Consultation: Designation of Radio Selection Services – principles and methods for Ofcom’s recommendations

Radio continues to be very popular in the UK, with nearly 9 in 10 people listening to a radio service each week. As more listening is happening over the internet, for example via smart speakers, it is increasingly important audiences can easily access UK radio online through voice-activated services.  

The Media Act introduces for the first time a set of rules which aim to protect the availability of UK radio on connected audio devices. It brings into regulation certain voice-activated online services – radio selection services, or RSS – that have been designated by the Secretary of State (‘DRSS’). It requires DRSS to reliably provide the online stream of a UK broadcast radio service in response to a user’s voice command, among other requirements.

Ofcom has a number of roles in respect of this new regulatory framework for online radio streams. Our first role is to provide the Secretary of State with a report making recommendations about which radio selection services should be designated. It is for the Secretary of State to decide which of the RSS available in the UK are designated. Before we provide that report, we must develop a set of principles and methods by which we will arrive at the recommendations in the report. This consultation sets out our proposals for these principles and methods.

Responding to this consultation

Please submit responses using the response form no later than 5pm 18 March 2025.