UK Considers Extending BBC Licence Fee to Streaming Platforms
The UK government is expected to propose later this year extending the BBC licence fee to streaming services such as YouTube and Netflix. The standard fee is currently £180 a year.
The UK government will consider charging residents a national fee for access to streaming video content, including platforms such as YouTube, Netflix, Amazon and Disney+. According to The Independent, a proposal to extend the BBC licence fee will be put forward later this year. If adopted, watching YouTube in the United Kingdom could cost almost $240 a year.
The BBC is the UK's national broadcaster, and the licence fee is a major source of its funding. It is paid by all residents who watch content on a television, regardless of whether that content includes BBC programmes. The standard fee is currently £180 (about $239) a year. It gives access to domestic TV channels, several pay TV services, live TV on streaming platforms and on-demand content through BBC iPlayer.
The case for change
Supporters of the proposal argue that people can use these platforms on mobile devices or computers rather than televisions, and so avoid paying. An unnamed source told The Independent it is unfair that people can essentially watch television content while avoiding the fee.
The extra revenue would reportedly go toward supporting local journalism and countering misinformation campaigns.
The BBC's financial position
The BBC also faces budget pressures: the number of licence fees paid has fallen by 2 million over the past five years, according to The Independent. Even so, YouGov data suggests the BBC remains the most popular media platform in the country.
The BBC recently announced it will begin streaming a 24/7 news channel on YouTube for viewers in the UK and the US. The broadcaster already runs similar channels in Australia, Kenya, Nigeria and Poland.
