Netflix subscribers given £1,000 fine warning ahead of Jake Paul fight and £4 billion WWE deal
Netflix subscribers have been given a £1,000 fine warning if they plan on tuning in to the Jake Paul vs Mike Tyson boxing match or any of the WWE's content following its $5 billion (£3.92 billion) deal with the streaming giant.
Easily the most popular streaming platform on the planet, Netflix has become a media juggernaut with more than 282.7 million paid subscribers across the globe.
But things are changing with Netflix. And it is in a way that many don't realise could impact them negatively.
How is Netflix changing?
In the last 12 months, Netflix has made a huge move towards giving its audience live content in the same way Prime Video does with its Premier League and Champions League coverage.
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As a result we have seen the arrival of live tennis matches through The Netflix Slam, pitting new retired legend Rafael Nadal against newcomer Carlos Alcaraz.
Tom Brady was also the focus of another event, The Roast of Tom Brady, where he was roasted for three hours with multiple brutal jokes about his divorce from supermodel Gisele Bundchen. And Netflix isn't stopping there with plenty more on the horizon for the streaming giant.
So, a £1,000 fine for watching Jake Paul vs Mike Tyson and WWE?
Jake Paul and Mike Tyson will box live on Netflix in the company's next live event, with the duo taking to the ring at 4am GMT on Saturday (16 November).
Taking place at the AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, it is set to be a huge sporting event with millions set to watch if it finally gets the go ahead.
It is a rescheduled event after being called off in the summer after Tyson 'thought he was doing to die' when experiencing a worrying health incident while on a plane.
Live NFL games will also be shown on Christmas Day, with the Kansas City Chiefs vs the Pittsburgh Steelers broadcast live on Netflix followed by the Baltimore Ravens against the Houston Texans. Then, in the new year, the WWE will come to Netflix with Raw, Smackdown, and its premium live events such as WrestleMania broadcast live on the platform.
The problem for UK viewers is that watching any live content requires something called a TV Licence. Used to fund the BBC and its services, the TV Licence is needed for any household if you want to watch live programming on any network or service, not just on the BBC.
TV Licence and the BBC
Earlier this year the BBC confirmed to LADbible that that if you're watching any live event on Netflix, you need a TV Licence. It is the same if you're watching live football match on Prime Video or a live programming on YouTube.
A spokesperson said: "To clarify, you do not need a TV Licence to watch on-demand programmes on Netflix and other streaming services like it - only if you watch live content."
BBC guidance adds: "If you are watching a TV programme live on YouTube, you need to be covered by a TV Licence.
"A licence is not required to view user generated content, clips and videos on YouTube. This includes live streamed content that is not part of a television broadcast. Or being broadcast at the same time by other means."
Historically, those who don't pay for a TV Licence but watch live television are hauled before magistrates' courts where they can face fines of £1,000. It is the second most common crime in the country, behind driving offences.
Topics: Netflix, WWE, Jake Paul, US News, Mike Tyson, Boxing, Sport, TV, UK News
Tom Earnshaw