Households in the UK could be required to pay the £180 TV licence fee even if they only subscribe to streaming services like Netflix and Amazon Prime, under proposals being considered to secure the BBC's future. Currently, a licence is needed only for watching live television or BBC iPlayer, but discussions suggest expanding the fee to cover all streaming platforms.
The BBC has argued that the current rules no longer reflect typical viewing habits, as on-demand content is not licensable unless it is BBC content on iPlayer. The corporation warned it faces 'managed decline', with only 80% of the population paying the licence fee despite 94% using its services monthly. Income has fallen by 25% over the past decade, prompting a £500 million savings plan that could lead to 2,000 job losses.
Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy has previously expressed caution about moving to a subscription model, stating that the BBC's strength lies in uniting the nation. Ministers are also wary of introducing advertising, which could harm commercial rivals like ITV and Channel 4. However, one streaming industry source criticised the proposals, arguing that forcing everyone to pay for the BBC regardless of usage is 'pretty desperate'.
The government is reviewing responses to the BBC Charter Review consultation and is expected to publish a white paper later this year. A spokesperson for the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport declined to comment on speculation.
