission has published draft guidelines detailing the transparency obligations under Article 50 of the AI Act, covering deepfakes, interactive AI, and AI-generated text. These guidelines clarify rules for disclosure, marking of synthetic content, and strict editorial review requirements for AI-generated text related to public interest. Compliance for AI systems and disclosure practices is expected from August 2026, with potential penalties up to EUR 15 million or 3% of worldwide annual turnover for infringements.

19. Jun 8•Al Jazeera: Federal Judge Halts Trump's $100,000 H-1B Visa Fee, Citing Unlawful Tax

    A US federal judge struck down the $100,000 H-1B visa fee imposed by Donald Trump, ruling that it constituted an unauthorized tax. This decision reduces the cost for companies to hire skilled foreign workers, impacting talent acquisition across various tech-dependent industries, including streaming.

20. Jun 8•Let's Data Science: UK Government Mandates Device-Level Nudity Blocking for Tech Firms

    The UK government has ordered tech firms, including Apple and Google, to implement device-level controls to block child nude images within three months, with potential legislation, fines, and criminal liability for non-compliance. This regulatory action will require product, privacy, and engineering teams to develop on-device detection and age verification systems while addressing technical and privacy trade-offs. The rules apply to both existing and newly sold smartphones and tablets, impacting operating system providers and parts of the supply chain.

21. Jun 8•law360: EU to Issue Monthly DSA Actions Against Major Digital Platforms

    Large digital platforms, including TikTok, Meta Platforms, and X, are facing monthly enforcement actions by the European Commission under the Digital Services Act (DSA). These actions concern various alleged infringements, including issues with content moderation, transparency, and risk assessment and mitigation. The Commission has already issued 13 preliminary findings against several major platforms.

22. Jun 8•Mayer_Brown: Mayer Brown Bolsters Privacy Practice with Key Litigator Larissa Lee in Salt Lake City

    Larissa Lee has joined Mayer Brown's Litigation & Dispute Resolution practice in Salt Lake City as a partner, specializing in data privacy, internet, and consumer class action matters. Her expertise includes emerging tech laws, minor safety, and privacy, which are increasingly relevant for streaming companies. This move strengthens Mayer Brown's capability to advise tech companies on navigating the complex and growing regulatory landscape.

23. Jun 8•circleid: AI Giants Drive Internet Fragmentation, Bypassing Traditional Governance

    The rise of AI is driving hyper-corporations to vertically integrate internet infrastructure, bypassing traditional content delivery models and reshaping global internet governance. This shift involves direct compute orchestration, semantic addressing systems replacing DNS, and physical isolation of transmission layers via proprietary fiber networks. The trend threatens to fragment the internet into 'Splinternet' ecosystems controlled by AI giants and geopolitical blocs.

24. Jun 8•Cord Cutters News: FCC Reviews TV Parental Guidelines for Gender Identity Content, Streaming Applicability

    The FCC's Media Bureau is reviewing the TV Parental Guidelines system to assess its modern relevance, particularly concerning content involving gender identity themes, and its application across broadcast, cable, and streaming platforms. This initiative seeks public input on potential updates to enhance transparency in the ratings process but does not propose government-imposed content restrictions. The review reflects ongoing debates about media content and family values in an evolving media landscape.

25. Jun 8•Cord Cutters News: FCC Eyes Mandating Emergency Alerts on Netflix, Hulu, Other Streaming Services

    The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is reviewing emergency alerting protocols to consider mandating that streaming services like Netflix integrate location-based emergency notifications. This push aims to modernize public safety infrastructure as traditional TV viewing declines and shift responsibility to streaming platforms. The move faces technical and practical challenges from industry representatives, but advocates stress the public safety implications.

26. Jun 8•4rfv: NAB Launches 'AirTime' Podcast for Local Broadcast Policy Insights

    The National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) has launched a new weekly podcast called "AirTime" to provide updates and insights on legislative and regulatory developments affecting local television and radio broadcasters. The podcast aims to connect real-world impacts to policy decisions in Washington and will cover topics like keeping live sports on broadcast TV. The debut episode features insights on sports rights and the importance of free over-the-air availability.

