Newest

Upcoming Events

Newest

Upcoming Events

1. Feb 24•TV[BE]urope: Ofcom to Police Streamers: Accessibility and News Rules

   The UK government is introducing enhanced Ofcom oversight for major video-on-demand platforms with more than 500,000 UK users, designating them as 'Tier 1' services subject to new standards on accuracy, impartiality, and protection from harmful content. A new accessibility code aligned with broadcast rules will require mainstream streaming services, including public service platforms like ITVX and Channel 4, to subtitle at least 80% of their catalogues, provide audio description for 10%, and signing for 5%. These measures implement the Media Act 2024 and aim to create a more level regulatory playing field between traditional broadcasters and on-demand services.

2. Feb 24•UK Government (GOV.UK): Big UK Streamers Must Hit New Accessibility Quotas

   The UK government is implementing provisions of the Media Act 2024 that bring the largest video-on-demand services under Ofcom regulation for accessibility, aligning them with traditional broadcasters. Major platforms including Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Disney+, ITVX and Channel 4’s VoD service will be required to meet minimum quotas for accessibility features, such as 80% of catalogues subtitled, 10% audio-described and 5% signed within four years. Ofcom will develop and consult on a new VoD accessibility code to enforce these rules, which aim to improve access for millions of UK viewers with hearing or sight impairments.

3. Feb 24•Broadcast: Ofcom Brings Netflix and Prime Under Broadcaster Rules

   UK subscription video-on-demand services such as Netflix and Prime Video are set to be brought under enhanced Ofcom regulation. These platforms will be required to comply with the same content standards and accessibility obligations that currently apply to traditional broadcasters.

4. Feb 18•Jones Day: EU Digital Networks Act: Pan‑EU Rules, Fiber Deadline, Interconnect Risk

   The European Commission has proposed the Digital Networks Act (DNA), a directly applicable EU regulation that consolidates multiple existing telecoms and connectivity rules, including elements of the EECC, Open Internet Regulation, and ePrivacy Directive, into a single harmonized framework. The draft introduces a single-passport authorization regime, EU-level spectrum and satellite authorizations, mandatory copper switch-off in favor of fiber by 2035, strengthened resilience and security obligations, and maintains open internet rules with new reporting duties. It also creates a voluntary conciliation mechanism for disputes between telecom operators and large content/cloud providers over interconnection and traffic-related issues.

5. Feb 17•Inside Global Tech (Covington): EU EMFA Forces Platforms to Host 'Media Declaration' Capability

   The European Commission has issued Guidelines on Article 18 of the European Media Freedom Act, detailing how very large online platforms covered by the Digital Services Act should implement a declaration functionality for media service providers. The guidelines specify technical and procedural requirements for this feature, including verification, transparency, and handling of AI-generated content, to ensure media outlets receive defined content-moderation safeguards. These rules will require affected platforms operating in the EU to adapt their account, moderation, and compliance workflows for professional media publishers.

6. Feb 16•YouTube: Canada broadcasters track BPR updates, emergency alerting, ATSC 3.0

   Kirk Nesbitt of the Canadian Association of Broadcasters (CAB) provided an annual technical coordinating committee update at CCBE 2025, detailing recent regulatory changes and ongoing consultations in Canada. Discussion included updates to broadcasting procedures (BPR10, BPR2, BPR3), emergency alerting guidelines, and the potential adoption of ATSC 3.0 in North America. Nesbitt also highlighted initiatives for improving metadata in car dashboards and the impact of these changes on Canadian broadcasters.

7. Feb 16•Advanced Television: One-Click Cancel: Dark Patterns Now Illegal

   The article outlines how updated US federal and state regulations, along with UK and EU scrutiny, are making complex streaming subscription cancellation flows and dark patterns illegal by 2026. It highlights the FTC’s updated Negative Option Rule, strengthened state Automatic Renewal Laws, and growing cross-border regulatory cooperation, all requiring that online cancellation be as simple as sign-up and that renewal terms be clearly disclosed. The piece also offers compliance-oriented design guidance for streaming services to reduce legal risk while managing churn.

8. Feb 13•Ted S.: CJEU to Decide If SVOD Is ‘Digital Content’ — Big Stakes

   The post discusses a pending case before the CJEU, referred by the Austrian Supreme Court, on whether SVOD subscriptions should be classified as 'digital content' or 'digital services' under EU consumer law. It explains that the classification affects consumers' right of withdrawal and legal certainty for streaming services, and notes that the authors advocate for SVOD to be treated as digital content. The piece references a detailed analysis published in Entertainment Law Review and mentions that the Advocate General’s Opinion is expected on 26 February.

