Ofcom reviews UK children’s content

UK media regulator Ofcom has begun a review of children’s content delivered by television, on-demand and streaming.

Ofcom said it wants to “build a comprehensive view” of the current quantity, range and quality of children’s content in the UK, as well as the impact of “changing industry and audience dynamics.”

The organisation is seeking input from audiences and the industry so it can look at issues such as public service broadcasters’ provision of children’s content.

The review will help Ofcom assess if and how it might use the power provided in the recent Digital Economy Act 2017, which could see it impose children’s content quotas on pubcasters ITV, Channel 4 and Channel 5.

Figures released by Ofcom last year highlighted that the amount of original programming for kids on UK channels was at its lowest level since 1998, with kids’ content made by commercial pubcasters falling by 93% since legislative changes in the early 2000s.

The children’s content review, more details of which can be read here, will end on January 31.