Culture Secretary Proposes Extending BBC Fee to Netflix and Other Streaming Users

UK Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy has endorsed expanding the BBC license fee to include subscribers of streaming platforms such as Netflix, Disney+, and Prime Video, according to reports from culturedailynews.com and Deadline. The proposal surfaces as the BBC approaches charter renewal and explores new funding models.

2 sources

culturedailynews.comUK Culture Secretary Backs BBC License Fee Expanding To Cover Streaming Service SubscribersDeadlineUK Culture Secretary Supports Expanding BBC License Fee to Cover Netflix, Disney+, and Prime Video Subscribers

"The Motion Picture Association, representing US streamers and studios, has already expressed opposition to the plan."

The MPA's opposition signals an early flashpoint in what could become a contentious debate over the future of public broadcasting funding in the UK.

"radical restructuring of the BBC license fee"

Nandy has floated various ways the fee could be revamped to more strongly incorporate subscription video-on-demand (SVoD) subscribers, Deadline reported. The current annual fee stands at £180 ($240) per household.

Broadening the license fee to cover streaming users would mark a significant shift in the BBC's revenue model, moving beyond the traditional household charge toward a levy on major global platforms. The plan, if implemented, could reshape how the UK funds its public broadcaster amid declining linear TV viewership.