Netflix Effect Blamed for TV Licence Cancellations

We are very pleased to report that the number of people ditching the TV licence is increasing every day.

In 2017/18 more than 860,000 individuals cancelled their TV licence, with many of those turning to legally-licence-free streaming services instead - a trend that has been nicknamed the "Netflix effect".

The number of cancellations has risen by almost 8 percent since the previous year.

The TV licence, the cost of which increases to £154.50 from 1st April 2019, exclusively funds the BBC, but is legally required to receive TV programmes on any channel. Additionally, from 1st September 2016, a TV licence is required to watch or download on-demand programmes via the BBC iPlayer.

A TV licence is not legally required to use non-BBC on-demand services like Netflix, Amazon Prime and Now TV. These subscription services, many of which offer a free trial period, cost significantly less than the TV licence fee and undoubtedly provide far greater entertainment value. Furthermore, the businesses behind these services don't have any sinister skeletons in their closets when it comes to child sex abuse scandals, squandering public money and the like.

It is believed that there are almost 10 million Netflix subscribers in the UK.

The BBC is currently having talks with ITV and Channel 4 about setting up a British rival to Netflix with a monthly fee, offering access to programmes on iPlayer for up to a year after broadcast.

The graphic at the top of this article provides a reminder of the many legal ways to enjoy your favourite TV programmes, without having to line the pockets of the gluttonous and corrupt BBC.

Here's hoping many more TV licence cancellations are in the pipeline!

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