9. Feb 11•Digital TV Europe: BEAD: States Keep $21B, NTIA Draws Lines on Terms

   The article reports that Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick affirmed states will retain access to their full BEAD broadband allocations, including remaining 'non-deployment' funds, in line with the 2021 infrastructure law, despite earlier suggestions unused funds might return to the U.S. Treasury. It also details ongoing uncertainty around how these funds can be used, the potential impact of President Trump's AI-related executive order on BEAD eligibility, and NTIA guidance rejecting SpaceX/Starlink contract riders that seek exemptions from BEAD performance requirements, with the possibility of re-bidding projects if SpaceX does not comply.

10. Feb 11•Broadcast and Cable Sat: US–India Deal Bars Tariffs on Cross‑Border Streaming

    India and the United States have agreed in digital trade talks to prohibit future Customs duties on 'electronic transmissions,' a category that includes cross-border streaming of video and music, software downloads, and other digital content. This bilateral commitment means that even if the WTO moratorium on such duties expires, subscription and pay-per-view streams between the two countries will not face border tariffs and will instead continue to be taxed under domestic regimes such as GST. The measure directly affects OTT and other streaming services operating between the US and India by providing clearer tax treatment for cross-border streams.

11. Feb 10•International Broadcasting Convention (IBC): Germany Forces Streamers to Reinvest 8% into Local Content

    Germany plans to require TV broadcasters and streaming platforms such as Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, and Disney+ to invest at least 8% of their German revenues into German-language and European productions, with exemptions from some rules for those investing over 12%. The reforms also mandate changes to rights ownership, moving away from work-for-hire models, and increase annual state film funding to €250 million. Industry group Vaunet criticized the move despite the government positioning it as a stimulus for jobs and creative output, and Germany joins other European markets that already impose local investment obligations on streamers.

12. Feb 4•JD Supra: Supreme Court Will Define VPPA Risk for Video Hosts

    The U.S. Supreme Court has agreed to hear Salazar v. Paramount Global to resolve a circuit split over who qualifies as a 'consumer' under the Video Privacy Protection Act (VPPA) in the context of digital services that host or embed video. The ruling will clarify whether VPPA protections and related class action exposure extend only to subscriptions centered on video services or to any subscription where users view video content, affecting websites, media companies, and streaming platforms that use pixels, cookies, and third-party analytics tied to video engagement.

13. Jan 31•MediaPolicy.ca: CanCon on the Table: Canada's Streaming Rules Face Trade Pressure

    The article discusses Canadian Heritage Minister Marc Miller’s more flexible stance toward U.S. demands in upcoming trade talks, including potential changes to Canada’s Online Streaming Act and Online News Act, while maintaining some non-negotiable cultural policy lines. It also outlines the federal government’s evolving approach to online harms legislation—covering social platforms and AI chatbots—and the political hurdles of passing such regulations in a minority Parliament.

14. Jan 29•Government of Canada: CRTC Forces Streamers to Pay, Protects Canadian Creativity

    CRTC Vice-Chair for Broadcasting Nathalie Théberge outlines how the regulator is modernizing Canada’s broadcasting framework under the Online Streaming Act, including integrating foreign online streaming services into the Canadian system and requiring base financial contributions estimated at $200 million annually for local news, French-language, and Indigenous content. She details recent decisions on accessibility requirements for online and on-demand services, an updated definition of Canadian audiovisual content that retains human creative control, and signals upcoming rulings on Canadian programming spend, distribution rules, and discoverability obligations for both traditional and online broadcasters.

15. Oct 17•TVBEurope: EBU backs open-source MXL for in-memory media exchange

    The European Broadcasting Union (EBU), in collaboration with broadcasters like CBC/Radio-Canada and the BBC, is spearheading the development of the Media eXchange Layer (MXL). This open-source SDK aims to revolutionize media exchange within facilities by enabling direct memory sharing between applications, reducing latency and resource consumption compared to current streaming technologies like ST 2110 or NDI. MXL's first code release is anticipated by Q4 of this year, with a joint task force (JT-DMF) formed with AMWA to address orchestration and other layers of the Dynamic Media Facility (DMF) project.

16. Oct 8•DEG: The Digital Entertainment Group: DEG honors 14 companies across 10 EnTech categories

    DEG presented its 5th annual EnTech Awards recognizing innovation in the digital entertainment supply chain, distributing honors across 14 companies in 10 categories. Richard Berger of MovieLabs was awarded the Hall of Fame prize. This event highlights technology advancements within the streaming ecosystem, particularly in standardization and workflow improvements.

17. Sep 11•Federal Trade Commission: FTC opens probe into seven AI companion chatbot makers

    The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has initiated an inquiry into seven companies that operate consumer-facing AI companion chatbots, issuing 6(b) orders to gather information. The inquiry focuses on how these firms measure, test, and monitor potential negative impacts of their AI technology, particularly regarding children and teenagers, and their compliance with the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act Rule.

