For people using services such as YouTube, Netflix, Amazon Prime Video and Disney+, the position varies according to the type of content being viewed. According to TV Licensing, live television broadcasts and BBC iPlayer are covered by the licence requirement, while most on-demand content is not.
Live Television, Not the Platform, Determines Whether a Licence Is Needed
A colour TV Licence costs £180 per year in 2026, while a black-and-white licence costs £60.50 following the price increase introduced on 1 April 2026. According to TV Licensing, the licence covers watching, recording and downloading live television on any device, as well as all content available through BBC iPlayer.
The guidance applies across a wide range of viewing services. It includes traditional television channels such as BBC, ITV, Channel 4, U&Dave and international channels, alongside pay TV providers including Sky, Virgin Media and EE TV. Live television streamed through online platforms such as YouTube, Netflix and Amazon Prime Video also falls within the licensing rules.
The position on YouTube is more specific than some viewers may expect. According to TV Licensing, anyone watching a television programme live on YouTube must be covered by a TV Licence. By contrast, a licence is not required to watch user-generated videos, clips or content created specifically for YouTube. The same exemption applies to live streams that are not part of a television broadcast or are not being broadcast simultaneously through another medium.
The guidance also makes clear that paying for YouTube Premium does not replace the need for a TV Licence. Premium subscribers may receive features such as ad-free viewing, background play and access across compatible devices, though those benefits do not alter the licensing rules for live television.
Streaming Subscriptions Do Not Automatically Require a TV Licence
The same principle extends to other major streaming services. According to TV Licensing, viewers only need a TV Licence for Netflix when watching television programmes being broadcast live. On-demand films and television series available through Netflix do not require one.
Amazon Prime Video follows the same approach. A licence is required when watching live television through the service, while programmes viewed on demand are exempt from the requirement. Disney+ differs slightly because, according to the published guidance, viewers do not need a TV Licence to watch its on-demand programming.
The rules also cover Freely, the streaming platform that combines live and on-demand television. TV Licensing states that anyone watching broadcast television through Freely must be covered by a TV Licence. On-demand content accessed via the platform does not require one, with the exception of BBC iPlayer, which remains subject to the licensing requirement regardless of whether programmes are watched live or on demand.
Taken together, the guidance makes clear that the deciding factor is not whether someone pays for a streaming subscription. Instead, the requirement depends on whether they are watching live television broadcasts or using BBC iPlayer, while most on-demand content on services including Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, YouTube and Disney+ can be viewed without a TV Licence.
