Regulation and Long Form TV Drama: Fact-finding

Regulation topic

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Topic 1 - The regulation of global practices of production, distribution and circulation https://www.marketwatch.com/story/what-netflix-comcast-and-others-are-saying-about-the-fccs-plan-to-end-net-neutrality-2017-11-22 https://www.forbes.com/sites/nelsongranados/2017/01/25/only-top-video-streaming-services-are-likely-to-survive-in-the-trump-era/#1cdb8af13319 https://www.reuters.com/article/us-netflix-asia/in-asia-netflix-trips-on-regulation-content-and-competition-idUSKCN0XJ0BZ

What Netflix, Comcast and others are saying about the FCC’s plan to end net neutrality The FCC simply would require internet service providers to be transparent so that consumers can buy the plan that’s best for them. And entrepreneurs and other small businesses would have the technical information they need to innovate.” Netflix Inc. NFLX, +0.99%  tweeted on Tuesday that it supports strong net-neutrality rules, and that it opposes the commission’s proposal to roll back protections. “Comcast does not and will not block, throttle, or discriminate against lawful content,” wrote Comcast Cable’s Chief Executive Dave Watson. “We will continue to make sure that our policies are clear for consumers and we will not change our commitment to these principles.” In 2015, the launch of HBO Now opened the floodgates for all major players in media and entertainment to launch their own stand-alone video streaming service that is not linked to a cable subscription. Netflix continues to amass global subscribers to consolidate itself as a market share leader. Last week it announced that it garnered 7 million net new members in the fourth quarter of 2016, beating its record for quarterly growth and smashing expectations thanks to its international expansion. Currently at 94 million subscribers, it is only a matter of months before it reaches 100 million subscribers worldwide. Months after its global rollout, Netflix Inc (NFLX.O) is facing problems in several major Asian markets as it struggles to provide enough strong content to attract consumers amid tough local competition, and also faces many regulatory hurdles, underlining concerns about disappointing subscriber numbers reported this week. State telecoms company PT Telekomunikasi Indonesia Tbk (Telkom) (TLKM.JK) will continue blocking Netflix until it adheres to regulations, Arif Prabowo, vice president for corporate communications at the carrier, told Reuters, declining to give details. “Korean Netflix’s library in terms of content is pretty thin,” said Jung Dong-yoon

Regulation topic	Relevant information
Topic 2 - The regulation of media and long form drama in the UK https://www.ofcom.org.uk/tv-radio-and-on-demand/advice-for-consumers/television/video-on-demand https://www.theguardian.com/media/2016/may/25/netflix-and-amazon-must-guarantee-20-of-content-is-european	Video-on-demand services include TV catch-up and online film services. The platform on which these on-demand services are delivered does not matter, so services on connected TVs, apps on mobile phones and programmes you view through set-top boxes may all be regulated. What rules do on demand programme services have to follow? Regulated on demand programme services must ensure that: Protecting the under-18s: "specially restricted material" (which has been or would be classified in the R18 category by the British Board of Film Classification (BBFC), or material which might seriously impair the physical, mental or moral development of under-18s, is made available in a way which secures that under-18s will not normally see or hear it; "prohibited material" (which would be refused a classification by the BBFC) does not appear. Incitement to hatred: they do not contain any material likely to incite hatred based on race, sex, religion or nationality; and Commercial references in programmes they comply with rules about product placement and sponsorship. “Currently, European TV broadcasters invest around 20% of their revenues in original content and on-demand providers less than 1%,” said the European Commission. “The Commission wants TV broadcasters to continue to dedicate at least half of viewing time to European works and will oblige on-demand providers to ensure that at least 20% share of European content in their catalogues.”
Topic 3 - The impact of new media technologies on regulation https://9to5mac.com/2017/02/08/new-eu-rules-will-remove-geoblocking-so-customers-can-use-online-subscription-services-like-netflix-abroad/	When the new regulations come into effect in early 2018, online services must provide a service to its customers regardless of their current location, as long as they stay within the EU. For example, this means that a person from the UK (pre-Brexit) could buy a Netflix subscription in their resident country, and then go abroad to Spain for holiday. Netflix would then have to allow the customer to use their same subscription in Spain with access to the same content that they get in the UK …  The new policy would allow customers to keep using their subscription anywhere in the European Union. It gives customers more flexible about when and where they can use music and video subscription services.