UK: What new TV licence rules mean for Netflix, Prime Video subscribers

If you’re someone who watches live TV in the UK, then you’re likely familiar with the annual TV licence fee. On 1 April, that fee increased by £5, bringing the total to £174.50 per year, or just over £14.50 a month.

Currently, the licence fee only applies if you watch live television or want to access BBC iPlayer. If you only watch on-demand shows and movies through streaming platforms like Netflix, Disney+, or Amazon Prime Video, you’re exempt under the existing rules.

However, that exemption may not last much longer.

Possible changes as on-demand viewing grows

The shift in how people consume content—moving away from traditional TV toward on-demand streaming—has raised concerns about the sustainability of the BBC’s funding model.

According to The Express, the royal charter that defines the BBC’s relationship with the Government is set to expire in 2027. With that in mind, the article says there’s talk of “modernising how the public broadcaster” is funded.

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 Other options reportedly under consideration include imposing a specific tax on streaming services, charging BBC Radio listeners, or even introducing advertising on the BBC.

What this temporarily means for viewers

For the moment, nothing has changed. If you only stream shows on-demand and don’t watch live broadcasts or use BBC iPlayer, you don’t need to pay the licence fee.

But that could soon change.

If the proposed updates move forward, anyone watching content via streaming services might also need to pay the annual fee. That means budgeting an additional £15 per month—even for those who never tune in to live television.

As the article puts it: “It’s very possible that will change in the future though where a TV licence will also be required when watching on-demand content through streaming services.”

“It means those who only watch on-demand content will need to budget the extra £15 or so a month for the TV Licensing Fee to make sure you can still watch all your favourite TV series.”

(T3)

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