CMF and the Media Bill 2023-24
The Media Act 2024 received Royal Assent on 24 May 2024, during the wash-up period prior to the prorogation of Parliament on the same day.
Throughout the debates on the Bill CMF briefings – products of the Children’s Media Summit process – were used by both Labour and LibDem representatives to formulate amendments which would have had the effect of avoiding the Bill’s delay, as it was long-awaited and much -needed by the public service broadcasters. But the amendments were attempts to create a “coda” to the Bill which would ensure rapid investigation of the complex question of how to regulate to ensure prominence for public service content on the new shared video platforms such as YouTube or TikTok, and how funding can be enhanced for a children’s media production sector “on its knees” as broadcasters pull back from commissioning in the face of the massive loss of audience and advertising revenue.
Following a briefing from the Children’s Media Foundation, the Shadow Culture Secretary Thangam Debbonnaire outlined her concerns about the children’s audience in her opening speech on the Bill in November 2023. She said that Bill was ineffective in addressing the issues caused by the huge proportion of the audience aged seven and over that has deserted linear broadcasting.
In the Commons Committee Stage on 12th December 2023, Shadow Media Minister Stephanie Peacock tabled an amendment requiring an urgent review of the children’s media situation.
On 28th February 2024, in the Second Reading in the House of Lords, Baroness Benjamin spoke about the special conditions in the children’s market which the Media Bill failed to address – issues being simultaneously debated at the Children’s Media Summit.
This was followed up in the House of Lords when Baroness Thornton (Labour) and Baroness Benjamin (LibDem) proposed amendments again requiring the government to set up a review.
None of these amendments were passed.
In the final House of Lords debate which was rushed through as part of the “wash-up” process to complete legislation before Parliament closes down before a general election, Baroness Benjamin with briefing support from the Children’s Media Foundation, proposed her amendment once again, demanding that the serious issues in the children’s media sector be investigated within 12 months of the Bill becoming law. Her passionate speech reveals the urgency and seriousness of the situation the young audience finds itself in.
The amendment gained support from the Labour Party and Liberal Democrat Peers but was not accepted by the government. The reason given was that Ofcom will undertake this investigation as part of the Public Service Media Review which will start in December 2024.
So attention must now turn to Ofcom who need to explain how their plans for the PSB Review will take into account young people’s migration away from broadcasting and onto YouTube, TikTok and other platforms. CMF will campaign to ensure that children’s needs will be addressed and that the Review won’t shy away from innovative thinking about how public service content should be funded in future and how regulation could ensure prominence on new platforms.
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