Netflix and Prime Video streaming users may have to pay TV licence in reported change to the fee

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People in the UK who use streaming services like Netflix and Prime Video might soon have to pay the annual TV licence fee, which currently only applies to traditional television viewing.

The current fee of £180 a year pays for live TV channels like BBC, ITV, and Channel 4. However, you don’t need to pay this fee to watch on-demand programs on most streaming services – BBC iPlayer is the main exception.

However, things might be changing. According to The Times, officials are thinking about expanding the current fee to include all streaming services. This new plan would require every streaming service to pay a licence fee.

The government, as reported by the Times, doesn’t want to fund streaming services through ads or subscriptions. They’d rather include the cost of these services in the current fee people already pay.

The BBC is considering changes as part of a plan to secure its future, following a reported 25% drop in funding over the last ten years. The organization hasn’t confirmed these reports, and it’s unclear whether any changes would involve an increase to the license fee.

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A representative from the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport told The Sun they wouldn’t respond to rumors, but that an announcement about the matter would be made later in the year.

The government doesn’t respond to rumors or guesses, according to an official statement. They are currently considering the feedback received from the BBC Charter Review consultation and will publish their decisions in a detailed report later this year.

Digital Spy has reached out to the BBC for comment.

The annual TV licence currently costs £180. In comparison, a basic Netflix subscription starts at £5.99 a month. If you want to watch without adverts, the Standard plan is £12.99 a month, and the Premium plan costs £18.99 a month.

Prime Video is included with an Amazon Prime membership and currently costs £8.99 a month. Other streaming services like Disney+ and HBO Max cost £4.99 and £5.99 monthly, respectively. You can watch ITVX and Channel 4 for free.

Earlier this year, Sky launched a new TV package called Sky Ultimate, which bundles together access to Netflix, Disney+, HBO Max, and Hayu for just £22 per month.

Check out our Streaming Guide to quickly find out where you can watch all your favorite shows and movies.

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2026-05-13 12:49