Netflix subscribers in the UK are being put on alert that they could cop a hefty £1,000 fine as the platform moves into broadcasting live events.
Typically, viewing shows on Netflix doesn't necessitate a TV licence. It comes following Jake Paul and ex-heavyweight king Mike Tyson's fight, which was broadcast live on November 15. It turns out that viewers who tuned into the head-to-head needed to be covered by a licence.
Watching live TV without one is outlawed in Britain, so streaming the fight live would be breaking the law. With 171.1 million subscribers in the UK, many of whom may abstain from regular TV and be oblivious to the rules concerning live broadcasts, the risk of fines looms large.
TV Licensing has clarified: "You don't need a TV licence to watch on demand programmes on Netflix", and this applies across most streaming services, such as Disney Plus and Amazon Prime Video.
The exception comes when live content hits the airwaves—then it's mandatory to have a licence, reports the Mirror.
It's essential to note that this encompasses all forms of live TV, whether viewed through a conventional television set or any streaming service. Exclusively on-demand content remains exempt from the licensing requirement.
This contrasts with BBC iPlayer's policy where a valid licence is required for both their live and on-demand viewing.
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The cost of a standard TV licence now stands at £169.50 annually, following a £10 hike that came into effect on April 1. Licence fees can be paid in a single yearly sum or through monthly instalments.
Non-compliance with payment and subsequent viewing of live TV without a licence could lead to fines of £1,000 along with potential prosecution.
The warning from the TV Licensing website is stern: "We could visit your address to confirm if you need a TV Licence. If we find that you have been watching, recording or streaming programmes illegally, you risk prosecution and a fine for not having a TV Licence of up to £1,000 plus any legal costs and/or compensation you may be ordered to pay."
Meanwhile, Netflix has dived into providing live streaming services, hosting a series of high-profile events including various sporting spectacles and a comedy special by Chris Rock.
With the company's plans to amplify its live offerings, it has snagged rights to broadcast WWE events starting from 2025.
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