TV viewers in the UK are being warned they could be slapped with a fine of up to £1,000 just for watching a popular show on . Brits face being hit by this fine that they may not even realise applies to them.
Most Brits are aware that to watch live programmes or anything supplied by the you need to have a television licence. This licence currently costs £169.50 a year.
However, what is less well-known is the fact that the licence is also required if you watch anything live streamed on a platform such as .
This therefore places fans of WWE’s flagship weekly wrestling show WWE Raw at risk of breaking the rules put in place by the . The show has viewing figures of around 5m globally, and is popular in the UK.
This show premiered on the streaming service earlier this month and airs every Tuesday at 1am in the UK.
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People who watch a certain show on Netflix could risk getting a fine if they don’t own a TV licence (Image: Getty)
As reported by the , the show has previously been available on a range of different networks including USA Network, TNN/Spike TV and USA Network.
Fans of the show have taken to social media platform X to share how excited they are to see it on , which is the most popular streaming platform in the UK – found in three out of five households.
One fan posted on X: “Sorry I can’t go to work today, I have to watch the entire archive of WWE monday night raw on .” Another said: “I was debating on staying up for raw but realized I can just watch it when I wake up lmao. WWE ate this one lil thing with this deal.”
Speaking about the move to air WWE Raw on , the chief content officer at – Bela Bajaria – said: “We are excited to have WWE Raw, with its huge and passionate multigenerational fan base, on . By combining our reach, recommendations, and fandom with WWE, we’ll be able to deliver more joy and value for their audiences and our members.
“Raw is the best of sports entertainment, blending great characters and storytelling with live action 52 weeks a year and we’re thrilled to be in this long-term partnership with WWE.”
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TV licence rules
The Government website explains that you need a TV licence if you:
- Watch or record live TV on any channel or service
- Use iPlayer.
However, you may be able to get a free or discounted TV licence if you’re 75 or over and get Pension Credit, or if you’re blind or in residential care.
You do not need a TV licence to watch:
Streaming services like and Disney Plus
- On-demand TV
- Videos on websites like YouTube
- Videos or DVDs.
A TV licence costs £169.50 (£57 for black and white TV sets) for both homes and businesses. The website says: “You can be fined up to £1,000 if you watch or record live TV without a TV licence.”
For more information, visit .