Committee publication · Correspondence · 3 June 2026
Letter from Ian Murray MP, Minister of Creative Industries, Media and Arts relating to Regulation of television selection services and electronic programme guides, 19 May 2026
Summary
Minister Ian Murray informs the Culture, Media and Sport Committee that the Department has laid two statutory instruments before Parliament on 19 May 2026: one designating television selection services subject to new prominence rules for public service broadcaster apps under the Media Act 2024, and another prescribing electronic programme guide regulations with extended implementation timelines.
Key findings
- Two statutory instruments laid: The Television Selection Services (Designation) Regulations 2026 and The Regulated Electronic Programme Guide (Prescribed Description and Transitional Arrangements) Regulations 2026
- The designation regulations implement the Media Act 2024's new prominence regime requiring designated TV platforms to carry and give prominence to public service broadcaster video-on-demand apps
- Designations follow Ofcom's final advice of 16 December 2025 and the Minister's confirmation on 24 February 2026 that he was minded to agree with Ofcom's recommendations
- EPG regulations include extended implementation timelines to allow appropriate time for licensing applications, representing a change from previously mentioned schedules
Tone
ProceduralTopics
broadcastingmedia-regulationpublic-service-mediadigital-platforms
Key actors
Ian Murray MP, Dame Caroline Dinenage MP, Ofcom, Department for Culture, Media and Sport, Public service broadcasters
Notable line
“This SI marks an important milestone in the implementation of the Media Act 2024 and concludes the Department's work on the designation of which television selection services are in-scope of the new prominence regime.”
Key Quotes
“… the Media Act 2024 introduced a new prominence regime into the Communications Act 2003 which will require particular TV platforms (referred to in the Act as "regulated television selection services") to carry and give appropriate prominence to designated …”
“Following further engagement with providers of electronic programme guides (EPGs), we have extended the original timelines previously mentioned for implementation to enable an appropriate amount of time for licensing applications to take place.”
Source · parliament.uk record ↗