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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
The NFL declined to have Commissioner Roger Goodell testify before the House Judiciary Committee regarding the Sports Broadcasting Act of 1961, which grants sports leagues antitrust exemptions, and its streaming deals. The league asserts that its streaming strategy expands reach and does not detract from traditional broadcast television, amidst increasing scrutiny from Congress, the DOJ, and the FCC concerning implications for competition and access to live sports.
Gardai, in coordination with Europol's "Operation Kratos 2," seized electronic devices in Ireland as part of an international crackdown on illegal IPTV streaming services. The operation, running from September 2025 to April 2026, resulted in 29 arrests, the dismantling of nine criminal networks, and the removal of over 27,000 illegal streaming URLs across Europe. This initiative targeted complex criminal enterprises profiting from unauthorized distribution of copyrighted content, exposing users to cyber risks.
China Telecom and ZTE Corp. authors have submitted an IETF internet-draft outlining requirements and problems for real-time monitoring of network congestion-induced packet loss. The document discusses challenges with existing measurement techniques for critical aspects like 5G, eMBB, uRLLC, and AI training, emphasizing the need for accurate and scalable solutions to maintain QOS and QOE in future networks. It highlights the difficulties in distinguishing congestion-induced loss from other loss types, capturing short-lived microbursts, and accurately identifying affected traffic flows.
SMPTE is considering formalizing the Media Exchange Layer (MXL), an open-source technology developed under the Linux Foundation, highlighting the tension between rapid open-source development and traditional standardization processes. MXL addresses how software applications on shared compute infrastructure exchange media, complementing ST 2110 for media transport. This move could impact industry interoperability as the Dynamic Media Facility model evolves.
SMPTE announced it will host its annual Media Technology Summit from November 16-19, 2026, at the Pasadena Convention Center. This peer-reviewed, non-commercial conference focuses on media innovations, solutions, and technologies. The event attracts C-suite executives and offers programming, exhibits, and networking opportunities.
The IETF's Internet Engineering Steering Group (IESG) telechat reviewed several draft Proposed Standards, including "Attestation Event Stream Subscription" and "A YANG Data Model for Virtual Router Redundancy Protocol (VRRP)". These drafts address advancements in networking protocols and device management, which have implications for streaming video infrastructure. The IESG is deliberating on their publication as Proposed Standards.
3GPP CTP (Common Transport Protocol) leadership provided an update on Release 19 stability, 5G Advanced developments, and ongoing studies for 6G, with a focus on critical communications. Discussions included protocol enhancements for mission-critical services and emergency call robustness, as well as the integration of AI protocols into future 6G systems. The presentation covered upcoming plenary sessions in Singapore and the timeline for 6G study completion.
Technicolor's Advanced HDR unit has joined the Pearl TV Converter Box Programme, an initiative to standardize and bring more affordable ATSC 3.0 set-top boxes to the U.S. market. This membership positions Technicolor to deliver adaptors and influence the next-generation digital TV standard. The program aims to accelerate the adoption of ATSC 3.0 in the US.
The article summarizes recent intellectual property licensing activity from May 22-June 4, highlighting deals driven by generative AI and standard essential patents (SEPs). Key transactions included an AI agreement between Spotify and Universal Music Group, the expansion of SEP licensing programs by Sisvel and Avanci, and Fortress Investment Group's acquisition of IPValue.
The European Commission has unveiled new measures aimed at strengthening the continent's digital sovereignty. This initiative seeks to reduce the EU's reliance on the US for technology. The package is designed to give the EU more control over its digital infrastructure and supply chains.
The Tokyo District Court has released new guidelines and mediation procedures for Standard Essential Patent (SEP) disputes, aiming to provide a model for resolving global FRAND licensing disagreements. This development contrasts with earlier European approaches and seeks to facilitate consensus on licensing fees for global SEP portfolios. The guidelines and mediation process were influenced by the Pantech v. Google case, where Google was deemed an 'unwilling licensee' for failing to disclose sales volumes.
SIIA and a coalition of technology organizations are supporting H.R. 8413, the SECURE Data Act, which aims to establish a unified national privacy framework in the United States. This federal standard is intended to replace the existing patchwork of state privacy laws, reducing compliance complexities for businesses, including those in the streaming sector. The coalition believes this approach will foster both consumer privacy protections and continued innovation.
Via Licensing Alliance has divested its HEVC patent pool to Access Advance to alleviate market fragmentation and operational inefficiencies in licensing. This consolidation aims to streamline the licensing process, benefiting both innovators and commercial implementers in the streaming industry. The move reflects a strategy to reduce transactional friction and uncertainty caused by multiple patent pools for the same technology standard.
