Overview
- On Friday, September 25, TV Licensing and UK government guidance reaffirmed that programmes shown live on platforms such as Netflix count as live TV and need a valid TV Licence.
- You do not need a TV Licence to watch non‑live, on‑demand shows on Netflix or other services so long as you avoid any live broadcasts or live events.
- The annual colour TV Licence rose to £180 on April 1, 2026, and officials say watching or recording live TV without a required licence can lead to prosecution and fines up to £1,000 in the UK and up to £2,000 in Guernsey.
- Who must buy a licence depends on household and tenancy arrangements: a single licence can cover a shared home if occupants watch in a common room or hold a joint tenancy, but people with separate tenancy agreements who watch in their own rooms need their own licence.
- The guidance underlines that a streaming subscription does not substitute for a TV Licence, so viewers who want to avoid the fee should stop using live streams and check their household tenancy status to prevent enforcement action.