Netflix, Amazon’s Prime Video and Disney+ are to come under “enhanced regulation” by the UK media regulator, Ofcom, making the streaming giants subject to the same scrutiny as traditional broadcasters such as the BBC and ITV.

Under the new regulatory regime, which will also apply to public service broadcaster (PSB) video-on-demand services such as ITVX and Channel 4, the platforms will have to adhere to regulations relating to accurate and impartial news and protecting audiences from harmful and offensive material.

Ofcom will have the power to accept and investigate complaints from viewers about content on streaming platforms, and to impose fines of up to £250,000, or 5% of revenue generated in the UK, for each breach.

“By bringing the most popular video-on-demand services under enhanced regulation by Ofcom, we are strengthening protections for audiences, creating a level playing field for industry and supporting our vibrant media sector,” said Lisa Nandy, the culture secretary.

Until now, streaming services have not been subject to the same level of regulation under the UK broadcasting code as traditional, licensed TV channels.

Netflix has not been regulated in the UK at all; because its European headquarters are in Amsterdam, it has come under Dutch laws.

The UK government said the new regulations, being implemented as part of the Media Act 2024, will apply to video-on-demand services that have more than 500,000 UK viewers.

Two-thirds of UK households subscribe to at least one of the three biggest streaming services – Netflix, Prime Video or Disney+ – with 85% of people using an on-demand service each month, compared with 67% who watch live TV, the government said.

“We know that the way audiences watch TV has fundamentally changed,” said Nandy. “Millions now choose to watch content on video-on-demand platforms alongside or, in the case of many young people, instead of traditional TV.”