BRITS are warned not to inadvertently fall foul of TV Licensing rules amid a rise in major live streaming events.
Any form of live broadcasting requires a TV Licence by law – and failing to have one could result in a £1,000 fine.
Gadgets such as Fire Sticks and smart TVs are ever popular, with instant access to platforms like Netflix and Amazon Prime.
And now Netflix is preparing to play host to an increasing number of live shows from tomorrow as part of a new deal.
The popular app will start showing WWE wresting games live on Monday, starting with WWE Raw.
But households must not forget that watching such live programmes online also requires a TV Licence as much as watching traditional live TV channels like BBC One.
Netflix has been showing a growing number of boxing matches but the WWE agreement will see far more in 2025.
Next week alone there’s the WWE Raw broadcast on Monday, then WWE NXT a day later and WWE SmackDown on January 10 too.
TV Licensing previously reiterated the rules to The Sun in November ahead of Netflix’s Jake Paul vs Mike Tyson fight.
“A TV Licence is needed to watch live content on streaming services, watch or record a TV programme on any channel and when using BBC iPlayer,” a rep said at the time.
“Further information is available on the TV Licensing website or via the customer services team, who can help with any queries.”
If you’re using Netflix or any other streaming platform like Prime to watch non-live content then you’re fine without a TV Licence, as long as you’re not watching BBC iPlayer.
Jamie Harris, Assistant Technology and Science Editor at The Sun, explains:
A TV Licence currently costs £169.50.
Some people mistakenly believe that you only need a TV Licence if you have a TV or watch BBC channels.
You aren’t breaking the law if you own a TV without a licence, as long as it’s not hooked up to an aerial or other live broadcasting equipment – so you can use it with your PS5 for gaming for example.
The basic principle is, that if you are accessing any live broadcast from any channel, whether it be through a TV or online, you must have a TV Licence.
If you are recording a live broadcast to watch later, you also need a TV Licence.
Watching on-demand content does not require a TV Licence – except if you’re watching BBC iPlayer.
Image credit: Alamy
