Government plans to extend TV licence to online streaming services

Summarised from Manchester Evening News's report · Updated 16 Oct, 11:14 · Archive

The Government is reportedly planning to extend the TV licence fee to online streaming services including YouTube and Netflix. The Manchester Evening News reports that the plan aims to prevent people from avoiding the fee by watching live content via phones, tablets or laptops. A White Paper on the BBC's charter renewal is expected to be published before Christmas, setting out how the corporation will be governed, regulated and funded from 2028 onwards.

Currently, anyone watching live television content must pay the licence fee, which costs £180 annually from April 2024, though discounts apply to certain households. Under the proposed changes, the fee would expand to streamers including Amazon and Disney+, which are currently exempt. The new arrangements have been nicknamed the 'YouTube tax' because YouTube is the largest online video platform in the UK. A BBC spokesperson said: 'We have consistently argued that the current funding model is outdated and needs reform.'

Read the report

• All you need to know about major TV licence change as government to 'extend it beyond BBC'The proposed changes could see more people having to pay for a licenceManchester Evening News · 16 Oct, 11:07
• Andy Burnham government 'planning huge TV licence change' set to hit everyone in UKThe plans could see more UK households liable to pay the TV licence feeManchester Evening News · 16 Oct, 10:42

In this story: Andy Burnham · BBC · UK · YouTube · Netflix · Amazon · Disney+

This summary was written by AI from the headlines and standfirsts above, and states as fact only what at least two outlets report. How we use AI · Report a problem