Welcome to The Association for Television On-Demand (ATVOD)
ATVOD is the independent co-regulator for the editorial content of UK video on demand services that fall within the new statutory definition of On Demand Programme Services.
Its duties and powers derive from the Communications Act 2003, as amended by the Audiovisual Media Services Regulations 2009 and the Audiovisual Media Services Regulations 2010 which came into force on 19 December 2009 and 18 March 2010 respectively. The Act confers functions on the Office of Communications (Ofcom) for the regulation of On Demand Programme Services, and gives Ofcom power to delegate certain functions to an appropriate regulatory authority.
On 18 March 2010, Ofcom delegated certain of its functions and powers in relation to the regulation of On Demand Programme Services to ATVOD by means of a formal designation.
To manage its new responsibilities ATVOD has restructured, to ensure it is sufficiently independent from the industry’s commercial interests and to make sure that its top priority is to protect consumers. The new ATVOD will be led by a newly appointed independent Chair and has a new Board comprising five independent and four industry members. A new Chief Executive has also been appointed. Details of the appointments can be found here.
Work has begun on developing this website to make it as helpful as possible for both users and providers of On Demand Programme Services.
ATVOD Rules and Guidance setting out the new regulatory requirements and advice on how to comply with them will be published on this website shortly. In the meantime, the statutory requirements with which providers of On Demand Programme Services must comply can be found in the two sets of Regulations cited above. Ofcom has also published a summary of the requirements on its website: http://stakeholders.ofcom.org.uk/binaries/broadcast/tv-ops/vodservices.pdf
Existing service providers must comply with their statutory duty to notify ATVOD before 30 April 2010 as soon as possible. Providers of On Demand Programme Services starting after 18 March 2010 must also notify ATVOD before the service begins. If you are unsure of whether your service requires notification, please consult the ‘Guidance on who needs to notify’. To make a notification, please follow the ‘Guidance on how to notify’ and complete and return the Notification Form as soon as possible. Copies of the Notification Form are also available via email at notifications@atvod.co.uk or by post from: ATVOD, PO Box 561, Walton on Thames, Surrey, KT12 9DA.
The Regulations give Ofcom and ATVOD the power to place an obligation on service providers to pay a fee to ATVOD in relation to each On Demand Programme Service they provide. The structure and level of this fee was the subject of a joint ATVOD/OFCOM consultation which closed on 7 May 2010. On 17 June 2010 Ofcom approved a flat rate fee of £2900 per service for the period 1 April 2010 to 31 March 2011. The joint ATVOD/Ofcom statement on the VOD Fees is available in the 'News & consultations' section of this website and On Demand Programme Service providers will receive invoices with respect to each notified service.
Users of an On Demand Programme Service who believe that the service is in breach of the Regulations should, until further notice, and for a brief and interim period only, continue to complain to Ofcom. See http://consumers.ofcom.org.uk/tell-us/tv-and-radio/video-on-demand-services/ for details. ATVOD will assume responsibility for receiving and investigating complaints very shortly.
While the website for the new ATVOD is under construction, feel free to contact us at atvod@atvod.co.uk and your queries will be directed to the appropriate department.
ATVOD was originally created as a self-regulatory body at the time of Communications Act 2003, with the support and encouragement of the Government.