Disney+ viewers could be slapped with whopping £1,000 fine if they tune into huge new sports boost – don’t take the risk
DISNEY+ viewers should be wary of an upcoming boost in sports content that could land them a £1,000 fine just for watching.
Earlier this week, the streaming giant announced it had won the broadcasting rights for the UEFA Women’s Champions League across Europe for the next five years.
It means that from October, fans will be able to watch every match live through their Disney+ subscription – at no extra cost.
However, sports fans should be cautious of TV Licensing rules.
Households require a TV Licence to watch live content – even through a streaming platform like Disney+.
And being caught without a TV Licence can result in a hefty £1,000 fine.
On-demand content – shows you can watch at any given moment – don’t require the extra fee.
It only applies if you tune into live shows and matches.
In the days when streaming services hosted exclusively on-demand content, they were safe to use without a TV Licence.
But with an increasing number of streamers picking up live TV content, particularly in the realm of sports, the chances of households breaking TV licensing rules has jumped.
Households were given similar warning last year, when Netflix took over rights to WWE with live broadcasts taking place on the app more than ever before.
TV Licensing previously reiterated the rules to The Sun in November ahead of Netflix’s Jake Paul vs Mike Tyson live fight.
“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,” a rep said at the time.
“Further information is available on the TV Licensing website or via the customer services team, who can help with any queries.”
The TV Licence fee was recently increased by £5, jumping from £169.50 previously to £174.50 since April 1.
What are the TV Licence rules?
Jamie Harris, Assistant Technology and Science Editor at The Sun, explains:
A TV Licence currently costs £169.50.
Some people mistakenly believe that you only need a TV Licence if you have a TV or watch BBC channels.
You aren’t breaking the law if you own a TV without a licence, as long as it’s not hooked up to an aerial or other live broadcasting equipment – so you can use it with your PS5 for gaming for example.
The basic principle is, that if you are accessing any live broadcast from any channel, whether it be through a TV or online, you must have a TV Licence.
If you are recording a live broadcast to watch later, you also need a TV Licence.
Watching on-demand content does not require a TV Licence – except if you’re watching BBC iPlayer.
Image credit: Alamy