TO BE PUBLISHED February 2026
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Format: DOWNLOADABLE PDF
This conference examine next steps for public service media in the UK as the Media Act 2024 comes into force and Ofcom prepares key regulatory decisions.
It will bring stakeholders and policymakers together to assess key issues relating to changes being introduced under phased implementation of the Media Act 2024. Attendees will consider policy and regulatory priorities, and implications for audiences, broadcasters and platforms in areas such as service delivery, commissioning, and audience access - including the prominence and discoverability of services across third-party platforms.
Drawing on findings from Ofcom’s Public Service Media Review, areas for discussion include the way forward for supporting PSBs, and the impact of trends such as shifts in production and commissioning models.
Delegates will also consider issues around funding and future priorities for the Corporation ahead of the BBC Charter Review. This includes developments in radio and audio, and news provision - particularly maintaining editorial standards and public trust.
The planned agenda will also examine broader issues of distribution and universality, including questions around the balance between digital terrestrial television and IP delivery, in the context of the Creative Industries Sector Plan and strategic options for supporting growth, skills, and regional infrastructure.
Overall, areas for discussion include:
- regulatory focus: Media Act implementation - timelines, obligations, and enforcement - Ofcom guidance and statutory instruments - recommendations from Ofcom’s Public Service Media Review
- service delivery and platforms: operational impacts on broadcast and digital services - implications for on planning, compliance, and access across formats
- news provision: sustainability of local and global news under revised rules - balance between BBC and commercial roles - oversight of factual standards and representation
- access and visibility:
- platform obligations for prominence and discoverability - designation and compliance on connected TVs, smart devices, and voice assistants
- commercial terms and visibility on third-party platforms such as video-sharing services - accessibility requirements for VoD services - implications for audience trust and reach
- commissioning and competition:
- Channel 4’s in-house shift - access to commissions for independents
- options for addressing financial pressures facing the production sector - options for regulation to protect fair access and independence in commissioning
- updated quota framework across linear and on-demand services - implications for regional representation and independent production
- public funding and governance:
- fiscal implications of the Spending Review - licence fee debate and public engagement - BBC remit, strategy, and World Service delivery - considerations for the Charter Review
- radio and audio: expansion of DAB+ services - licensing and rural access - regulation of digital-only and smart speaker content
- listed events: updating the regime for digital platforms - ensuring public access to national moments across linear and on-demand services
- strategic outlook:
- the future of public service media in the context of the Creative Industries Sector Plan and wider industrial strategy
- support for regional skills and infrastructure - strategic pathways for collaboration to compete globally while delivering public purpose
- editorial standards and trust: public confidence, impartiality, and standards following recent editorial controversies - implications for trusted journalism, BBC governance, and regulatory oversight
- future distribution and universality: options for securing universal access and digital inclusion - balancing affordability, access, and the long-term distribution model
