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Netflix and Disney+ must comply with new government rules

ended 25. February 2026

Streaming platforms such as Netflix, Amazon Prime Video and Disney+, and public service broadcasters like ITVX and Channel 4, will now be required to follow similar Ofcom accessibility requirements to those currently in place for traditional broadcasters, the government has announced.

Ministers will legislate to create a new Video-on-demand (VoD) accessibility code, enforced by Ofcom, which will set minimum requirements for accessibility features. Mainstream streaming services will need to ensure that at least 80% of their total catalogue is subtitled, 10% is audio-described, and 5% is signed.

This will benefit Britain’s estimated 18 million people who are deaf, have hearing loss or tinnitus and 350,000 who are blind or partially sighted so that they can better enjoy world-class content on-demand.

Media Minister Ian Murray said: "With UK audiences increasingly favouring on-demand platforms over live TV, we want to ensure that no one is left behind, and that everyone can enjoy the huge range of content available on video-on-demand services.

“Implementing a new Ofcom-regulated accessibility code for our largest video-on-demand services will give people with disabilities impacting their sight or hearing peace of mind that they’ll be able to stream all their favourite films and TV shows long into the future.”

  • What is your reaction to the new legislation?
  • How important is it? 
  • Are you surprised these streaming services were not already governed by law around this? 

Responses this morning.

1 responses from the Newspage community

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Editor
Stephen Perkins
Managing Director at Yellow Brick Mortgages
Whilst fully in favour of making all programming more accessible and having all these options available, if there is strict targets and penalties on the table it could lead to streamers taking content off completely to affect the percentages which would be far from ideal.