ITEP.org reports that US states could raise $16 billion to $27 billion annually by ending sales tax exemptions for advertising, primarily impacting major digital ad platforms like Alphabet, Meta, and Amazon. This policy shift addresses an inconsistency where streaming subscriptions are taxed but ad-supported content, including services from Netflix and TikTok, is often exempt. Several states, including Maryland, Washington, and Utah, have already implemented or are planning such taxes.
Connecticut has enacted Public Act No. 26-64, a new data broker law taking effect in October 2026, which introduces significant compliance obligations for data brokers, targeted advertising, and algorithmic pricing. Notably for streaming, the law extends FCC loudness rules to streaming video services, requiring commercial advertisements to not be louder than accompanying video content starting July 1, 2027. This brings streaming platforms under a regulatory framework previously applied to traditional broadcast media.
The Rocky Mountain SMPTE chapter is hosting a social mixer for SMPTE Standards Committee attendees on June 8, sponsored by Key Code Media. This event provides streaming professionals an opportunity to engage with the technical initiatives and ongoing standards-development process from the Standards Community. Attendees can take a guided tour of the Mountain Media Center.
A new paper by Jeff Howard and Beatriz Kira, discussed in this YouTube video, proposes that social media platforms should prioritize demoting rather than removing problematic content, guided by international human rights law. This framework suggests implications for content moderation strategies and platform responsibilities. The discussion covers how this approach could affect various types of content, from misinformation to content promoting self-harm.
The European Commission has registered M-010002 in its audiovisual collection. This indicates a new item of interest or a formal complaint within the EU's audiovisual regulatory framework.
A federal court in New Jersey ruled that adult streaming performers are independent contractors under the federal FLSA, but employees under New Jersey's stricter ABC test. The decision highlights the divergent worker classification challenges for gig economy companies operating across states with different labor laws, specifically impacting online digital platforms that aggregate and monetize content creators. This case, _Tomasello v. ICF Technology Inc._, failed to satisfy the "outside of all places of business" clause of New Jersey's ABC test due to the platform acting as a "proprietary workplace."
ATIS released a white paper outlining a roadmap to accelerate North American 5G Standalone (SA) deployment, which has been slower than expected due to spectrum issues and architectural choices. The paper focuses on modernizing, monetizing, and integrating 5G SA for enterprise services, emphasizing intent-based automation and AI-driven modernization. This initiative aims to guide the ecosystem in adopting 5G SA as a scalable platform for differentiated services.
Bluetooth has outlined its roadmap to enhance performance and innovation, focusing on higher data throughput, high-resolution and lossless audio, and operation in new spectrum bands like 5 and 6 GHz. These advancements are expected to support new use cases and improve future connectivity for various applications, including streaming video.
InterDigital will participate in the EuCNC & 6G Summit, demonstrating 6G Collaborative Sensing and leading discussions on Integrated Sensing and Communication (ISAC) and Agentic AI. This highlights advancements in 6G research and its potential impact on future wireless infrastructure and communication standards. InterDigital engineers will moderate and present on topics like architectural transformations towards 6G, the role of AI Agents, and the challenges and opportunities for academic contributions to standardization efforts.
China's Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) is launching pilot programs in select regions to allow wholly foreign-owned enterprises to operate value-added telecom services, including Internet data centers, content delivery networks, and cloud computing services. This move eliminates a 50% foreign ownership cap, aiming to attract new capital and counter US sanctions on high-end chip imports and cloud technologies. The initiative seeks to encourage competition, innovation, and digital infrastructure growth within China's technology sector.
The European Commission has introduced a new strategy aimed at reducing Europe's reliance on US and Chinese technology across AI, cloud computing, and semiconductors. This initiative seeks to boost digital sovereignty, ensure control over critical infrastructure, and includes proposals for stricter data rules and a new Cloud and AI Development Act. The EU is also pursuing Chips Act 2.0 to strengthen domestic semiconductor production and access.
SAG-AFTRA members have overwhelmingly ratified the 2026 TV/Theatrical Agreement with the AMPTP, with 91.42% approval. The new contract, effective July 1, 2026, strengthens AI protections to restrict the use of synthetics and digital replicas, safeguarding human performance.
Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont signed Senate Bill 5 into law, establishing a comprehensive framework for AI oversight that includes consumer disclosures, employment, and synthetic media. The bill’s broad definition of AI will require technology companies and businesses using AI tools across various operations to update their inventory and governance for compliance. Key provisions, including those for AI companions and AI-generated media provenance, have staggered effective dates from October 2026 to October 2027.