27. Jun 8•TheDesk.net: FCC Proposes Cybersecurity Mandates for EAS, Eyes NextGen TV Integration

    The FCC is proposing new cybersecurity mandates for the Emergency Alert System (EAS) to enhance its resilience against hacking and unauthorized transmissions. These requirements include stronger passwords, prompt software updates, and network protections for EAS equipment used by broadcasters and content distributors, particularly as the industry transitions to NextGen TV. The proposal aims to protect national emergency communications systems from cyberattacks and improve their long-term reliability following several incidents of compromised alerting systems.

28. Jun 8•Fierce Network: Huawei RICO Trial Set for September After Charge Streamlining

    Huawei faces a criminal trial in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York on charges of sanction evasion, racketeering, and trade-secret theft. The outcome of this trial, which begins in 92 days, could significantly influence global technology policy regarding Huawei and its equipment.

29. Jun 8•Cato Institute: FCC 'Public Interest' Inquiry Raises Regulatory Uncertainty for Telecom

    The FCC has issued a Notice of Inquiry to define the "public interest" standard in the Communications Act of 1934 for modern media, a move that raises concerns about potential regulatory expansion and uncertainty in telecommunications. Critics argue that the vague standard historically grants the agency excessive discretion, leading to political capture and instability for market participants. The article suggests that Congress should provide clearer mandates to prevent government overreach.

30. Jun 8•Radio & Television Business Report: NY Legislation Targets AI 'Stealth Crawlers' Scraping News Content

    New York State has passed legislation that prohibits AI bots from disguising their identities to scrape news content from station websites. This bill creates a private right of action for broadcast and news organizations to enforce the requirement, aiming to protect content from unauthorized AI training and reduce server costs from stealth crawlers. The legislation awaits the governor's signature.

31. Jun 8•NewscastStudio: ATSC 3.0 DRM Fails Emergency Alerts Without Internet

    Weigel Broadcasting's ATSC 3.0 tests revealed that Emergency Alert System (EAS) messages failed to appear on DRM-encrypted channels when the converter boxes were disconnected from the internet, unlike ATSC 1.0. This critical finding was presented to the FCC, highlighting a public safety concern regarding ATSC 3.0's internet dependency for DRM-encrypted content. Weigel proposed that the FCC mandate a 'Broadcast PLP' within ATSC 3.0 transmissions for free, internet-independent video and EAS alerts.

32. Jun 8•Canary: SAG-AFTRA AI Protections Set Benchmark for UK Negotiations

    Equity, the UK performing arts and entertainment union, congratulated SAG-AFTRA on ratifying a new agreement that includes stronger AI protections for workers. Equity is now pushing PACT (Producers Alliance for Film and TV) to adopt these global minimum AI standards for UK performers in ongoing negotiations. The SAG-AFTRA agreement sets a precedent for explicit protections around digital replicas, consent, data security, and favoring human performances.

33. Jun 8•Communications Today: India's TRAI Proposes Internet TV Regulation, Challenging OTT Light-Touch Status

    India's TRAI is exploring a regulatory framework for internet-based television services, including FAST channels, which could significantly impact the economics and obligations for telecom operators and OTT platforms. This initiative aims to address the convergence of traditional broadcasting and internet services, where linear TV increasingly functions as a data service over broadband. The framework could redefine carriage deals, CDN arrangements, and content monetization for streaming services, challenging the current light-touch regulation for OTT players.

34. Jun 8•Express: UK evaluates broadening TV licence fee to include streaming-only households

    The UK Department for Culture Media and Sport (DCMS) is considering extending the television licence fee to households that primarily use subscription streaming services, as part of discussions regarding the future funding of the BBC. Concurrently, the government is also keeping an open mind about new concessions for the existing TV licence, responding to public petitions for free licenses for all pensioners. This move aims to align the funding model with evolving content consumption habits where streaming increasingly replaces traditional linear television.

