TV Licence change could hit households with £1,401 | European Markets

When streaming providers got here alongside, they have been heralded because the daybreak of a low-cost, handy period of leisure.

However because the years have handed, as more and more firms launch their own platforms and content material slowly segregates into a number of subscriptions, all growing in price yearly, the streaming revolution is beginning to get costly.

And this month, it was reported that the federal government is contemplating different funding choices for the TV Licence, together with a ‘streaming tax’ which may see Netflix, Disney Plus or Amazon Prime Video customers pressured to make a contribution in the direction of the maintenance of BBC providers, even when they don’t watch stay TV.

If this rule have been to be put into place – and it’s just one suggestion proper now – then households trying to entry each main accessible service could possibly be pressured to pay a staggering £1,401.84 per yr together with the TV Licence charge.

How a lot each UK streaming service prices for a yr with no adverts: 

The costs for every service’s least expensive ad-free tier, in no less than HD, for one yr of subscribing breaks down thus (costs appropriate as of February 5, 2025, for new prospects):

Disney Plus – One of Normal HD yr with out adverts – £89.90 per yr (£129.90 for 4K Extremely HD).

Netflix – £131.88 for a yr (Normal HD – no adverts), or £215.88 for 4K Extremely HD.

Amazon Prime Video – £130.88 with out adverts (£95 for a yr, plus £2.99 per 30 days for 12 months to go ad-free, including £35.88). Consists of 4K

Paramount Plus – £70.99 per yr with out adverts, contains 4K

Apple TV – £107.88 per yr – no adverts and 4K included

NowTV Leisure & Cinema – £209.88 with no adverts (£13.99 for the primary 6 months, then £19.99 for the second six months. Additionally contains £6 a month Enhance to take away adverts, totalling £60).

You should utilize all of these providers with no adverts and no need for a TV Licence except you watch any stay content material on them (so for instance, watching a Champions League recreation because it’s broadcast on Amazon Prime Video WOULD need a TV Licence, however watching highlights of the Champions League on demand on the platform wouldn’t).

In whole, these providers are – £741.41 for the total yr. Including the £174.50 TV Licence to those would carry the fee to £915.91.

In the event you add sports activities, then:

NOW TV Sports activities (which is from Sky Sports activities) – £365.94 (£26 for the primary six months, then £34.99 for six months).

DAZN, which is £119.99 for a yr.

Brings the full to £1,401.84 with NowTV Sky Sports activities or simply £1,091.41 with simply DAZN, however of course you all the time needed a TV Licence to stream stay sports activities.

If the TV Licence charge was expanded to be made payable to cowl utilizing any streaming service, then the £174.50 price (from April 2025) would carry the full to £915.91 for all non-sports ad-free streaming providers and £1,404.84 for all streaming providers together with stay sport.