Report: The UK is Planning a ‘YouTube Tax’ for Streaming Services

The UK’s television licence could soon cover YouTube, Netflix, and other streaming services, according to a report from The Independent. The proposed change would affect households that currently avoid the £180 annual fee because they watch only online platforms. The TV licence has been required in the UK since 1946. It costs £180, or about $240, a year and helps fund the BBC as well as S4C in Wales. People over 75 do not have to pay it. Viewers who do not watch live television or use BBC services can declare that their home does not need a licence. Many have done so in recent years, saying they only use YouTube, Netflix, Prime Video, Disney+, and similar services, which are not currently covered. The Independent reports that the UK government plans to extend the licence to those streaming platforms. The proposal has been called the “YouTube Tax” and could be introduced before Christmas. The current licence charter is set to expire in December 2027. “It’s not fair that people are essentially able to watch television content but avoid the licence fee,” one source said. A BBC spokesperson told Birmingham Live that the “current funding model is outdated and needs reform.” The licence ...