The media watchdog Coimisiún na Meán (CnaM) has published a draft service code and rules for providers of video-on-demand services in Ireland.

The regulator says that, once finalised, it will apply the code and rules to video-on-demand service providers with their EU headquarters in Ireland.

The draft code obliges such service providers to restrict some content from their catalogues, such as:

• Anything that may reasonably be regarded as public provocation to commit a terrorist offence, and
• Anything that may reasonably be regarded as likely to incite violence or hatred against a group, or a member of a group based on their characteristics – including sex, race, colour, disability, sexual orientation, or membership of a national minority.

Protecting children

Providers will also be required to take steps to protect children from content that may impair their physical, mental or moral development. This can include:

• Providing on-screen warnings at the beginning of programmes for content that may be harmful to children,
• Taking appropriate measures to ensure that content containing pornography or gratuitous violence will not be shown to children, and
• Providing for parental controls and age assurance to protect children from seeing harmful content.

Rónán Ó Domhnaill (development commissioner, CnaM) said that the new code and rules would allow for the statutory regulation of video-on-demand companies based in Ireland for the first time.

EU directive

“The code will help efforts to ensure that people across Ireland can watch entertaining, informative and engaging programming on-demand, while ensuring that children do not access age-inappropriate programming.

“The rules will ensure that every step is taken to ensure that programmes are accessible for people with disabilities and will oblige every audiovisual on-demand media service provider based in Ireland to establish an accessibility action plan,” he added.

CnaM says that the move is also a key step for the transposition of the EU’s Audiovisual Media Services Directive in Ireland.

The code and rules are now open for public consultation, with a closing date of 6 August for submissions.