The days of unregulated broadband Video-on-Demand (VoD) Internet TV services are coming to an end. Online TV-like setups, such as those run by the BBC ( iPlayer ), ITV ( ITV Player ) and BT Vision (i.e. those that make programmes available for members of the public to view at a time of their choice), will soon have to adhere to a new set of rules.

Under revised European (EU) law - the 'Audiovisual Media Services Directive', content on VOD services must be regulated from 19th December 2009. Such services are available through Virgin Media , BSkyB and BT Vision as well as through the Internet.

Ofcom proposes that VOD services are regulated by the industry body, the Association for Television On Demand (ATVOD), and that advertising included in those services, is regulated by the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA). BBC content will continue to be jointly regulated by the BBC Trust and Ofcom.


However other types of VOD programming will not be subject to Ofcom's Broadcasting Code: These include electronic versions of newspapers, private websites and un-moderated user generated material (e.g. YouTube). That is interesting because YouTube carries a lot of broadcaster TV content.

The consultation concludes on 26th October:
http://www.ofcom.org.uk/consult/condocs/vod/