35. Jun 8•The Sunday Guardian: Madras High Court upholds defamation award against Sun TV Network

    Madras High Court upheld a ₹10.01 lakh defamation award against Sun TV after nearly 30 years, ruling the broadcaster failed to verify unverified allegations made in a 1996 interview. The court emphasized the broadcaster's editorial control and duty to verify content before airing and dismissed Sun TV's appeal. This decision reinforces the principle of editorial accountability in broadcasting.

36. Jun 8•TechRadar: Apple Removes Russia's MAX Streaming App Over UK Sanctions Compliance

    Apple has removed the state-backed streaming service MAX and other apps owned by VK Company from its App Store to comply with UK government sanctions against Russia. This action impacts digital tools available to Russian users and follows previous moves by Apple to restrict services in the country. Existing users can still access the apps, but future updates are uncertain.

37. Jun 8•Morning Star: Equity Wales Secures AI Protections and Pay Increase for S4C Productions

    Equity members in Wales have approved a new agreement with Teledwyr Annibynnol Cymru (TAC) for productions commissioned by the Welsh language broadcaster S4C. This deal sets new minimum pay rates and includes significant protections concerning the use of artificial intelligence in television production, requiring informed consent for the use of performers' likenesses and voices. The agreement, effective until December 2027, also includes a 7.5% increase in minimum fees from July 2025.

38. Jun 8•TV News Check: FCC Urged to Modernize vMVPD Retransmission Rules Amidst Local News Strain

    The article highlights the decade-old unresolved issue of vMVPD retransmission compensation and its impact on local news affiliates' negotiating power, urging the FCC to modernize regulations. It discusses how networks negotiate deals for affiliates, creating structural conflicts of interest and potentially undermining the financial foundation of local broadcasting as audience and ad dollars shift to streaming. The piece suggests that the current FCC administration may be uniquely positioned to address this regulatory impasse, emphasizing the risk of further weakening local broadcasters during the transition from QAM to IP-based delivery.

39. Jun 8•Sportsvideo: SMPTE to Offer Summer Courses on IP Networking and ST 2110 Implementation

    SMPTE announced its summer 2026 education lineup, including courses and a 13-week boot camp, focused on IP networking and SMPTE ST 2110 for media professionals. These programs, which start June 11, aim to provide practical training for industry-wide migration to IP-based workflows and ST 2110 implementation. The curriculum covers foundational IP networking, ST 2110 specifics, and includes hands-on lab experience with support from various technology vendors.

40. Jun 8•Indian Advertising Media & Marketing News – exchange4media: India's MIB Directs BARC: No TRP Fees for News Channels During Blackout

    India's Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB) has directed the Broadcast Audience Research Council (BARC) to cease charging news broadcasters for subscription fees during an ongoing TRP (Television Rating Point) blackout period. This intervention highlights increasing governmental involvement in BARC's operational and commercial functions, affecting audience measurement and advertising revenue for news channels. The directive comes amidst the extension of news ratings suspension and an ongoing overhaul of India's TV audience measurement framework, including a legal dispute over excluding "landing page" viewership from ratings.

41. Jun 8•nationthailand: Thailand's NBTC Maps Digital TV Future Post-2029 Amid Industry Pressure

    Thailand's National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC) is developing a roadmap for the future of digital TV post-2029, addressing expiring licenses and the regulation of OTT services. The plan focuses on adapting broadcasting to a multi-platform environment, promoting fair competition, and strengthening broadcasting infrastructure amidst evolving viewing habits. This initiative follows criticism regarding the NBTC's pace in providing certainty for the industry.

42. Jun 8•Advanced-television: Portugal Fines Telcos €13.3M for Colluding on TV Ad Sales via Playce Platform

    The Portuguese Competition Authority (AdC) has fined telecom operators Meo, Nos, Vodafone, and consulting firm Accenture €13.3 million for colluding on advertising through the Playce platform. This anti-competitive agreement standardized ad pricing and made it harder for customers to switch operators. Vodafone and Nos plan to contest the ruling, while one of the fined companies chose to pay the fine.

