Urgent TV licence warning as weekly Netflix programme could see millions of Brits slapped with £1,000 fine
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NETFLIX viewers have been issued an urgent TV licence warning as watching one weekly programme could see millions of Brits slapped with a £1,000 fine. The streaming service recently changed the content it provides and became the exclusive home for WWE's flagship weekly wrestling programme in the UK earlier this month.
![[Netflix logo on a TV screen with a remote control.]](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/netflix-global-provider-streaming-movies-914870610.jpg?strip=all&w=960)
Live episodes of WWE's Raw programme began airing on Netflix on January 7 and continue to be broadcast at 1am every Tuesday. Although Netflix subscribers already pay for the streaming service, there has been concern that watching a live broadcast may incur a fine in the UK.
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Legal experts have warned that any form of live broadcasting in Britain requires a TV Licence by law, no matter what platform it is being used by the viewer. Netflix has been branching into live content over the past few years, televising events such as a Chris Rock stand-up show in 2023 and a fight between Jake Paul and Mike Tyson last November.
While most of Netflix's content is on-demand, and not live, most viewers won't need a TV Licence to use the service. However, if you are interested in watching any live content on the platform, including WWE's Raw shows, you will need a TV Licence to watch the broadcasts in the UK.
Daniel McAfee, Head of Legal Operations at Lawhive, confirmed: "Under UK law, any live television broadcast requires a valid TV Licence, regardless of the streaming platform.". As Netflix continues to branch out further into live broadcasting, viewers will have to be careful to ensure they're not breaking any licensing laws.
