Mark Sweney 

The Sun wins appeal to stop its videos being monitored by regulators

Video section of the Sun's website need not be classified as an on-demand programme service, says Ofcom. By Mark Sweney
  
  

The video section of the Sun's website
A detail of the video section of the Sun's website, which does not have to register with the Association of TV On Demand, said Ofcom Photograph: Public Domain

The Sun has won an appeal to stop the video section of its website being monitored by regulators, a ruling that also clears services offered by publishers including the FT, Guardian and Telegraph.

Media regulator Ofcom has upheld an appeal by News Group Newspapers, the parent company of the Sun, not to allow the video section of the paper's website to be classified as an on-demand programme service.

If the service had been classified as such it would have been subject to regulation by the Association of TV On Demand (Atvod), the body responsible for regulating "TV-like" video services, which would have included paying an annual £2,900 fee.

Ofcom overturned the submission from Atvod that the Sun's video section should be regulated after deciding that the video content is ancillary to news stories and features, and is not a standalone service.

Following Ofcom's announcement, Atvod released a statement withdrawing submissions that a host of other video services from newspaper and magazine publishers should also fall under its remit.

Atvod has dropped its cases against the Sunday Times Video Library, Telegraph TV, the Independent Video, FT Video, Guardian Video, Guardian YouTube, News of the World TV and Elle TV.

"Given the clear similarities between the Sun and the other newspaper and magazine websites under appeal, we have moved quickly to confirm that the determinations in relation to those services are being withdrawn with immediate effect," said Pete Johnson, chief executive of Atvod.

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