43. Jun 7•Felix: W3C Drafts Green Web Guidelines, Imperial & Edinburgh Pilots Show CO2 Reductions

    The World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) published draft Web Sustainability Guidelines (WSG) to address the environmental impact of digital products, moving beyond just technology to include business and social aspects for sustainability. Imperial College London and the University of Edinburgh are adopting these guidelines, demonstrating significant CO2 savings by guiding content editors on sustainable digital content practices. The article highlights the relevance of web sustainability principles for emissions reductions given the growing demand for digital services, including AI.

44. Jun 7•TechRadar: New York Eyes First Major State-Level Data Center Moratorium

    New York State is considering a temporary ban on large-scale data centers to study their impact on energy grids and emissions. This legislative proposal aims to curb the energy demands of these facilities, particularly due to AI and cryptocurrency, as the state works towards its climate goals. If passed, it would be the first formal attempt by a US state to restrict data center expansion based on environmental capacity.

45. Jun 7•Newsonair: India's Minister Vaishnaw Calls for Stricter OTT and Social Media Laws

    Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw has called for stricter laws on social media and OTT platforms in India due to concerns over vulgar content, advocating for further strengthening existing regulations. The government has already blocked 18 OTT platforms for obscene content under the IT Rules, 2021, which provide a Code of Ethics and age-based content classification requirements.

46. Jun 7•TelecommNet: Dr. Tal Lavian Offers Streaming Media Expert Witness Services for Patent Disputes

    Dr. Tal Lavian, a telecommunications and internet expert, offers consulting services for streaming media patent disputes, specializing in protocols like H.323, SIP, RTP, adaptive bitrate streaming, codecs (H.264, H.265, AV1, VP9), and CDN architectures. His extensive background includes a Ph.D. from UC Berkeley, nearly 20 years of research and lecturing there, and serving as Principal Scientist at Nortel Networks and a DARPA Principal Investigator. Dr. Lavian has over 120 patents and has been retained in over 90 legal cases involving major streaming media companies.

47. Jun 6•South China Morning Post: Singapore Orders YouTube, Facebook, X to Block 14 Posts Targeting Indian Community

    Singapore has ordered social media platforms YouTube, Facebook, and X to block 14 posts targeting the Indian community under the Online Criminal Harms Act. The Ministry of Home Affairs stated that the content, likely originating from a China-based platform, aimed to undermine Singapore's multiculturalism. This action highlights governments' increasing digital content moderation and technology companies' responsibility.

48. Jun 6•Msn: DirecTV-Scripps Retransmission Dispute Blocks 50+ Stations in 36 Markets

    DirecTV and Scripps Local Media are engaged in a programming blackout dispute affecting over 50 stations in 36 U.S. markets due to disagreements over retransmission fees. The conflict highlights ongoing challenges in content distribution and pricing within the media industry, with each company blaming the other for the impasse and its impact on viewers.

49. Jun 6•News18: India's New TV Rating Policy 2026 Integrates OTT, Expands Measurement

    BARC India measures Television Rating Points (TRP) in India, using BAR-O-Meters in panel homes. The new TV Rating Policy 2026 will expand measurement to 120,000 homes and integrate TV and OTT data, affecting advertising and programming decisions for streaming professionals. This reinvention aims to reflect modern content consumption habits across traditional TV and digital platforms.

50. Jun 6•YouTube: DOJ Scrutiny Mounts for "Royalty-Free" Tech Standards Like AV1

    Via Licensing Alliance President Kevin Mack discusses the growing regulatory scrutiny, led by the DOJ, on royalty-free tech standards like AV1, highlighting potential anti-competitive effects. He argues that modern, complex technology inevitably builds upon prior patented research, making truly "royalty-free" solutions unrealistic and necessitating structured licensing environments.