United Kingdom: Department for Creative Industries, Media and Arts announced drafting of Regulated Electronic Programme Guide (Prescribed Description and Transitional Arrangements) Regulations 2026

On 24 February 2026, the Department for Culture, Media and Sport announced that will lay before Parliament the Regulated Electronic Programme Guide (Prescribed Description and Transitional Arrangements) Regulations 2026, implementing the Media Act 2024. The Regulations will update the meaning of a regulated electronic programme guide (EPG). An estimated 10 EPGs and approximately 70 new TV channels will fall within the Office of Communications (Ofcom)'s remit as a result. Any TV channel accessible through a regulated EPG will be required to hold a broadcast licence. The Regulations will also address a regulatory loophole where some TV guide services fall outside regulation despite being accessible through regulated services and will extend prominence rules to previously unregulated EPGs.