The Newshound

Lisa Nandy considers forcing Netflix and YouTube viewers to pay the £180 BBC licence fee

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 working on proposals that would bring Netflix, YouTube, Amazon and Disney+ within the scope of the BBC licence fee for the first time, a move critics have already dubbed a "Netflix tax." The proposals are expected to appear in a White Paper on BBC charter renewal before Christmas. The push is reportedly motivated by "fairness" concerns about households avoiding the £180-a-year charge by consuming content on phones and tablets.

The number of licence fee payers has dropped by almost two million over five years, with just 23.3 million licences purchased this year.

Any additional revenue generated would be channelled into supporting local journalism and addressing what the government describes as misinformation, rather than being paid directly to the BBC.

Charter renewal talks reportedly stalled under the previous administration but could now "press ahead" following Labour's change of prime minister.

MoreDaily MailTV viewers could be hit by new 'Netflix tax' as Lisa Nandy considers making fans of streaming services pay the £180-a-year licence fee - Daily MailGB NewsBBC licence fee could extend to Netflix, YouTube and Amazon viewers under funding proposals - GB NewsThe IndependentBBC to force more to pay licence fee with ‘Youtube tax’UA.NEWSUK may extend TV licence fee to streaming users — Engadget - UA.NEWSThe TelegraphNandy considers ‘Netflix tax’ to fund BBC
Read today's full feed at The Newshound →