Government plans to extend BBC licence fee to streaming services

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 15 Oct, 22:57 · Archive

The UK government is expected to propose extending the BBC licence fee to cover online streaming services including YouTube, Netflix and Amazon.

The UK government is expected to publish a white paper before Christmas proposing to extend the BBC licence fee to online streaming services including YouTube, Netflix, Amazon and Disney+. Currently, the licence fee applies only to television use; the expansion would cover streaming platforms to prevent people avoiding payment by watching on mobile devices or computers instead.

A senior Whitehall source said the move was necessary because "people are able to use them to avoid paying currently". The source added: "It's not fair that people are essentially able to watch television content but avoid the licence fee." The government source indicated that previous discussions on charter renewal had stalled under the previous administration but could now proceed.

The current BBC licence fee is £180 per year. Any additional revenue raised by the expansion would be spent on reviving local journalism and tackling misinformation. The BBC has faced budget pressures, with licence fee payments declining by 2 million over the past five years, according to The Independent.

Government plans to extend BBC licence fee to streaming services — Image: Engadget

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How it is being reported

The UK may expand the BBC license fee, charging residents to watch streaming servicesIf the proposal is enacted, it could cost $240 a year to watch YouTube in the UK.Engadget · 15 Oct, 22:35
BBC to force more to pay licence fee with ‘Youtube tax’Exclusive: A government white paper set to be published before Christmas is expected to include plans to extend the licence fee to cover Youtube, Netflix, Amazon and Disney PlusThe Independent · 15 Oct, 16:18

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

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