18. Jul 31•Access Advance: Access Advance’s VDP Pool adds ByteDance, Tencent, Dolby

    Access Advance announced that several global technology companies, including ByteDance, Dolby, Kuaishou, MediaTek, OPPO, Philips, and Tencent, have joined its Video Distribution Patent (VDP) Pool. This pool offers a single licensing solution for essential patents covering HEVC, VVC, VP9, and AV1 codecs. Participants cited the pool's balanced framework, simplified licensing, and support for innovation as reasons for their adoption.

19. Apr 25•CableLabs: CableLabs certifies first DOCSIS 3.1+ device with four OFDM channels

    CableLabs announced the certification of the industry's initial DOCSIS 3.1+ device equipped with four orthogonal frequency-division multiplexing (OFDM) channels. This certification signifies a milestone in broadband technology development. The newly certified device supports advanced capabilities for cable internet services.

20. Feb 19•DTVKit: DVB-NIP and ATSC 3.0 push broadcast toward IP delivery

    DTVKit highlights DVB-NIP and ATSC 3.0 as IP-centric broadcast standards designed to modernize TV, enabling seamless video, interactive services, and 4K UHD across multiple devices. The standards aim to reduce operational costs for broadcasters and enhance viewer experience by future-proofing TV delivery against changing consumption patterns. ATSC 3.0 is already deployed in the U.S., South Korea, and Brazil, while DVB-NIP focuses on seamless video delivery for satellite and multicast applications.

21. Sep 11•DVB: DVB-I gains traction as broadcasters rethink TV distribution

    This DVB article discusses DVB-I as a standards-based solution for delivering linear and on-demand television over the internet, emphasizing its potential for broadcasters to maintain universal access and prominence in the streaming era. It explores DVB-I's use cases, including next-generation free-to-air experiences and its role in discussions about sunsetting DTT platforms in various European markets. The article also highlights regulatory considerations for DVB-I implementation and the importance of vendor support for its adoption.

22. Jul 30•CCPA -: Canada’s 1988 “cultural exemption” meets the streaming era

    The article argues that Canada’s long-standing “cultural exemption” language in trade agreements (originating in the 1988 Canada–U.S. Free Trade Agreement and carried into CUSMA) may not adequately cover digital production and on-demand streaming technologies. It highlights potential vulnerabilities in agreements like CPTPP—particularly around e-commerce and differing definitions of “broadcasting”—and suggests Canada seek updated, technology-neutral definitions or adopt UNESCO-based “cultural expressions” language in the upcoming CUSMA review. It cites recent Canadian policy measures affecting streamers (e.g., the Online Streaming Act’s revenue contribution requirements) and platforms involved in news distribution (Online News Act).

23. Feb 14•Harvard Business Review: For live sports, anti-piracy is a latency problem

    The article argues that live sports are particularly vulnerable to piracy because delayed takedowns reduce the effectiveness of post-hoc enforcement, citing estimates that 17 million viewers watched the Super Bowl via illegal streams and survey data indicating 35% of NFL fans regularly use pirate streams. It reviews evidence from court-ordered ISP-level website blocking in the UK (2012–2014) and later blocking waves in India (2019–2020) and Brazil (2021), reporting statistically significant increases in visits to paid legal streaming sites (e.g., 8% in the UK after broader blocking, 8.1% in India in 2019, and 5.2% in Brazil in 2021). The authors note limited direct research on live sports stream blocking specifically, but suggest broader, simultaneous blocking of multiple piracy sites is more effective than targeting single high-profile sites.

24. Aug 19•BTG Advaya: Indian High Courts keep using Ashok Kumar orders against piracy

    This article explains the concept of 'John Doe' or 'Ashok Kumar' orders in India, which are blanket cease and desist injunctions granted against unknown infringing parties, particularly for intellectual property violations. These orders are regularly issued by Indian High Courts to combat piracy, especially in the media industry to prevent unauthorized distribution of films and illegal broadcasts. The article highlights their importance in managing piracy of films and broadcasts by unidentified individuals or cable operators.

25. May 16•Wireless Research Center: North Carolina tests ATSC 3.0 for statewide public safety paging

    North Carolina's Wireless Research Center, Device Solutions, PBS North Carolina, and N.C. Department of Information Technology are developing a new statewide digital paging system, Paging Plus, for public safety using NextGen TV (ATSC 3.0) technology. This initiative, supported by a U.S. Department of Homeland Security grant, aims to upgrade traditional analog paging systems for first responders by leveraging the high-power broadcast signals of public television networks to provide improved coverage and capabilities like maps and videos.

26. Apr 5•CNBC: EU weighs limits on US clouds for sensitive government data

    The European Union is considering new regulations to restrict the use of US cloud platforms for processing sensitive government data, following concerns about US surveillance laws and potential data access issues. This move aims to enhance data sovereignty and the security of European government information.