Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what plans his Department has to seek to retain the (a) 671 non-domestic TV channels and (b) on-demand services based in the UK in the event that there is no exit deal between the UK and the EU.

As set out in the Brexit White Paper, we cannot be part of the Audiovisual Media Services Directive (AVMSD) if we are not part of the EU. As a result, the Country of Origin principle, which allows audiovisual services to obtain a broadcasting licence in one Member State for all their channels and services across the EU, will no longer apply. We have shared relevant information for businesses in the Technical Notice for Broadcasting and video-on-demand if there's no Brexit deal which is available here https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/broadcasting-and-video-on-demand-if-theres-no-brexit-deal/broadcasting-and-video-on-demand-if-theres-no-brexit-deal], published in September 2018.

The details of the future relationship between the EU and the UK on broadcasting depends on the exit negotiations, and we are committed to seek the best possible arrangement for broadcasting that will work for UK businesses and audiences.