Coimisiún na Meán publishes new draft Code and Rules for Video On-Demand services

After consultation period, finalised rules will see Video-On-Demand services regulated for the first time

***Extended deadline – the Commission has agreed a new deadline submission of Tuesday, 20th of August 2024***

Coimisiún na Meán has today (04.07.24) published a new draft Audiovisual On-Demand Media (Video-on-demand) Service Code and new draft Rules.

Once finalised, Coimisiún na Meán will apply the Code and Rules to Video-on-demand service providers with their EU Headquarters in Ireland.

The draft Code introduces obligations on Video-on-demand service providers to restrict some content from their catalogues, including:

• Anything which may reasonably be regarded as public provocation to commit a terrorist offence
• Anything which may reasonably be regarded as likely to incite violence or hatred against a group, or a member of a group based on their characteristics including sex, race, colour, disability, sexual orientation of membership of a national minority

Providers will also be required to take steps to protect children from content which may impair their physical, mental or moral development, this can include:

• Providing on-screen warnings at the beginning of programmes for content which may be harmful to children
• Taking appropriate measures to ensure that content containing pornography or gratuitous violence will not be shown to children
• Provide for parental controls and age assurance to protect children from seeing harmful content

The draft Rules introduces obligations on Video-on-demand service providers to progressively make their programming accessible to people with disabilities.

Coimisiún na Meán Media Development Commissioner, Rónán Ó Domhnaill, said: “Once finalised, our new Code and Rules will for the first time allow for the statutory regulation of Video on-demand service providers based in Ireland. The Code will help efforts to ensure that people across Ireland can watch entertaining, informative and engaging programming on-demand, while ensuring that children do not access age-inappropriate programming. The Rules will ensure that every step is taken to ensure that programmes are accessible for people with disabilities and will oblige every audiovisual on-demand media service provider based in Ireland to establish an Accessibility Action Plan.”

“The Code and Rules are also a key step for the transposition of the Audiovisual Media Services Directive in Ireland.”

The draft Audiovisual On-Demand Media (Video-on-demand) Service Code and Rules are currently open for public consultation. The closing date for submissions is Tuesday the 6^th August 2024.

ENDS

Consultation Documents

• Draft Media Service Code and Media Service Rules (PDF)
• Draft Media Service Code and Media Service Rules (Word)
• Draft Media Service Code and Media Service Rules (ISL)
• Consultation Response Form (Word)
• Consultation Document (PDF)
• Consultation Document (Word)
• Consultation Document (ISL)