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Lisa Nandy considers extending BBC licence fee to Netflix, YouTube and Amazon streaming users

The government plans to expand the BBC licence fee to cover streaming platforms including Netflix, YouTube and Amazon, with a white paper expected before Christmas.
The government plans to expand the BBC licence fee to cover streaming platforms including Netflix, YouTube and Amazon, with a white paper expected before Christmas.

Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy is actively exploring plans to force streaming service users to pay the £180-a-year BBC licence fee, under proposals dubbed a "Netflix tax." A government White Paper is expected before Christmas setting out how the BBC's funding model will be overhauled ahead of the corporation's charter renewal, which expires in December next year. The number of paid licences has fallen by nearly two million over five years, with 539,000 lost in the last year alone.

Under the proposals, Netflix, Amazon, Disney+ and YouTube subscribers would face the levy for the first time, regardless of whether they watch the BBC.

BBC director-general Matt Brittin has said the current fee is 'no longer fit for purpose' and suggested a household levy as an alternative funding model.

Any new cash raised is reportedly expected to go towards reviving local journalism rather than directly boosting the BBC's core budget.

MoreEvening StandardBBC licence fee could extend to streaming services under ‘YouTube tax’ – reportDaily Mail'Netflix tax' proposed as streaming service fans could pay licence feeGB NewsBBC licence fee could extend to Netflix, YouTube and Amazon viewers under funding proposals - GB NewsThe IndependentBBC licence fee to be extended with ‘YouTube tax’iNews'Time is running out': Inside the fraught BBC talks to replace licence feeUA.NEWSUK may extend TV licence fee to streaming users — Engadget - UA.NEWSThe TelegraphNandy considers ‘Netflix tax’ to fund BBC
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