UK Culture Secretary Proposes Expanding TV Licence to Streamers

UK Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy has proposed expanding the annual £180 TV licence fee to include users of streaming services such as Netflix, Disney+, Amazon Prime, Apple TV, and Paramount Plus. Speaking to the Culture, Media and Sport Committee, Nandy suggested a tiered structure where users of both the BBC and streaming platforms would pay the full fee, while those using only streaming services might pay a smaller, reduced charge. She noted that targeted concessions could be introduced to lower costs for some users.

BBC Director General Matt Brittin supported the shift, describing the current funding model as a "busted flush" and "no longer fit for purpose" after licence-paying households dropped by 539,000 last year. Brittin argued that streaming platforms benefit from the production ecosystem and infrastructure the BBC established over the last century.

While the government has ruled out a direct levy on streamer subscription revenue, the Motion Picture Association has expressed opposition to the proposal. Both Nandy and Brittin acknowledged that enforcing the new fee would be difficult. The government is currently conducting an open conversation with the public, Parliament, and the BBC, with discussions expected to continue through the summer.