Telly taming

Plans to regulate video-on-demand services and product placement on British television are outlined in a new government consultation document. The consultation aims to assess how the UK should implement the EU Audio Visual Media Services (AVMS) Directive which updates EU minimum standards on scheduled television services and introduces common standards for video-on-demand services. The Directive states that all EU member states must prohibit product placement, but certain exemptions may be allowed. Currently product placement is banned on any UK-made programmes and the government says its initial view is not to change this. AVMS will also give the UK responsibility for the content of some non-EU satellite TV channels.