New York has enacted two new AI regulations requiring disclosures for AI-generated performers in advertisements and restricting unauthorized AI replicas of deceased individuals. These laws, which became effective recently, aim to address the increasing use of AI in campaign creation by advertisers. Advertisers will need to integrate disclosure, consent, and rights-management into their creative workflows to avoid fines.
Australia is proposing new Digital Duty of Care laws that would require online platforms to proactively prevent foreseeable harms by examining how their systems are designed, operated, and monetized. This framework moves beyond reactive content moderation towards systemic accountability, potentially impacting streaming services, their design, and operational models. The proposal includes recommendations for a national platform observatory to monitor algorithmic systems.
New York State lawmakers have passed a one-year moratorium on new large data centers, awaiting Governor Kathy Hochul's signature. This legislative action, aimed at assessing environmental and energy price impacts, could affect future streaming infrastructure development in the state. If signed, New York would be the first state to implement such a ban.
Connecticut's Governor Ned Lamont signed the CTDPA Amendments into law, introducing data broker registration, banning precise geolocation data sales, and regulating "surveillance pricing." These changes, effective October 2026 and January 2027, will impact how data is handled and priced, particularly for businesses operating within Connecticut.
Iran's prolonged internet blackout highlights the urgent need for direct-to-cell (D2C) connectivity, a technology poised for a 2027 release. D2C aims to bypass state-imposed internet shutdowns by allowing mobile phones to connect directly to satellites, avoiding ground terminals susceptible to confiscation. The article discusses the international regulatory hurdles and lobbying efforts from countries like China and Iran to control this technology, urging developers like Starlink to design D2C with user protection during shutdowns in mind.
U.S. broadcast stations are increasingly adopting High Dynamic Range (HDR) technology, including Advanced HDR by Technicolor, as part of their ATSC 3.0 NextGen TV upgrades. This initiative enhances the visual quality of free over-the-air broadcasts, particularly for live sports, by expanding contrast, brightness, and color range. The rollout of HDR is a key component of the broader NextGen TV standard implementation across the country.
India's Telecom Regulatory Authority (TRAI) is exploring formal regulations for internet-based television services, including FAST platforms, prompting significant pushback from digital industry groups and broadcasters. Opponents argue that existing IT rules sufficiently cover these services and that new regulations could lead to overlapping oversight and potentially require licensing for a wide array of online content providers, including OTT platforms and news websites with video sections. This move could significantly impact how streaming services operate and are regulated in India.
The CBS/CNET/LimeWire disputes revealed how courts evaluate inducement liability and DRM circumvention, emphasizing the evolving legal landscape for digital rights management. The rulings underscore the need for transparent distribution practices and robust record-keeping for streaming industry professionals. This article focuses on the policy lessons for future DRM enforcement and technology innovation.
Weigel Broadcasting met with FCC officials to express strong opposition to a mandatory transition to ATSC 3.0, arguing it would compromise free and simple TV service and harm consumers. The company advocates for maintaining ATSC 1.0 rules and implementing a "Broadcast PLP" to ensure free over-the-air television delivery. Weigel also raised concerns about Internet connectivity requirements for ATSC 3.0 DRM-encrypted channels potentially affecting EAS message delivery.
The EBU has announced the nominees for its 2026 Technology and Innovation Awards, recognizing advancements across various technical domains within the broadcast and streaming industry. Projects highlighted include SMPTE ST 2110 transformations, dynamic media facilities, AI-driven metadata, and software-defined live production. The awards celebrate innovations critical for efficiency and sustainability in streaming video.
Weigel Broadcasting is opposing a mandatory transition from ATSC 1.0 to ATSC 3.0, warning the FCC that it could increase costs for viewers and limit access to free broadcast TV. The broadcaster is advocating for maintained simulcasting rules and a dedicated 'Broadcast Physical Layer Pipe' within ATSC 3.0 to ensure free over-the-air service.
Arqiva, the UK's transmission network operator, has submitted a plan to modernize and maintain the Freeview broadcast TV service until the mid-2040s, proposing a 40% cost reduction by moving from six national multiplexes to three and upgrading to DVB-T2 technology. This proposal, part of the BBC Royal Charter Review, aims to counter government plans to phase out broadcast TV by demonstrating a cost-effective alternative that ensures continued universal access alongside streaming. Arqiva emphasizes the reliance of many households on aerial TV, the potential costs of forcing a switch to broadband for viewers, and the resilience of broadcast infrastructure during emergencies.
The Texas Attorney General sued Sony, Samsung, LG, Hisense, and TCL over alleged non-consensual user data collection via Automated Content Recognition (ACR) technology in Smart TVs. LG has reached a settlement requiring affirmative express consent for data processing, which could set a precedent for smart TV data privacy. The lawsuits allege that these companies sell user data to target ads and some are linked to the Chinese Communist Party.
