Harry and Meghan row may put Netflix beneath Ofcom’s thumb a lot sooner

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Streaming companies like Netflix and Disney+ may quickly come beneath Ofcom’s jurisdiction, which means potential fines for breaches of broadcast code and the flexibility for viewers to register complaints about content material.

The long-mooted change may very well be hastened by a row over Netflix’s controversial Harry & Meghan documentary, which, in case you hadn’t observed, has upset some individuals of the Tory persuasion.

In line with a Telegraph report, the prime minister is now planning to “give the broadcasting watchdog the ability to tackle Netflix” for the primary time.

Proper now Netflix is powerless to research streaming companies which might be primarily based exterior the UK, with the watchdog telling scores of upset royalists it was “typically contacted by individuals who’ve seen one thing they discovered dangerous or offensive on a streaming service like Netflix”, however couldn’t do something about it.

If proposed laws is handed beneath the UK authorities’s proposed Media Invoice, then Ofcom would have the identical energy to high quality Netflix as much as £250,000 for “breaches of code” because it does broadcasters like BBC, ITV and Channel 4.

On this case Ofcom’s guidelines state “factual programmes or gadgets or portrayals of factual issues should not materially mislead the viewers.” That, after all, would have to be confirmed earlier than any high quality may very well be levied towards the US streaming large. Nevertheless, loads of critics have accused the present’s trailer of being intentionally deceptive.

The Telegraph report factors out the furore over a scene that was supposed to indicate the ex-Royals being hounded by the media, that turned out to be of a Harry Potter premiere neither had been current for. One other shot supposedly displaying photographers attempting to get a shot had been truly chasing Katie Value.

The Media Invoice may now be delivered to the Home of Commons by the Tradition Secretary subsequent yr, in accordance with the report, however contemplating the Normal Election is round a yr away, the invoice won’t make it in time.

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