Netflix viewers given £1,000 TV Licence warning for streaming on Christmas Day
Those tuning in to Netflix on Christmas Day risk being fined £1,000 for not having a TV Licence.
For UK residents, knowing when you need to have a TV Licence can be confusing. Get it wrong and you can end up in court with a £1,000 fine coming your way.
When it comes to Netflix, it was an issue that was recently highlighted in the boxing match between Jake Paul and Mike Tyson, with millions tuning in to the streaming giant to watch the bout.
And the same issue highlighted for Iron Mike's long-awaited return to the ring is back again for Christmas Day.
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Netflix and the TV Licence
In the UK, it is the law to need a TV Licence is you watch live content as it is streaming.
That is on any platform, whether on a traditional TV or online platforms such as ITVX, YouTube, and Amazon Prime Video.
And yes, Netflix is also part of this.
While you absolutely do not need a TV Licence to watch Netflix's back catalogue, you do for its live content. And on Christmas Day, it has another two live events for people to enjoy while tucking in to their turkey dinner.
It is one for sports fans, with two NFL games streaming live on Netflix on December 25.
Current Super Bowl champions Kansas City Chiefs will face the Pittsburgh Steelers at 1pm ET, which is 6pm GMT for UK viewers. And after that, at 4.30pm ET (9.30pm GMT), the Baltimore Ravens will take on the Houston Texans.
There will also be a half-time show during the Ravens - Texans game, with none other than Beyonce performing. And while details of her performance are currently under wraps, the superstar is expected to feature some special guests who are featured on the Cowboy Carter album.
TV Licence warning
You can enjoy both of these NFL games as well as the Beyonce performance as part of your standard Netflix subscription package.
But if you do so without having a valid TV Licence, you're opening yourself up to the risk of a £1,000 fine.
In the UK, prosecutions for not having a TV Licence is the second most common offence in the country. That's behind driving offences. Currently, a TV Licence costs you £169.50 a year, with this increasing by £5 from April 2025.
The BBC told LADbible earlier this year: "A TV Licence is needed to watch live content on streaming services, watch or record a TV programme on any channel and when using BBC iPlayer. Further information is available on the TV Licensing website or via the customer services team, who can help with any queries."
Whether this will remain a criminal offence for much longer is doubtful, with Lisa Nandy, the culture secretary, and Shabana Mahmood, the justice secretary, both agreeing non-payment of a TV Licence should be de-criminalised.
Topics: Crime, Netflix, TV, UK News, NFL, Sport, Christmas, Beyonce, Boxing, Jake Paul, Mike Tyson
Tom Earnshaw